Goon's World

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Milan Lucic works Paul Gaustad

Someone on the Buffalo Sabres roster had to challenge Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic for his hit on Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, enter Sabres forward Paul Gaustad who was the designated punching bag for the Sabres as Lucic worked the smaller Gaustad pretty good in my opinion.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Matt Frattin assists on Joe Colborne's first NHL goal...

I had the opportunity to watch two of Toronto's games this past weekend and I have to admit it's fun seeing some of the former college players playing on the Toronto Maple Leafs. This assist by Frattin on the Colborne goal is a thing of beauty, Frattin had two assists on the night giving him four points for the year 1g-3a-4pts. I think the pass is harder than it looks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs roster looks like an NCAA All-Star team; Phil Kessel (Minnesota), Matt Frattin (UND), Tyler Bozak (DU), Joey Crabb (C.C.), Joe Colborne (DU), Mike Brown (Mich), David Steckel (MSU), Ben Scrivens (Cornell), John-Michael Liles (MSU), Mike Komisarek (Mich), Jake Gardiner (WISC), Jay Rosehill (UMD). The Maple Leafs roster is a testimate of the kind of players that come out of NCAA Division I hockey.

A little late but, Ryan Rupert gets 5 games for Paul Bunyan chop on Nick Cousins

I was going to put this up last week but I got side tracked. When I first saw this video I thought that the OHL would throw the proverbial book at Ryan Rupert, but they didn't. I mean really, Rupert hauled off and pummeled Nick Cousins hard with his carbon fiber stick and then dropped his gloves and attacked Cousins starting a near line brawl. Nick Cousins also received a two game suspension for his part in the incident.

There's been a handful of 10-or-more game suspensions in the Ontario Hockey League this season, including two Wednesday.

Ryan Rupert's highly publicized slash won't be one of them.

The London Knights forward received five games for whacking Soo Greyhounds star Nick Cousins at the end of Friday's 4-3 loss at the John Labatt Centre.

The gritty 17-year-old from Grand Bend will be eligible to return in Erie on Nov. 26 after the OHL rendered a decision Wednesday that will come as a surprise to those who felt Rupert's actions warranted a prolonged sit-down.[IFPRESS.COM]

My question is, did the OHL go lightly on Rupert because of Cousins reputation as a agitator?

Max Domi's hit on Artur Gavrus.

Here is the hit that everyone was talking about in the OHL this past weekend. London Knights forward Max Domi looks to have gotten away with a head shot on Owen Sound's Artur Gavrus. There was no penalty on the play. Max Domi is the son of former NHL tough guy Tie Domi.

Tuesday Morning Links

Image via WikipediaThere is a lot of news today in the hockey world. Sidney Crosby made his much anticipated return to the Penguins after missing over 10 months with a concussion. Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron is glad to see Sidney Crosby back in the Penguins line up as well.

“I am happy to hear that not just for him as a hockey player but for him a person first and foremost,” Bergeron said. “I think his health is the most important thing and I’m very happy to hear that. It’s obviously a good thing for the league and good for him.”

The Boston Bruins with their ninth win in a row actually vaulted to the top of the North East Division. Chris Kelly is the Boston Bruins of the week with his solid play. [the Bruins Blog]

Good news for the Fighting Sioux Women's team -> WCHA Offensive Player of the Week Jocelyne Lamoureux Junior, Forward North Dakota. Congrats to Jocelyn Lamoureux.

From the WCHA press release --- The Tigers (7-2-0, 5-2-0 WCHA) and defending WCHA/MacNaughton Cup-champion Fighting Sioux (4-7-1, 2-6-0 WCHA) will hook up at Ralph Engelstad Arena (11,634) in Grand Forks on Friday evening at 7:37 pm CT and Saturday night at 7:07 pm CT. This is the only regular season series between CC and UND.

Chris Peters of the United States of Hockey had this to say about the Fighting Sioux.

North Dakota – North Dakota is on this list for all the wrong reasons. The Sioux lost a bunch of firepower from last year’s club, but I don’t think anyone saw this coming. North Dakota is tied for 10th place in the 12-team WCHA with a 2-6-0 conference record to go along with an ugly 4-7-1 record. Adding insult to injury, the Sioux have been swept by rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin already this year. Making matters worse, they’ve just lost freshman phenom Rocco Grimaldi (who’s been hampered by injury all year) for the next 6-8 weeks. More on that in a bit…

Overall, there have been a lot of intriguing things happening in college hockey. Part of that may have to do with the ever-increasing parity. Save a few teams with tremendous records, everyone else has been pretty average. Typical powers like Boston University, Denver and Michigan haven’t been exactly dominant. In fact, each has mostly been average. Perhaps that’s good for college hockey. The fact that any team can win on any given night makes for some exciting match-ups. Expect this season to heat up even more, just in time for it’s national debut on VERSUS (featuring two of the best teams in the country in BC and Notre Dame) on New Year’s Eve.

Apparently the Badgers center Mark Zengerle was less than impressed with the WCHA on ice officials and got a 10 minute misconduct penalty for chirping at the refs. Looking at the box score from the game reveals that Derek Shepherd, Matt Ulwelling were the on ice officials for that game. I can't say that I blame Zengerle, most of us have been upset with the WCHA officiating from time to time.

Sophomore center Mark Zengerle compounded the first episode when he was assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty for chirping at the officials, a misdeed that resulted in him sitting on the bench 10 minutes once he got out of the penalty box.

"I hope it's a lesson that (Zengerle) remembers," Eaves said.[Madison.com]

Did Zengerle learn his lesson? I was thinking that maybe the quality of the on ice officials could improve. This season the officiating in the WCHA has been confusing, inconsistent and I could see how the players get confused and upset. As a fan, you never know what the referees are going to call from game to game. There is no consistency from the various on ice crews. What is a penalty one game; isn’t the next weekend.

I hope when the Big Ten Hockey Conference and the NCHC form that the NCHC can start over and acquire new on ice officials, it would be a good time to start fresh in the on ice officials department. Enough is enough, after watching the WCHA on a regular basis since 1993; I have to say that the quality of officiating has degraded to a very low level.

I would caution the newly formed NCHC from entertaining the idea that the current band of WCHA officials will suffice as on ice officials for NCHC play. I don’t care if a certain WCHA official lives in Colorado, let’s pay the extra money as a league and fly someone else in to officiate games in Denver or Colorado Springs.

There are other competent official’s currently officiating hockey games in other levels of hockey, one idea would be to recruit officials from the USHL who have a higher standard of quality than the WCHA.

The referees in the WCHA remind of a bunch of Keystone Kops or a bunch of bumbling buffoons, making stuff up as they go. College hockey deserves better and it’s time we took action and demand better. The status quo is no longer acceptable.

Hockey's Endangered Species

This was a story that was on line this morning, I know it's about a Wisconsin Badger player, but Justin Schultz is probably one of the best defensive players that I have seen play in college hockey for a very long time. In my opinion, this kid could probably be playing for the Anaheim Ducks right now and the Ducks have to be licking their lips with the prospects of having Schultz in their line up. I think you’re also looking at one of the 2012 Hobey Baker finalists.

Mike Sielski, Wall Street Journal --- As the NCAA's statistical outlier at his position, Schultz has the potential to develop into a creature that's been all but extinct from the NHL for two decades: the dominant offensive defenseman.

In the 20 years since the New York Rangers' Brian Leetch finished the 1991-92 season with 102 points, no NHL defenseman has topped the century mark. Only one, Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom, has reached 80 in the last 15 years. And given the manner in which the sport has evolved, it's an open question whether a player of Schultz's skills and pedigree will ever approach 100 points again.

Monday, November 21, 2011

He's back... Sid blows the door off of the Islanders

The face of the NHL is back and what a start for the Penguins Sidney Crosby; talk about coming back with a vengeance, two goals and two assists and eight shots on goal and Crosby logged 15:54 of ice time.

I think most of us will realize that the game of hockey is better off with Sidney Crosby in the line up. Crosby had been out of the lineup since January 5th, 2011 when he suffered a concussion after being driven hard into the boards by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.

Dr Recchi rips Vancouver, Bieksa rips Recchi

Image by slidingsideways via Flickr

Apparently Dr. Mark Recchi has stirred up the Vancouver Canucks with a few of his comments he made on a radio show in Boston last week.

You can hear Recchi's comments on the media file below. If my memory serves me right I also recall saying some of the same things about the Vancouver Canucks, " I have said in the past that the Vancouver Canucks are one of the most unlikable teams in the NHL (next to the Montreal Canadians and their fans)."

Below is the transcript of Recchi's comments.

“(In) 22 years they are the most arrogant team I played against and the most hated team I’ve ever played against,” Recchi said on 98.5 the Sports Hub. “I couldn’t believe their antics, their falling and diving. It was very frustrating, but at the same time as the series wore on we knew we were getting to them and we knew our physical play and our skating, I think it caught them off guard a little bit.”

Apparently the Vancouver Canucks didn't appreciate Mark Recchi's comments. In particular Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa was less than impressed with Recchi's comments as well.

NESN.COM --- "Isn't he retired? What's he doing? Tell him to go play a round of golf or take a nap," Bieksa said, according to The Province.
Bieksa then insisted that you can call the Canucks a lot of things, but he doesn't think "arrogant" is one of them.

"The twins are so humble and you may not like playing against guys like Maxim Lapierre and Alex Burrows, but they're not arrogant," he said. "I just don't get it. Mark Recchi can go take a nap."

Really? In my opinion, I think Alex Burrows and Maxim Lapierre are two of the biggest frauds in the NHL, when these two clowns aren't posing as punks on the ice they they are diving up and down the ice when ever the opposition breaths on them.

Poll Monday - Merrimack College top both polls.

That's right folks the Merrimack College Warriors are the top team in the nation sporting a 8-0-1 record.

WCHA Power Rankings – November 20

Image via WikipediaHere are my weekly WCHA Power Rankings. Each Week Zach Friedli and I post the ranking at INSIDE HOCKEY.

1. Minnesota – (8-2-0 WCHA, 11-3-0) Split a home and home series with Saint Cloud State, This weekend the Gophers travel to East Lansing to play the Michigan State Spartans. The Gophers have split their last two WCHA series.

2. UMD – (7-2-1 WCHA, 9-3-2) The Bulldogs swept the hapless Minnesota State Mavericks in Duluth this past weekend. This weekend the Bulldogs are idle. The Bulldogs have played 10 of their first 14 games at home.

3. Denver – (4-2-3 WCHA, 5-3-3) Took three points from Nebraska Omaha this past weekend, This week home against Princeton and Miami.

4. Colorado College – (5-2-0 WCHA, 7-2-0) The Tigers Swept the Wisconsin Badgers and travel to Grand Forks, ND to play the Fighting Sioux.

5. St. Cloud State – (4-3-1 WCHA, 6-6-2) The Huskies split with the Minnesota Gophers this past weekend. This weekend the Huskies travel to Omaha Nebraska to play the Mavericks.

6. Nebraska-Omaha – (5-3-2 WCHA, 6-6-2) The Mavericks took one point from the Pioneers in Denver this past weekend. This weekend the Mavericks are at home to play the SCSU Huskies.

7. Michigan Tech – (5-4-1 WCHA, 7-4-1) The Tech Huskies split with the UAA Seawolves in Anchorage this past weekend. This weekend the Huskies travel to Canton, NY to play St. Lawrence in a non-conference tilt. From the interesting statistics department, the Huskies are 6-1-1 in Houghton, Michigan but 1-3-0 on the road.

8. Wisconsin – (4-7-1 WCHA, 5-8-1) The Badgers were swept by the Tigers this past weekend in Colorado Springs. This weekend the Badgers entertain the Mercyhurst Lakers in a non-conference tilt. From the interesting statistics department, the Badgers are 5-3-0 at home and a dismal 0-5-1 on the road.

9. Bemidji State – (3-6-1 WCHA, 5-8-1) The Beavers split with the UND Fighting Sioux this past weekend. The win on Sunday night ended a 40 year drought against the Fighting Sioux. The Beavers are off this weekend.

10. North Dakota – (2-6-0, 4-7-1) The Fighting Sioux split with the BSU Beavers in Bemidji this past weekend. This weekend the Sioux entertain the Colorado College Tigers. The Fighting Sioux are 3-2-1 at home and have dismal 1-5-0 record on the road. From the interesting statistics department, the Fighting Sioux have given up 9 goals in five games and have a 2-3 record. The Fighting Sioux are fifth in the WCHA in defense but 10th in the WCHA in scoring.

11. Minnesota State – (2-6-0 WCHA, 3-9-0) The Mavericks were swept in the Amsoil arena this past weekend by the UMD Bulldogs. This weekend the Mavericks travel to Anchorage to play the UAA Seawolves.

12. Alaska-Anchorage – (1-7-0 WCHA, 4-7-1) The Seawolves split with the Tech Huskies this past weekend in Anchorage, Alasaka, this weekend the Seawolves entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks. The Seawolves ended a six game winless streak with their victory over the Huskies on Friday night.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Beavers end streak, beat Sioux 1-0.

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athl...

Image via Wikipedia

Bemidji Minnesota -- The Fighting Sioux hockey team rebounded nicely last night with a hard fought 5-2 win, after being swept two weekends ago by the Minnesota Gophers down in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Last night the Fighting Sioux went back to work and gutted out a hard fought win by scoring three goals in the final five minutes of the game to end a two game losing streak.

Fast forward to tonight; the Fighting Sioux looked to complete their first sweep of the season with a win in Bemidji against the Bemidji State Beavers. There would be no sweep as the Bemidji State Beavers beat the Fighting Sioux for first time in the modern era and ended an impressive streak of 19-0-1.

After the game Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol had this to say about his team’s effort, “we had a lot of people in the lineup that didn't provide their lot to their teammates.”

The first period of today's game was reminiscent of a title fight where both teams felt each other out and tested their opponent’s defense but got few opportunities to score. Both teams played tight defensive hockey and gave up very few scoring opportunities. The Beavers outshot the Sioux 6-5 in the first period.

In the Second period the Beavers came out on fire and applied pressure early and kept the puck in the Fighting Sioux end. The Beavers tested Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell with a pair of glorious scoring opportunities that he smartly turned aside.

At the 7:56 mark of the second period the Fighting Sioux went down two men when Andrew MacWilliam took a penalty for interference and Mark MacMilliam was called for holding.

The Beavers attacked the Fighting Sioux net and cashed in on the power play at the 09:08 mark of the second period when Beavers defenseman Brad Hunt took a hard shot that Aaron Dell saved. Beaver forward Jordan George was Johnny on the spot and shot the rebound into the Sioux net to give the Beavers a one goal lead.

After the power play goal by the Beavers, the Fighting Sioux applied pressure on the Beaver net but could not get anything past Beaver goalie Dan Bakala. The Beavers outshot the Sioux 11-10 in the middle period.

The Beavers started out the third period with a breakaway from forward Jamie MacQueen, as he raced in on Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell only to have Dell rob him.

At the 07:21 mark of the third period, the Beavers defenseman Matt Carlson would be called for a five minute major and a game misconduct for planting Fighting Sioux forward Mario Lamoureux into the end boards. The Fighting Sioux were unable to cash in on the five minute power play.

The Fighting Sioux would get a few opportunities to tie the score, but they were unable to get one past the Bemidji goalie Dan Bakala. The Beavers frustrated the Fighting Sioux all night long by getting in the passing lanes and taking away the Fighting Sioux's time and space. In the third period the Beavers defense collapsed around the Beaver goal and didn't give the Fighting Sioux much to look at.

Beaver goalie Dan Bakala credited his forwards fore-check for tonight’s win, “our forwards were kind of getting in the way of the shots from their defense and that is where most of their shots were coming from, not to many times you’re going to score from the blue line and that is where most of their shots came from.”

After the game Beavers head coach Tom Serratore had this to day about his team ending the 40 year losing streak against the Sioux, “we played 60 good minutes of hockey, we earned the victory and killed nine minutes of penalties, we did a very good job killing those nine minutes, the kids showed a lot of resiliency. I thought it was a hard fought victory and the boys earned it and I was proud of how they competed.

Cross Posted at INSIDE Hockey

Sioux vs Beavers game 2

Tonight's game between teh Sioux and Beavers can be viewed on the [B2 Network]

13 Connor Gaarder – 28 Stephane Pattyn – Andrew Panzarella

Fighting Sioux Defensive Parings

4 Derek Forbort – 24 Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A) – Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson – 20 Joe Gleason

Fighting Sioux goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

Fighting Sioux stats

BSU Beaver Forward Lines

9 Ben Kinne ( C ) – 14 Aaron McLeod – 28 Jordan George

17 Jamie MacQueen – 11 Shea Walters – 4 David Boehm
12 Jeff Jubinville – 13 Drew Fisher – 6 Darcy Findlay
16 Danny Mattson – 7 Brance Orban – 21 Matt Hartmann

BSU Beaver Defensive Parings

8 Jake Areshenko (A) – 25 Brady Wacker
29 Brad Hunt (A) – 22 Matt Prapavessis
5 Matt Carlson – 15 Sam Windle

BSU Beaver Goalies

33 Dan Bakala
30 Andrew Walsh
35 Mathieu Dugas

BSU Beaver player stats

Matt Frattin scores his first NHL goal

Congrats to former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin for getting that elusive first NHL goal. It’s your typical Frattin a blast...In 17 games for the Leafs Frattin has 1g-1a—2g pts.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sioux extend streak against Beavers 5-2

Bemidji, MN. -- Coming into tonight's game, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux had won one game in six and were coming off a bye week. They were looking to get back on track after being swept at the hands of the high flying Minnesota Gophers.

The Sioux have never lost to the Bemidji State University Beavers in the modern era 19-0-1, sporting a 14-0-1 mark in the last 15 games. The Sioux extended that streak to 15-0-1 tonight with a goal from Captain Mario Lamoureux.

The Fighting Sioux have never lost a hockey game when Mario Lamoureux scores a goal. The steak was extended to 13-0-0 when Lamoureux has scored the game winning goal for the Fighting Sioux tonight.

When Lamoureux was asked about his ability to score timely goals he said, "When I score I hope that they're big goals, and I just try to go out to play the same way and bury some goals and help the team win, it's more coincidence."

So far this season, it would be safe to say that the Fighting Sioux have suffered their share of setbacks and on Friday the Sioux learned that their highly touted freshman forward Roco Grimaldi had another setback in his recovery and would not play this weekend, and would be out an addtional six to eight weeks.

The Bemidji State Beavers broke through first at the 02:11 mark of the first period. Beaver forward Brance Orban took a feed from Mitch Cain and shot the puck past an un-expecting Aaron Dell. That was the eighth time in 11 games that the Fighting Sioux had given up the first goal of the game.

The Sioux would go on the power play at the 06:43 mark of the first period, when Beavers forward Shea Walters was assessed a two-minute penalty for hooking. The Sioux would waste little time on the ensuing power play, scoring six seconds later with a goal from Corbin Knight. Knight took a loose puck from behind the Beaver net, cut in front of the Beaver net, and shot the puck past Beaver goalie Dan Bakala. The Beavers outshot the Fighting Sioux 11-7 in the first period.

The Sioux took the lead at the 04:30 mark of the second period when freshman forward Brendan O'Donnell took a loose puck that was lying in the crease and shot the puck past Bakala to give the Sioux a 2-1 lead. That was the first career goal for O'Donnell, who had just returned after missing that last six games with a lower body injury.

The Fighting Sioux seemed to pick up their play during the second period and outshot the Beavers 14-8. Both teams exchanged grade "A" scoring chances in the second period but both goalies stood tall and didn?'t let anything else by them.

The Sioux came out flat in the third period and the Beavers capitalized on the Fighting Sioux's sloppy play in the defensive zone. This allowed the Beavers to tie the game at the 01:12 mark of the third period with a nifty goal from Shea Walter, who took a cross-ice feed from Brady Wacker and shot the puck past the Sioux goalie, Dell, who was trying to get over to cover the post.

The two teams would exchange scoring opportunities until the Fighting Sioux broke the tie with a goal at the 15:22 mark of the third period, when Fighting Sioux Captain Mario Lamoureux snaped a shot from the faceoff circle to give the Sioux a 3-2 lead. Picking up the assist on Lamoureux's game winning goal were Ben Blood and Joe Gleason.

The Fighting Sioux extended their lead to two with another snap shot from the same faceoff circle, this time it was Brock Nelson at the 18:30 mark of the third period. Nelson would score again, this time an empty net goal a minute and one second later. The Sioux outshot the Beavers 15-6 in the third period.

Box Score

Cross Posted at INSIDE HOCKEY.

Sioux and Beavers game 1

Fighting Sioux Forward lines

29 Brock Nelson – 10 Corbin Knight (A) – 7 Danny Kristo
21 Brendan O’Donnell – 16 Mark MacMillian – 11 Derek Rodwell
9 Mario Lamoureux (C ) – 27 Carter Rowney – 15 Michael Parks
14 Taylor Dickin – 28 Stephane Pattyn – 13 Connor Gaarder

Fighting Sioux Defensive Parings

4 Derek Forbort – 24 Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A) – Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson – 20 Joe Gleason

Fighting Sioux goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

Fighting Sioux stats

BSU Beaver Forward Lines

9 Ben Kinne ( C ) – 14 Aaron McLeod – David Boehm
17 Jamie MacQueen – 11 Shea Walters – 28 Jordan George
12 Jeff Jubinville – 13 Drew Fisher – 6 Darcy Findlay
7 Brance Orban – 27 Mitch Cain – Matt Hartmann

BSU Beaver Defensive Parings

8 Jake Areshenko (A) – 25 Brady Wacker
29 Brad Hunt (A) – 22 Matt Prapavessis
5 Matt Carlson – 15 Sam Windle

BSU Beaver Goalies

33 Dan Bakala
30 Andrew Walsh
35 Mathieu Dugas

BSU Beaver player stats

Friday, November 18, 2011

NCHC is down to Two Finalists for Commissioner (RW77)

Kevin Pates of the Duluth News Tribune wrote a story stating that Former USA Olympic Committee CEO Jim Scherr is one of two finalists for the position of Commissioner of the NCHC and is considered the frontrunner.

Here is the article.

Scherr is currently a Marketing Firm founder and CEO after being CEO (interim and otherwise) of the US Olympic Committee from 2003-2009 (He was on the staff since 2000). He was a former Olympic caliber wrestler and former NCAA collegiate wrestler at University of Nebraska.

This article doesn't really go into a lot of depth regarding how Scherr's experience lines up with hockey (other than one of his partners in his marketing firm once held a similar position with USA Hockey but what does that matter?). However, taking the article at what it is worth... factoring in a little Wikipedia and Google I found a few interesting tidbits:

1. In 2009, Scherr abruptly called an Emergency Meeting and resigned. No real straightforward answer was given as to why. Hmmmmmmmm.

2. The departure was stated to be mutually decided upon but came in the wake of a power shift away from Scherr, or at least weakening his control of the USOC. Why would he depart after everyone said, including the USOC spokespeople, that Scherr was a great leader that put the USOC in a position of excellence not seen before? No one has ever gotten fired for being successful right? Something's not right here.

3. In Scherr's defense, the excuse given USA Today was that the power shift came after Scherr dared to announce a 17% downsizing of the USOC committee to meet budgetary needs.

Well, I found no correlation between Scherr and hockey and hockey administration. It seems as though he is being brought in solely because of his marketing and financial expertise. Not altogether bad... for a Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer position. But wouldn't you want someone with hockey background (at least in some capacity) to be the Commissioner? Sure, he led the USOC through 2 Winter Olympics that featured hockey, but that was a small part of a big organization not solely focused on hockey.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what a commissioner's role really entails in a hockey conference. Maybe this is truly what is needed? But it seems like they're going to hire someone who has no idea on how to run a hockey conference to run a hockey conference.

Baffling.

What's Going on in Sioux Town (RW77)

We are off to an ugly start and are looking heavily to Bemidji to "right the ship." Goon cited some statistics and you can take them any way you want, but I think it comes down to three factors: Special Teams, Depth, and Youth.

Special Teams

Green Glasses are off on this one. The Sioux are just terrible on the Power Play. Just... Just Terrible. It's amazing to see BSU be actually worse than the Sioux because the best way to describe the Sioux Powerplay is: Point shot and Time Killer Together Forever. We are back to the endless cycle to point shot routine.

Goon cited another interesting quote that I agree with, but I'm drawing a blank as to whether this quote is in reference to the Power Play but I think it is 150% accurate when used in the Power Play context. The quote was: "It seems like the entire team stands around watching Kristo make plays." I'd love to say that Kristo is too shot prone but take him off the ice and it seems like it takes pulling teeth to get a shot off and when the shot does come, it comes from the point in one of two areas that are usually Kristo shot locations anyways. When the Power Play becomes that predictable it almost seems like the PK team has 8 skaters and a goaltender on the ice and the PP team is basically 1 player.

To beat a dead horse: I wouldn't be too scared of going down a man vs. UND right now.

PK is better and I'm not all too concerned about this. It mostly comes down to bad timing and bad penalties being more a concern than bad PK.

Depth

Brad Schlossman pines for more 3rd and 4th line scoring. But... When you are dressing Senkbeil as a forward, a man (again according to Schlossman) who readily admits that he's never played forward at a high level before, you know you have no depth at forward.

Add into the mix that O'Donnell has been missing time and Grimaldi has what... 4 games or so under his belt and now he's out for at best 12 games (assuming no more bye weeks) and St. Clair can't qualify academically or screwed up somewhere in that path... Well. The Sioux are in trouble.

Yes, the top line is dynamic and great but this isn't the DOT line. They cannot carry the team. In fact, the DOT line couldn't even carry the team.

Youth

They look young and nervous on the ice. They seem to also have deer in the headlights looks to them when they face experienced high end teams. They're desperate early and fall apart late. It's also like the falling apart comes because they put too much into the first period and seem to fade halfway through the second due to fatigue.

Where does Coaching fall into this?

Ok, I'm going to continue to stand up for Hakstol. You can't judge the youth on this team's future by the first half of their freshman year, but it can tell you what is being set up and what to prepare for down the stretch. I think Hakstol is being firm, but realistic with the troops. He's not pressing... yet. Like him or not, he may be due for an off year. Throw out the NC aspect and Hak has led some dynamite teams as of late but even the best of teams have occasional down years. I hope this isn't one of them.

However, I have said this over and over again: In Hak I trust. I will trust him even when we do lose. Even if we lose to teams like UAA or BSU or MSUM.

I also think that these players will improve and they will be good. I'm not sure if there are any great players on the team (even Grimaldi gets a question mark due to health) outside of the first line. But I will forever be optimistic. I will forever bleed Kelly Green. And I will forever yell GO SIOUX!

More bad news for UND, Roco Grimaldi out for 6-8 weeks.

In a season where the Fighting Sioux have failed to get any puck luck; got some more bad news today. Super freshman Roco Grimaldi will be out for 6-8 weeks.

Grand Forks Herald --- UND men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol said Friday that freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi will be sidelined approximately six to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Grimaldi, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Rookie of the Year, has appeared in only four of UND’s first 10 games this season due to the injury and has one goal and one assist.

This is horrible news for the Fighting Sioux because they have struggled to score goals this season and have scored a measly 12 goals in six games, that's good for 10th place in scoring in the WCHA. You’re not going to win many games only scoring two goals per game. I guess we can chalk it up as another challenge for the Fighting Sioux. Not to mince words but its gut check time for the Fighting Sioux; it’s time for someone to step up and contribute on the ice for the Fighting Sioux.

Yesterday while listening to the INCH podcast Jess Meyers said, I am paraphrasing, that the Fighting Sioux are a bunch of guys standing around watching Danny Kristo make plays. I think to a certain degree that is true. After Danny Kristo, Corbin Knight and Brock Nelson no one is putting points on the board. This weekend begins a very big stretch for the Fighting Sioux as they will attempt to get points and not get buried in the standings.

Who will be the players to step up offensively for the Fighting Sioux? Only time will tell.

Goon's picks for 11/8-11/20

Fri 11/18/11 Minnesota at St. Cloud State 7:37 p.m. CT (TV-FSN,Charter)
Fri 11/18/11 Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth 7:37 p.m. CT (TV-My9)
Fri 11/18/11 Nebraska Omaha at Denver 7:37 p.m. MT (TV-Root) DirecTV 683
Fri 11/18/11 Wisconsin at Colorado College 7:37 p.m. MT
Fri 11/18/11 Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Sat 11/19/11 Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-My9)
Sat 11/19/11 North Dakota at Bemidji State 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-LPT)
Sat 11/19/11 St. Cloud State at Minnesota 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-FSN) DirecTV 675
Sat 11/19/11 Nebraska Omaha at Denver 7:07 p.m. MT
Sat 11/19/11 Wisconsin at Colorado College 7:07 p.m. MT
Sat 11/19/11 Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Sun 11/20/11 North Dakota at Bemidji State 5:07 p.m. CT (TV-LPT)

Minnesota vs. St. Cloud – Split
Minnesota State vs. Minnesota Duluth – Sweep Bulldogs
Nebraska Omaha vs. Denver – Split
Wisconsin vs. Colorado College – Tigers three points.
North Dakota vs. Bemidji State – Sioux Sweep
Michigan Tech vs. Alaska Anchorage – Seawolves three points

Record last week 6-3 Record for the season 30-29

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Through These Doors, episode 6

I don't think that Fighting Sioux captain Mario Lamoureux gets enough credit, Lamoureux is the prototypical captain in my opinion. Like Carter Rowney said, Lamoureux plays for the logo on the front of the jersey not the name on the back. Go Sioux.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

WCHA STANDINGS

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

WCHA Games

Wisconsin @ #5 Colorado College
Last weekend the Badgers split with the Gophers in Madison and the Tigers lost one game to the Pioneers in Denver.

The Tigers are averaging just over 4 goals per game in league play, whereas the Badgers are just over 3gpg. So with those types of offensive numbers these games could turn into some shoot outs. Wisconsin in winless this year away from the Kohl center but will look to end that streak this weekend in C-Springs. The Tigers are 2-0-0 at World Arena this year. TIGER’S 3-POINTS

#1 Minnesota @ St. Cloud State
Last weekend the Gophers split with the Badgers in Madison and the Huskies split with the Mavericks in Mankato.

The Gophers are rolling right along this year with only a few little bumps on their road, they are 10-2-0 overall. The Huskies are off to a solid start going 5-5-2 overall, and are undefeated at the NHC, 2-0-2. The Huskies will be up for this series along with the “Dog Pound” I’m sure. Since these schools are located about 60 miles apart, they are neighbors, but don’t count on them being very neighborly. SPLIT

#19 Nebraska-Omaha @ #11 Denver
Last weekend the Mavericks took 3-points from the Beavers in Bemidji and the Pioneers took a win over their rival CC in Denver.

The Mavericks continue on their road trips this weekend taking a road trip across I-80 and I-76 to Denver. UNO has fared well on the road this season going 2-2-1 away from Omaha. The Pioneers are almost perfect at Magness Arena owning a 3-1-1 record at home. DU has given up a lot of goals this year, (not typical for a Gwozdecky a team) so they will need to limit the Mavericks scoring chances if they want to get some points and gain on UNO in the standings. SPLIT

North Dakota @ Bemidji State
Last weekend the Sioux enjoyed a free weekend and the Beavers got 1-point against the visiting UNO Mavericks in Bemidji.

The Sioux ruined the opening of the Beavers new stadium last year by sweeping them in Bemidji. I’m sure that will serve as motivation for this year’s squad. The Sioux have a young team this year and are still learning as they go. UND will need to find ways to score some more goals if they want to get some wins. The Sioux have only scored 12-goals in 6 league games, ugh. The Beavers will need to get the crowd into it this weekend, that means scoring first and playing with the lead. If UND can find the back of the net more than twice a game they can win this weekend. SPLIT

Minnesota State @ #8 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Mavericks split with the SCSU Huskies in Mankato and the Bulldogs swept the Seawolves in Duluth.

The Bulldogs are leading the WCHA in scoring differential, they are a +14 this year, while the Mavericks are a -7. The numbers point to a Bulldog sweep, but we all know that numbers don’t predict the future. MSUM has had a rash of early season injuries and is learning how to adapt and over come, so don’t look surprised if the Mavericks leave Duluth with a point or two this weekend. BULLDOGS 3-POINTS

#15 Michigan Tech @ Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend the Huskies enjoyed bye and the Seawolves were swept by the Bulldogs in Duluth.

The Huskies are 6-1-1 in Houghton this year, but they are 0-2-0 away from the upper peninsula. The Seawolves offense this year has been offensive, they have scored only 4 goals in 6 league games, ouch. MTU has scored 24-goals in 8 WCHA games. It goes without saying , if you don’t score, you can’t win, period. UAA has to bury some pucks if they want to erase that goose egg in the wins column. SPLIT

Bryon Paulazzo - Winning Shootout Goal vs Michigan

s/t to Ryan Schaefer for giving me a heads up on this amazing shootout goal. First off, I know a lot of hockey purists are not big fans of the shootout, during the regular season I think it's a great way to settle a hockey game, but I would never want to see game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals settled this way. That being said, nothing pleases me more than watching Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick give up a goal, especially one like this.

KYPOST.COM --- Miami sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo scored the lone goal in the shootout as the RedHawks picked up the extra point after tying the Wolverines, 3-3 at Cady Arena on Saturday.

Paulazzo skated to the top of the crease and appeared ready to fire a wrist shot to the right of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick. Instead he pivoted, went to his backhand and lifted the puck over Hunwick for the shootout-winning top shelf goal.

Paulazzo’s goal came in the fourth round after all three skaters for both teams failed to find the net. After his acrobatic tally, Miami senior goalie Cody Reichard turned aside his fourth straight shot to end the game.

NCHC sending out press releases.

According to Roman Augustoviz and Shane Frederick the NCHC is already sending out press releases two season before their first games are to begin.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 16, 2011

Two members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference will square off head-to-head this week when No. 11 Denver hosts No. 19 Nebraska Omaha in a two-game set at Magness Arena. Five other members of The National will face off in conference action as fifth-ranked Colorado College hosts Wisconsin, Miami welcomes Bowling Green, eighth-ranked Minnesota Duluth takes on Minnesota State, North Dakota travels to Bemidji State and St. Cloud State plays a home-and-home series with top-ranked Minnesota. Only Western Michigan, which played a rare Tuesday game at Notre Dame, is off. The Broncos return to action next Tuesday by hosting the Irish.

LAST WEEK’S ACTION

Seven of the eight members of The National were in action last week with only North Dakota idle. Those teams posted a record of 6-4-2 which includes one game head-to-head between Colorado College and Denver. In that game, the Pioneers built a 5-1 lead only to see the Tigers claw back to make it a 5-4 final.
In other action, Minnesota Duluth continued its surge and is now unbeaten in its last eight (6-0-2) with 5-0 and 3-1 wins over visiting Alaska Anchorage. Miami earned three of four points against Michigan with a 2-1 win and a 3-3 tie at Cady Arena. Nebraska Omaha did the same on the road, tying Bemidji State, 3-3, before closing the weekend with a 5-1 win at the Sanford Center.

St. Cloud State worked out a road split at Minnesota State. After dropping the first game, 4-2, the Huskies rebounded for a 3-2 win.

The National release then has notes on all eight teams.

The NCHC is trying to build its brand early, I guess. Still seems a little strange to me.

* Jim Scherr, CEO of a marketing firm and former CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is one of two finalists for the job as commissioner of the National, according to several sources. He lives in Colorado Springs where the NCHC will have its offices.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Chris Stewart gets suspended for three games.

You would think that after the first three or four of these suspensions that the players in the NHL would get the message; if the player is facing the boards you can't hit him. Someone is going to get maimed for life by one of these checking from behind plays.

I guess we are going to keep seeing these videos from the NHL until the players in the NHL get the message. In this case Chris Stewart absolutely destroys Detroit's Niklas Kronwall.

Are the Fighting Sioux getting ready for a second half run?

Here is a breakdown of Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol’s record before and after the Christmas break for every year that he has been at the University of North Dakota.

Year            Before                   After
2004-05    13-7-2 (.636)      12-8-3 (.587)
2005-06   12-7-1 (.625)        17-9-0 (.654)
2006-07   7-10-1 (.417)        17-4-4 (.760)
2007-08   8-6-1 (.567)         20-5-3 (.768)
2008-09   9-8-1 (.528)          15-7-3 (.660)
2009-10   9-6-3 (.583)          16-7-2 (.680)
2010-11   13-5-2 (.700)        19-4-1 (.813)
2011-12    3-6-1 (.389) ? --
Totals 74-55-12 (.567) --- 116-44-16 (.705)

I was listening to the Gopher Puck Live podcast tonight while I was out walking the dog and the Gopher Puck Live hosts were looking at this weeks match up between the Fighting Sioux and Bemidji State University Beavers; Ryan Cardinal said, “you can’t win a league tile in the first half but you can lose it.” That is very true, no one has hung a banner based on their play during the first two months of the season. However, championship teams tend to stay in the hunt during the early part of the season.

In looking at the numbers courtesy of Jayson Hajdu of the UND SID office, I am wondering if the Fighting Sioux are getting set for another patented second half run. If the Fighting Sioux don't start winning game fast they might have to play for a bid to the Final Five on the road. That being said, there is a lot of hockey left to play this season.

Paul Ladue CCM Defensive Player of the Week

USHL Photo

Former Grand Forks Central Knight's Star Paul Ladue is the USHL's CCM Defensive Player of the Week.

USHL.COM --- Paul Ladue recorded six points (1g, 5a) and a plus-four rating to help the Stars win all four of their games during the week and take over the top spot in the Western Conference standings. He assisted on the game-winning goal in three straight games – Tuesday’s 6-2 win vs. Sioux City, Friday’s 3-2 win over Sioux Falls, and again during Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Omaha. The 19-year-old then was the hero on Sunday as he scored the game-winning goal with just four seconds remaining in the third period to give the Stars a 6-5 victory over Tri-City. Ladue, a native of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is second among USHL defensemen with 10 points (2g, 8a) and is tied for third overall in the League with a plus-nine rating.

Sioux and Beavers Series Preview

Cross Posted at Inside Hockey. The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux resume play this weekend when they travel to Bemidji, Minnesota to play the Bemidji State University Beavers in a WCHA series Saturday 7:07 PM CT and Sunday 7:07 PM CT.

Image via Wikipedia

If you were to look at the WCHA standings you will see that the Beavers are currently ninth in the WCHA standings three points ahead of the Fighting Sioux. The Sioux currently occupy 11^th place in the WCHA standings.

Since the 2002-03 season the Fighting Sioux have an almost perfect 14-0-1 record against the BSU Beavers.

The games will be on Lakeland Public Television Bemidji, Minnesota. Play-by-play announcer Scott Williams and color commentator former BSU Beaver Eric Monsrud call the games for the Beavers.

Radio: The games can be heard at 96.1 the Fox.

Internet: Americaone [click to view]

Records and Rankings:

UND – 3-6-1 overall, 1-5-0 WCHA; unranked in both polls. The Fighting Sioux were idle last week.
BSU – 4-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 WCHA; unranked in both polls. The Beavers tied 3-3 and lost 5-1 to the UNO Mavericks.

Players to Watch:

For the Fighting Sioux junior forward Danny Kristo 4g-8a—12pts is the leading scorer. On the other side of the ice senior defenseman Brady Hunt 2g-9a—10 pts is the leading scorer or the Beavers.

Junior goalie Aaron Dell is the top goaltender for the Fighting Sioux. Dell has a 2-5-1 record with a 3.20 goals against average and a .875 save percentage.

Senior goalie Dan Bakala is the top goaltender for the Beavers. Bakala has a 2-4-1 record with a .302 goals against average with a .898 save percentage.

Key Numbers:

3 – The Beavers are ranked third in the WCHA on the penalty kill in the WCHA; the Beavers have killed 43/52 of their opponent’s power plays.

4 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked fourth on the penalty kill in the WCHA; the Fighting Sioux have killed 38/46 of their opponent’s power plays.

7 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked seventh in the WCHA in penalty minutes.

8 – The Fighting Sioux power play is ranked eighth in the WCHA going 9/51

9 – The Beavers power play is ranked ninth in the WCHA going 7/40

9 – The Beavers are ranked ninth in the WCHA in scoring.

10 – The Beavers are ranked 10^th in the WCHA in penalty minutes.

10 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked 10^th in the WCHA in scoring.

12 – The Fighting Sioux have scored 12 goals in six WCHA games.

14 – Aaron Dell is ranked 14^th in goals against average in the WCHA.

16 – Aaron Dell is ranked 16^th in save percentage in the WCHA.

Other games in the WCHA: Nebraska Omaha at Denver; Minnesota at Saint Cloud on Friday, Saint Cloud at Minnesota on Saturday; Michigan Tech at Alaska-Anchorage; Wisconsin at Colorado College; Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth.

Goon's World Extras

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