Flyers rough up the Pens

2012 U.S. Women’s National Team – IIHF Women’s World Championship Roster

United States forward Jocelyne Lamoureux in a game against the ECAC All-Stars on January 3, 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Congrats to UND Fighting Sioux forwards Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique Lamoureux-Kolls of North Dakota for making the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, which will be held on April 7-14 in Burlington, Vermont.

GOALTENDERS (3)              

29   Brianne McLaughlin   6/20/87   L Sheffield Village, Ohio            

 1    Molly Schaus   7/29/88  L  Natick, Mass.  Boston Blades (CWHL)

31   Jessie Vetter   12/19/85   L  Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

DEFENSEMEN (7)

22   Kacey Bellamy    4/22/87   L       Westfield, Mass.  Boston Blades (CWHL)

25   Megan Bozek    3/27/91     R      Buffalo Grove, Ill.   University of Minnesota (WCHA)

11   Lisa Chesson  8/18/86     L       Plainfield, Ill.

19   Gigi Marvin    3/7/87      R      Warroad, Minn.    Boston Blades (CWHL)

23   Michelle Picard   5/27/93   L       Taunton, Mass.    Harvard University (ECACH)

24   Josephine Pucci 12/27/90    R      Pearl River, N.Y.   Harvard University (ECACH)

15   Anne Schleper   1/30/90  L   St. Cloud, Minn.   University of Minnesota (WCHA)      

                        

FORWARDS (13)

20   Hannah Brandt    11/27/93    R      Vadnais Heights, Minn.    Hill-Murray School (Minn.)

13   Julie Chu    3/13/82      R      Fairfield, Conn.   Montreal Stars (CWHL)

26   Kendall Coyne  5/25/92    L    Palos Heights, Ill.   Northeastern University (HEA)

14   Brianna Decker   5/13/91  R    Dousman, Wis.   University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

6    Jillian Dempsey  1/19/91   L    Winthrop, Mass.  Harvard University (ECACH)                                 

28   Amanda Kessel    8/28/91  R   Verona, Wis.  University of Minnesota (WCHA)                                                     

21   Hilary Knight  7/12/89  R  Sun Valley, Id.  University of Wisconsin (WCHA)                                   

17   Jocelyne Lamoureux   7/3/89   R   Grand Forks, N.D.  University of North Dakota (WCHA)

 7    Monique Lamoureux-Kolls   7/3/89   R   Grand Forks, N.D.  University of North Dakota (WCHA)

 2    Erika Lawler   2/5/87   R    Fitchburg, Mass.     Boston Blades (CWHL)

12   Jenny Potter 1/12/79  L   Edina, Minn.    Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)                                  

16   Kelli Stack 1/13/88  R   Brooklyn Heights, Ohio  Boston Blades (CWHL)       

3    Taylor Wasylk   2/21/92  L Port Huron, Mich.  Boston College (HEA)  

Team Staff                                                                                                            

Director, Women’s Hockey: Reagan Carey, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Head Coach: Katey Stone, Arlington, Mass.
Assistant Coaches: Laura Halldorson, Minneapolis, Minn.; Bobby Jay, Burlington, Mass.

Goaltending Coach: Robb Stauber, Medina, Minn.

Head Strength & Conditioning Coach: Michael Boyle, Reading, Mass.

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Kevin Neeld, Philadelphia, Pa.

Team Doctor: Liz Matzkin, Boston, Mass.

Athletic Trainer: Jill Radzinski, Davis, Calif.

Video Coordinator: Sean Andrake, Glen Rock, N.J.

Massage Therapist: Jennifer Chee, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Equipment Manager: Brent Proulx, St. Paul, Minn.

Communications: Courtney Welch, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jutting out at Mankato

Wow!!! Just got home logged on to Twitter and this news just came out in the last half hour about about 8:00 PM. It looks like Troy Jutting's time has come to and end as the head coach of Minnesota State Minnesota Mankato.

Thomas Vanek with a good bounce

Check out this weird goal by former Gopher and current Buffalo Sabre Thomas Vanek. Talk about a gift goal, the Penguins attempt to clear the puck out of the zone, the puck bounces off a stanchion and right on the stick of Vanek who shots the puck past Brent Johnson.

You got to love Rick Generett  and his call of the Buffalo Sabre's goals. 

Interesting perspective on the NZT...

I think this is a pretty accurate description of the Neutral Zone Trap. Over the years we have watched a lot of teams that ran a 1-2-2 or a 1-4 and they were God awful teams to watch play hockey. The first team that comes to mind are the Wild and Devils teams that were coach by Jacques Lemaire, these teams were absolutely brutal teams to watch play hockey.

Blue Seat Blogs --- Some of the more conservative teams will trap once they have the lead. Other teams will trap at the end of each period regardless of the score. More moderate teams will trap when they do not get the puck in deep enough to work their aggressive forecheck. And finally, even those “north/south” puck pursuit teams will still trap when they are simply changing lines. Well the smart ones do anyway.

The point is the trap has evolved, but for some reason people’s perception of it hasn’t. So when I read that Zach Parise would be better off on a non-trapping team, or that the league should make more rules to undermine the trap’s effectiveness, I just laugh. People still aren’t getting it.

The game has changed and it is becoming increasingly difficult to paint players or coaches and their respective systems with broad strokes. So whether you’re the Bruins playing a 1-4, or the Devils playing a 1-2-2, or the Lightning playing a 1-3-1, a lot of it is all just hyperbole. The truth is the days of clogging up the neutral zone for the entire game may be over, but variations of these formations live on and they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

That being said, every team play the trap from time-to- time, I have seen the Fighting Sioux when they are up in a game late, employ the Neutral Zone Trap with great success.

Cornell head coach Mike Schafer employs this tactic as a regular game plan and they play it perfectly; a few years ago his team played UND won a grind it out 1-0 game and Cornell was badly outshot 28-15. The Big Red took the lead 1-0 in third period and then lined at the blue line and chipped the puck out of the zone. Personally, I am glad that I don’t have to watch that kind of hockey on a regular basis.

The best way to beat the trap is to enter the neutral zone with speed and get past the defenders. Also, another way to be a trap team is to get the lead forcing them to abandon their team game plan.

I don’t think we will ever see the end of the “trap” in modern hockey. Playing smart defensive hockey is a good recipe for victory and there are times that it is appropriate. Again, there is no reason to pinch a lot when your team has the lead and the best offensive opportunities come with active forwards off of the fore check of the defenseman.

Huskies Mike Lee Signs with the Desert Dogs

This was one of the more shocking pieces of news to surface today as Saint Cloud State Huskies goalie Mike Lee has signed a professional contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. Goon's Notebook: Mike Lee never was able to beat the UND Fighting Sioux in three season of play with the SCSU Huskies, Lee had a 0-6-1 record against the UND. 

With the departure of Lee,  Ryan Faragher is the only goalie with the Huskies with NCAA Division I college hockey experience. Faragher had a 2.77 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Faragher started 23 games (9-11-3) while Lee was out with a hip injury from October 15th till January 21st.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today the Coyotes have signed goaltender Mike Lee to a three-year entry-level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Mike Lee

The 6-foot-1, 195 pound Lee posted an 8-6-2 record with a 2.23 goals against average and a .930 save percentage with St. Cloud State (WCHA) in 16 games this season.

The 21-year-old native of Roseau, MN appeared in 74 games with the Huskies during his three-year career, posting a record of 32-29-9 with a 2.59 GAA and a .919 SV%.

He led Team USA to the gold medal game at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask., posting an undefeated record of 4-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .908 SV% in five games. Lee recorded the third-best SV% among tournament goaltenders.

Lee was selected by the Coyotes in the third round (91st overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft.

Related articles

• North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Final Five (insidehockey.com)
• UND vs. SCSU game notes (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Jason Chimera blows up Adam McQuaid

Check out this hit by Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera on Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. Chimera was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for this hit. Don't expect any further discipline from the Vice President of Players Safety Brendan Shanahan because the hit happened to a Boston Bruins player Chimera doesn't have a history of being suspended or fined by the NHL.

Related articles

• Adam McQuaid vs B.J. Crombeen (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Bruins and Canucks - more controversy (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• VIDEO: Cuts For A Cause With The Bruins (insidehockey.com)
• Bruins' New Acquisitions Fitting Right In (insidehockey.com)
• Milan Lucic works Patrick Kaleta like a speed bag (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Malkin hit on Boychuck (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Malkin not disciplined (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Time to Move on from Joe Corvo (insidehockey.com)

Visa Hockey Love Hurts

A person sent me this in an email today and I found this commercial to be very funny. Watching your favorite team either not make the playoffs or lose in the playoffs is tough to handle and sometimes it takes a few days to get over the sting of losing.

As a fan of the NHL's Boston Bruins, I had this same feeling for a very long time until they won it all last season.  Enjoy the video.

UCONN exploring move to Hockey East

Here is a story that has caught my eye. If a league wants to have an even number of teams you would believe that Hockey East needs a 12th member after adding Notre Dame. Enter the University of Connecticut, who has been exploring the possibility of moving their Division I hockey program to Hockey East.

The Hartford Courant ---- UConn announced in December that it had hired a sports consulting firm to “conduct a complete evaluation of its men’s ice hockey program.”

The purpose, a press release stated, was “to assess the program’s current level of support to that of Atlantic Hockey league members and other programs in the region. The assessment will include financial support, staffing, facilities and potential revenue sources.”

I don’t think that a program that is looking to upgrade its program by moving to a more competitive league is doing its cause a lot of good, when they come right out and say that they have money issues. Also, the arena formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center which was renamed the XL Center, would be the home of the UCONN Huskies because they don’t have a home arena that is considered acceptable by Hockey East Standards.

The Hartford Courant --- Hockey East is interested in UConn and the Huskies have interest in elevating their program, but money remains the major issue.

Hockey East officials are visiting UConn and the XL Center Thursday and reportedly meeting with Gov. Dannel P.Malloy, a source confirmed Wednesday. UConn officials had no comment.

Last year, UConn hired a national consulting firm to evaluate the hockey program and see how it compares with other Atlantic Hockey programs. New athletic director Warde Manuel, who was not at the school when the consultant was hired, does have a history with big-time hockey from his days at Michigan.

UMD's Jack Connolly makes the Hobey Hat Trick

Congrats to Bulldog Forward Jack Connolly for making the Hobey Hat Trick. I don't think there are any big shockers on this list.

Spencer Abbott – University of Maine, Senior, Forward, Hamilton, Ontario
From a recruited walk-on four years ago to a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, Spencer Abbott has had a remarkable four-year collegiate career.  Already recognized as the Player of the Year in Hockey East as well as a First Team all-star, the Black Bear assistant captain leads the nation in scoring and in assists.  In 39 games this season, Abbott scored 21 goals, assisted on another 41 for 62 total points.  His unselfish scoring exploits earned him the conference scoring title and he was named player of the month twice while piling up 18 multiple-point games.  Abbott is a Family Relations major and has been on the Dean’s List three times.  Spencer is active in the community helping with Special Olympics, assisting at youth hockey clinics and participating in charity games.  Abbott, a pro hockey free agent, just signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jack Connolly – University of Minnesota-Duluth, Senior, Forward, Duluth, Minnesota
A repeat Hobey top ten finalist, the Bulldog captain had a fantastic season winning the WCHA scoring title, being named a First Team all-star for the third straight season and capped it off as the league’s Player of the Year.  A two-time All American, Connolly is second in the nation in points and assists accumulating 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points in 41 games.  Duluth was the second highest scoring team in the nation this past season and Connolly never missed a college game, having played in 164 straight.  He was held pointless in consecutive games only twice in his illustrious four-year career.  The hometown hero is active in community endeavors helping with trash clean-up in the Adopt-A-Highway program, visiting Duluth hospitals, volunteering with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and working with various cancer fund-raisers.  He’s a Communications major with a 3.3 GPA.  He is a pro hockey free agent.  Hockey runs deep in the Connolly family as Jack’s older brother Chris, was the captain and second leading scorer for Boston University this past season.

Austin Smith – Colgate University, Senior, Forward, Dallas, Texas
Austin Smith completes the trifecta of Hobey scoring whizzes as the nation’s top sniper with 36 goals to go along with 21 assists for 57 total points, third best in the country.  Dangerous at all times, Smith leads the nation in short-handed goals with six and scored seven power play goals as well.  Winning the ECAC scoring title this past season, Smith was named the conference Player of the Year and a First Team all-star. Along the way, Smith scored 30 goals this season faster than any college player in the last 12 years and is currently third in the nation with a plus-25.  A Sociology and Anthropology major, Smith helps out with the Hamilton, NY Food Cupboard, assists with food and toy drives during the season and is involved with the local Goals for Good program.  He is a fifth round draft pick of the Dallas Stars.

UND’s tentative 2012-13 Schedule

s/t Brad Schlossman... The Schedule has a nice mix of game with nonconference matchups against UAA and UAF in the Alaska Gold Rush tourney in Fairbanks, Alaska to start the season, and then match-ups against Boston University and Notre Dame in November and finally a match up against Holy Cross after the first of the year.  

Oct. 6 — EXHIBITION
Oct. 12 — EXHIBITION
Oct. 19 — at Fairbanks tourney
Oct. 20 — at Fairbanks tourney (will play UAA and UAF here)
Oct. 26 — ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Oct. 27 — ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Nov. 2 — BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Nov. 3 — BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Nov. 9 — at St. Cloud State
Nov. 10 — at St. Cloud State
Nov. 16 — MINNESOTA-DULUTH
Nov. 17 — MINNESOTA-DULUTH
Nov. 23 — at Notre Dame
Nov. 24 — at Notre Dame
Nov. 30 — at Colorado College
Dec. 1 — at Colorado College
Dec. 7 — DENVER
Dec. 8 — DENVER
Dec. 14 — at Michigan Tech
Dec. 15 — at Michigan Tech
Jan. 4 — HOLY CROS
SJan. 5 — HOLY CROSS
Jan. 11 — COLORADO COLLEGE
Jan. 12 — COLORADO COLLEGE
Jan. 18 — at Minnesota
Jan. 19 — at Minnesota
Jan. 25 — ST. CLOUD STATE
Jan. 26 — ST. CLOUD STATE
Feb. 1 — WISCONSIN
Feb. 2 — WISCONSIN
Feb. 8 — at Nebraska Omaha
Feb. 9 — at Nebraska Omaha (outdoor game)
Feb. 22 — at Denver
Feb. 23 — at Denver
Mar. 1 — BEMIDJI STATE
Mar. 2 — BEMIDJI STATE
Mar. 8 — at Mankato
Mar. 9 — at Mankato
Mar. 15-17 — WCHA first round
Mar. 22-24 — WCHA Final Five
Mar. 29-31 — NCAA regionals (Grand Rapids, Mich., Toledo, Ohio, Providence, R.I., Manchester, N.H.)
Apr. 11-13 — NCAA Frozen Four (Pittsburgh)

J.T. Brown Bolts to the Lighting

The annual defections of college hockey players to the professional ranks is in full swing as the UMD Bulldogs lose their star power forward J.T. Brown,

Brown inked an entry level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning this afternoon.  It was rumored that Brown could have signed a professional deal last summer after wowing the college hockey world with outstanding performance during the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four at the Xcel Energy Center. Brown was also named the Most Outstanding Player during the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four, for his efforts.

Damian Cristodero, Lightning Strikes --- The Lightning on Wednesday acquired one of the nation’s most-coveted college players when it signed Minnesota-Duluth sophomore forward J.T. Brown to a two-year, two-way contract that runs through the 2012-13 season. The plan is to get him into the lineup Saturday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum against the Jets, GM Steve Yzerman said.

"He’s very talented, very competitive, good skill level, good skater,” Yzerman said. “I’m anxious to see him in there.”

Brown, 21, led UMD this season with 24 goals and in 80 games in two seasons had 40 goals and 84 points.

“Definitely exciting,” he said of signing with Tampa Bay. “It came down to having the right opportunity and being the right fit.

J.T. Brown is the son of former Minnesota Vikings running back Ted Brown who played in the NFL from 1979-1986.  Brown scored (40g-44a—84pts) in 81 games for the Bulldogs.

Brown is expected to make his NHL debut on Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning play the Winnipeg Jets in Tampa. 

My prediction for the Frozen Four

When I listen to the Gopher Puck Live I usually send in a tweet to the show. This week I sent in this prediction for the Gophers in the Frozen Four.

Before you shoot me full of holes, I don’t think it’s that far off of the mark. Apparently, some Gopher fans didn’t like my bold prediction, one thin skinned person called me an idiot. However, I will stand by this prediction and here is why. I have put a lot of thought into this prediction.

I have also watched my favorite team go down the Eagles in more than one Frozen Four.

Having watched a lot of college hockey this season, Boston College is hands down the best hockey team that I have seen play this season. I have not seen many teams that can match B.C.’s speed, not even the Gophers can.

Last week a couple of Bulldogs fans took issue with my prediction that I thought UMD would get rolled in the Northeast Regional championship game. I guess I wasn’t that far off the mark eh?

Last weekend the Boston College Eagles dismantled the UMD Bulldogs who had two of the best forward lines that I have seen in college hockey this season. The Eagles held the top line of Joe Basaraba, Jack Connolly and Mike Seidel off of the score sheet. That’s almost unheard of and not many teams can saw that they accomplished that this past season.

If History tells us anything the Boston College Eagles are deadly when they get to the NCAA Frozen Four. Here are some recent results.

2010 Frozen Four (Ford Field)

April 8th 2010 B.C. 7 Miami 1
April 10th 2010 B.C. 5 Wisconsin 0

*Miami was 27-7-7 and Wisconsin was 25-10-4

2008 Frozen Four (Denver)

April 10th 2008 B.C. 6 UND 1
April 12th 2008 Boston College 4 Notre Dame 1

*UND was 26-10-4 and Notre Dame was 24-15-4

Power Play

5 Minnesota 43/185 4 23.2
6 Boston University 45/197 2 22.8

Penalty Kill

3 Boston College 162/184 11 88.0
36 Minnesota 149/184 7 81.0

Scoring Defense

2 Boston College 42 87 2.07
9 Minnesota 42 93 2.21

Scoring Offense

1 Minnesota 42 154 3.67
6 Boston College 42 147 3.50

Humor - UND in the EZAC?

This is actually kind of comical and Sean Lee had this on his twitter feed.

This is actually a screen shot of the NCAA web page.

Jason Zucker to play right away for the Wild.

Sounds like former DU Pioneer's star Jason Zucker is going to play for the Minnesota Wild Right away, as early has this Thursday. With Zucker signing  a deal right away, this will cause Zucker to burn the first year of  a three year deal. 

Russo's Rants --- Jason Zucker has signed with the Wild, a three-year entry-level deal, starting this season.

He gets $70,000 signing bonus plus a prorated portion of a $700,000 salary these final 12 days of the season. He then gets $900,000 salaries each of the next two years if he plays in the NHL, which includes annual $90,000 signing bonuses.

If the Wild gets through tonight healthy (to be determined with this squad), a roster move will have to be made tomorrow. Very good chance he makes his NHL debut Thursday vs. Florida as long as he passes his physical tomorrow. He has told the Wild he's healthy.

Basically, the Wild's burning the first year of the deal, meaning he becomes a Group II and a Group III free agent one year earlier. The Wild had no problem with this. With unsigned Mikael Granlund and signed Brett Bulmer, Johan Larsson, Zucker, Zack Phillips and Charlie Coyle all turning pro and maybe signed defenseman Jonas Brodin, it could be problematic to have 7 guys up as restricted free agents in three years.

Related articles

• Minnesota Wild Essentially Out Of Playoffs; So What's Left to Watch? (minnesota.sbnation.com)
• Denver slips past Michigan Tech (insidehockey.com)
• Why Zucker didn't play last weekend. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Dineen: Hit that injured him a 'cheap shot' from Zucker (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Pioneers Advance To WCHA Finals With Double-OT Win (denver.cbslocal.com)

Double J of WTBX is our dirt bag of the week...

[click to listen]

First off where do we start? This guy is a buffoon. Seriously!!! I have been to Hibbing Minnesota, the place is a run down industrial town that is famous for  what, open pit mines and Iron Orr... I would take Grand Forks, ND over that dump any day.

Also, the Fighting Sioux have 7 NCAA titles and 15 Regulars Season Championships. For the people like me that aren't good at math; the University of North Dakota has more NCAA titles than all of the Division I schools in the state of Minnesota combined.

"Why am I being so hard on the UND fans? Simple, YOU ARE THE WORST! You are the Packer fans of college hockey! Keep your mulleted, dead gopher tossing 5xl jersey wearing selves out of our state. Quit trying to pretend you have any sort of pride in your hockey program! What you think North Dakota is any sort of hockey hotbed? Really, get a lot of recruits out of NoDak do ya? You do realize that your roster, year after year is comprised mainly of Minnesotans...Minnesotans who weren't good enough, smart enough or for legal reason able to play for one of our state schools! Yeah they are still hockey players, just too bad they have to wear the green and black!"

The most moronic comment of this guys rant is the comment about our Minnesota Players... So I guess that Danny Kristo, Nick Mattson, Derek Forbort Ben Blood, Joe Gleason and  Brock Nelson aren't good enough to play at the University of Minnesota or the other states schools. Yeah, Right. To take a quote from Forrest Gump, "stupid is that stupid does." 

You can share your thoughts here by clicking on this link.

Related articles

• Islanders won't pressure Nelson (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Sioux close out the season with loss to Gophers (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Islanders won't pressure Nelson

This is the worst time of the year when fans of college hockey teams have to worry if they are going lose their favorite college hockey players. According to Chris Botta, who is a writer for the New York Times and the New York Islanders had this to say about Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson on his twitter feed. 

This past week, DU lost  blue chippers Jason Zucker and Drew Shore in a matter of couple of days. So you never know what will happen and fans always seem to worry up until the puck drops in October.

Nelson takes home some hardware

Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson has made the All-CHN second team.


2011-12 All-CHN Team
First Team
F Jack Connolly, Sr., Minnesota-Duluth
F Spencer Abbott, Sr., Maine
F Austin Smith, Sr., Colgate
D Justin Schultz, Jr., Wisconsin
D Brian Dumoulin, Jr., Boston College
G Shawn Hunwick, Sr., Michigan

Second Team

F Brock Nelson, So., North Dakota
F Reilly Smith, Jr., Miami
F Drew Shore, Jr., Denver
D Torey Krug, Jr., Michigan State
D Danny Biega, Jr., Harvard
G Troy Grosenick, So., Union

Rookie Team

F Kyle Rau, Minnesota
F Johnny Gaudreau, Boston College
F Scott Wilson, Mass.-Lowell
D Joey LaLeggia, Denver
D Patrick McNally, Harvard
G Frank Slubowski, Western Michigan

Keith Ballard ‘was sleeping 16-18 hours a day' due to concussion

Associated Press Photo

Here is a story about former Golden Gopher and current Vancouver Canucks Keith Ballard and what he has gone through with a concussion that he suffered earlier this season playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

Elliott Pap, Vancouver --- Ballard, 29, participated in the Canucks' morning skate prior to their game against the Los Angeles Kings and talked later about what he has endured since his last lineup appearance Feb. 7 against Nashville.

It may provide some insight into what Daniel is facing, or has faced, since Duncan Keith's cheap-shot elbow took him out last Wednesday in Chicago.

“I had a lot of different stuff,” Ballard said. “I had dizziness and a lot of headaches during the day. I was sleeping 16-18 hours a day and, when I tried to do some light workouts, I ended up getting real sick and I'd be in bed for four days. By around the end of February, we almost had no choice but to just shut me down and not do anything. At that point, I couldn't get through a day without a lot of symptoms.”

According to Ballard, he was initially injured Feb. 5 in Colorado.

Aaron Dell will be just fine...

 Eric Hylden/Forum Communications Co.

This was in Ryan S. Clark’s hockey blog; I thought I would comment briefly. First pretty bold statements from the coach of the Fargo Force John Marks, especially when you’re talking about Fighting Sioux goaltender Aaron Dell who was an All-American goaltender during the 2010-11 season, Dell is also one of the better goaltenders to come through UND in probably the last ten seasons. During his time at UND Dell has an impressive 49-20-5 and 9 career shutouts.

Ryan S. Clarke, Slightly Chilled --- If losing to rival Minnesota on Sunday wasn’t bad, there’s even some more bad news for North Dakota goaltender Aaron Dell.

He might not be starting by Christmas, according to Fargo Force coach John Marks. Marks said after his team’s 4-2 win on Saturday he believes Force goaltender Zane Gothberg (North Dakota) has a legit shot of taking over as the No. 1 next season.

“I predict before Christmas Zane is the starting goalie at UND,” Marks said. “Dell better watch himself. But I also know he could leave too. (North Dakota head coach) Dave Hakstol and (assistant) Carey Eades and the Sioux have a good goalie coming in and he’s going to be one of the better ones they’ve had come in the last few years.”

Also, if you have watched the Fighting Sioux on a regular basis, you will remember that Aaron Dell came in last season and took over the starting role from a goaltender that was a two time all WCHA goalie in Brad Eidsness.

This season when Eids looked like he had regained his form from his Freshman and Sophomore seasons and played some key minutes and got back on a roll again, the head coach Dave Hakstol still came back with Aaron Dell. So I do find these comments to be interesting. I would predict that Gothberg is going to have to earn his playing time and I would be shocked to see Dell get the majority of the starts next season unless he decides to sign a professional contract.

Frattin on his injury and UND's season

I always loved to listen to Matt Frattin the Former Fighting Sioux forward as he is "definitely" media savvy around the camera and microphones. 

A chance to weigh in... What does UND need going forward?

Grand Forks Herald Picture

I could't agree more.

Coach Hakstol On the Fighting Sioux's season “Like I said, it’s impossible to try to, at this point in time, put the season into perspective. If we could sit down and do this in 48 hours, I probably would do a much better job of it. …A very proud group of men that really wouldn’t take no for an answer throughout the entire year. We gave ourselves a chance tonight. One of the questions was, ‘What happened tonight?’ We had a good first period. We didn’t make enough plays tonight. Once we got it back to 2-1, we made a mistake to allow it to go 3-1 without forcing Minnesota to make a great play, and that really turned the tide against us. Momentum’s a big thing in a hockey game. That was a huge momentum swing tonight. In terms of our season, I couldn’t ask more from a group of warriors.”

While none of us enjoy watching our team lose to end their season with another painful loss, the reality is that only one team will end their season with a win and a national title.

I have read a lot of comments on line from various fans talking about how this year’s team was a pleasure to watch and might have over achieved.

On the other side of the coin, we still have fans that no matter what head coach Dave Hakstol does it will never be good enough until the Fighting Sioux win the national title. Yep, it’s been 12 seasons since the Fighting Sioux last won a national title.  

During that same time frame three teams from the WCHA have won national titles - DU (X2), Minnesota (X2), UMD (1X) and Wisconsin (1X). Those teams have also missed the NCAA tourney when UND has not for the last ten seasons. The last time UND missed the NCAA tourney was 2001-02.

Until this season Minnesota has missed the NCAA tourney for three season in a row.

Here is your chance to weigh in with your thoughts on the season. I am kind of interested to hear what some of the fans have to say about the season a day after the Fighting Sioux lost to the hated Rodents in St. Paul.

What was your favorite memory of the past season?

What do you want to see next season?

What did you think about the new North Dakota Hockey Jersey’s?

Who stays and who goes?

What’s your thought on the coaching staff?

Woe's... (by Sioux 7)

Horrible and pathetic, that is the best way I can describe the attendance at the NCAA regional’s last weekend. I watched about half of the games and noticed a significant amount of seats with no bodies in them. Ugh. These teams play a long season and these kids work hard to achieve success in athletics as well as their academics. And “fans” of these great schools, don’t or can’t attend their biggest game(s) of the year. Before I completely go off, let me share a few of the attendance numbers with you,

Union v UMass-Lowell -----------------– East Final – 5,238
Ferris State v Cornell –-------------- Midwest Final – 3,108
Minn-Duluth v Boston College –-- Northeast Final – 4,470
North Dakota v Minnesota –------------------- West--10,974

That’s a TOTAL of 23,880 fans that watched a regional final. I’m stunned, again at the lack of attendance at these fine arenas. I wonder what causes this, is it a lack of interest? Are fans watching basketball instead of hockey (I hope that isn’t the case)? Are the college kids broke, because they spent all their (or Mom and Dad’s) money on spring break a week or two ago? Is it a combination of things?

Looking at the numbers for conference tournament championship games and we have the following info:

Atlantic ----– Air Force v RIT ------–---- 2,433
ECAC –----- Union v Harvard –---------- 4,131
CCHA –----- Michigan v W. Mich ----– 10,421
Hockey East --–---- BC v Maine –------ 13,079
WCHA –----- N.Dakota v Denver –---- 16,838

That’s a TOTAL of 46,902 fans watching conference championship games. More fans attend conference tournament games than NCAA regionals.

I have an idea that would/should boost attendance at NCAA regionals. How about we don’t pick regional locations years in advance, but we have the top seeds host them? That would have meant last weekend that BC (7,549 – 96%), Union (2,009 – 90%), Michigan (5,997 – 90%), and UND (11,155 – 96%), would have hosted the games at their home rinks. The numbers behind each team was their average home attendance and percent capacity this season.

I know, many will say that by doing that the top seeds have an unfair advantage. I say they’re right, but it is also gives them that reward of earning a top seed. I also firmly believe that attendance would improve. Honestly, attendance couldn’t get any worse, could it?

Related articles

• Woe's... (by Sioux 7) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA West Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• Playing around with the numbers - NCAA Hockey Tourney Selection (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA Midwest Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• NCAA Northeast Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• NCAA East Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)

Sioux close out the season with loss to Gophers

One of our fans posted this on the FightingSioux.com chat, this comment is ridiculous and far from the truth, Coach Hakstol did a great job coaching this team this season, especially with what he has been dealt this season and I hope the University gets him locked up with a new contract soon.

I was going to wait till tomorrow to put something up but I figured I would chime in with my two cents. While the defeat to the Gophers does leave a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth, I can’t say that UND’s didn’t give it their all to the end. They fought, they clawed and they emptied the tank. This team didn’t go down without a fight all season long.

Congrats to the seniors, Ben Blood, Brad Eidsness and Mario Lamoureux I have enjoyed watching you play for four years at UND. All three are character guys and will be successful in whatever they do in life.

It pains me to say that the Gophers were the better team today. That’s hockey and that’s life.
For me personally, this season has been one of the most exciting seasons of Fighting Sioux hockey that I have ever had the pleasure to witness since I started watching Fighting Sioux hockey back in 1992.

As I wrote for Inside Hockey last week, “Back in November, who would have thought that the Fighting Sioux would face off against Denver University and win the championship game of the Red Baron WCHA Final Five?

Especially on Sunday the 20th of November 2011, the Fighting Sioux had just suffered an unimpressive 1-0 loss to the Bemidji State Beavers at the Sandford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota.  After that loss, the Fighting Sioux had a lackluster record of 4-7-1 overall and 1-5 in the WCHA. That record was good for 11th place in the WCHA standings.

After the game, the Fighting Sioux took the two hour bus trip down highway two back to Grand Forks, they regrouped and on Monday morning the Fighting Sioux coaching staff conducted a bag skate on the Fighting Sioux hockey team at six o’clock.

Since that early morning bag skate, the Fighting Sioux have gone an impressive 21-5-2. That is the best overall record in Divison I hockey since November 26, 2011.

The Fighting Sioux finish that midseason surge at 22-6-2… The loss tonight ends the Sioux season with a record of 26-13-3. That was the eight season in a row that Hakstols teams have won 20 games or more.

This season show cased some new players that are going to be a force going forward. The Carter Rowney, Michael Parks and Mitch MacMillan line has a chance to be one of the better lines in the WCHA next season.  

While some of our fan base wants to run Coach Hakstol out of town on a rail, I think making it to the NCAA tourney this season was a big accomplishment, based on what happened to the Fighting Sioux hockey team, this is also testimate to the type of hockey coach that Dave Hakstol is.

During the offseason UND lost J.T. Miller to the CHL and it all seemed to snowball from there.
Here is the injury list from this season’s Fighting Sioux hockey team. Let’s not forget that three Fighting Sioux hockey players had season ending surgery.

North Dakota injuries: Taylor Dickin (lower-body injury), forward Rocco Grimaldi (season, knee surgery), Brendan O’Donnell (season-ending surgery) and Derek Rodwell (season, shoulder surgery) are all out of the lineup.

I mean seriously, Grimaldi, O’Donnell and Rodwell would make one heck of a line in any college hockey league.

Lastly, to the fans that want to fire coach Hakstol, here is a quote from my friend Moose Richards… “I find the whole fire Hakstol line out of Sioux fans just absurd,” Moose said.   “You look over the body of work. Yes there is no national championship in there, but how many Frozen Fours, nine straight final five appearances. It’s just…Yeah you would like the win the big one. But don’t you like being there every year?

Related articles

• UND Hockey coach Dave Hakstol weighs in on the nickname ... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Sioux grind out 4-1 win against Huskies (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Sioux dismantle Gophers 6-3 in St. Paul (insidehockey.com)
• Fighting Sioux Finish off the Bemidji State Beavers 4-3 (insidehockey.com)
• Coach Hakstol takes issue with Wally Shaver's comments... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Redwing77's Frozen Four Opinion Piece!

My bracket is destroyed. Only BC's entry into the Frozen Four was accurate in my bracket. Kudos to those of you whose bracket isn't complete garbage.

Here are the matchups:

Ferris State vs. Union
Minnesota vs. Boston College

Before I break down each game and give my (worthless) predictions, I wish to opine thusly: I do not like these matchups. I think there is plenty of glamor and appeal among the general college hockey population for the Minny/BC tilt, but there isn't much appeal for the Union/Ferris State tilt (other than the humanistic approach). I would have loved to have seen:

Minnesota vs. Union
Ferris State vs. Boston College

I think this brings everyone to both games. Sure, it might be the ESPN-ization of the brackets (giving the best opportunity to see the two biggest schools face off for the title) but I think it has the most appeal.

But that's not how the brackets work so here's the breakdown:

Union vs. Ferris State:

Union is the #1 seed in this game. Ferris isn't. Ferris State is a true Cinderella story. Union's story is good too. Both are in uncharted territory. Either team wins and it will be either team's first Frozen Four NC game. Despite my disdain towards the matchup, these two teams seem to match up well talent wise. It will be a good game. Union's goaltender is a Hobey finalist. I think he's proven that he's worthy.

Prediction: I got burned for not going by the rankings so I will go with the rankings tonight. My heart is with Ferris state but.... I predict Union wins 3-2.

Minnesota vs. BC:

This would be a GREAT NC matchup... but it is just a semifinal matchup. BC has won 17 straight which is something (if you believe in that... as it didn't work well for UND). Minnesota is rolling right now, stunning opponents with novel concepts not seen in recent years (such as Team Defense). Minnesota scored 12 goals in St. Paul and only gave up what... 5?

BC comes in having scored 6 goals in the regional and giving up... ZERO GOALS.

This game MIGHT require OT. And this game could go either way.

Prediction: 17 game streak... 0 goals allowed in the NCAAs thus far. Hard to go against BC. I think BC wins 2-1. It's going to be a great game. However, I will say this: Whoever wins THIS game, wins the National Championship so... as you see below, all you have to do is replace BC with Minny if Minny wins this game and my prediction remains the same otherwise.

NC Game:

BC vs. Union:

Union does a great job just getting here.... and leaves proud but quietly.

BC does its best impression of the 2002? Minnesota NC team when it played UNH for the title.

Prediction: BC: 5 Union: 1

Rats! Foiled Again! (Redwing77)

Today UND finally fell to Minnesota... well, fell again to Minnesota as the season record for UND falls to 2-4. The story of the game was fundamentals.

UND simply played without discipline and refused to just shoot the puck at the net. Minnesota's 4th goal was EXACTLY the kinds of goals UND needed. Same with UND's 2nd goal. All that the goal scorer did was throw the puck at the net. The net was crashed and the puck deflected in.

UND time and time again forgot about the backcheckers, hesitated, and failed to be able to make simple passes.

In the end, the inevitable will happen:

1. Minnesota fans will flock to UND message boards and blogs and gloat.
2. UND fans will look forward to next season.
3. Haters will again call for Hakstol's head.

Inevitably Hakstol and Forbort will be thrown under the bus, but again I argue that Minnesota won because they swarmed the puck better, passed better, played more disciplined, and overall played better.

My hat's off to them. I just wish it didn't have to end.

Players of the game?

3rd Star - Danny Kristo
2nd Star - Erik Haula
1st Star - Travis Boyd

Honorable Mentions: Zach Budish, Nate Condon, Tayler Matson, Joe Gleason.

Here's why: Danny Kristo.... other than perhaps Joe Gleason and Mario Lamoreaux, Danny played the hardest of any of the Sioux players out there. No one really stood out more than Kristo for UND.

Haula was all over the ice and scored a big powerplay goal to get the ball rolling out of UND's grasp.

Boyd scores his first goal of the season and of his career and it is the game winner that sends Minny to Tampa.

I could have given a nod to Condon as he was VERY noticable all over the ice. He only factored in on one goal, but he was a lot like Kristo was, but for Minnesota.

Sioux vs. Gophers lines - Loser goes home...

Minnesota’s Forward Lines

7 Kyle Rau – 27 Nick Bjugstad – 24 Zach Budish
11 Sam Warning – 19 Erik Haula– 21 Jake Hansen
16 Nate Condon–22 Travis Boyd – 9 Taylor Matson
14 Tom Serratore – 13 Nico Sacchetti – 17 Seth Ambroz

Minnesota Defense Parings

4 Seth Helgeson–12 Justin Holl
10 Ben Marshall–20 Mark Alt
6 Jake Parenteau–29 Nate Schmidt

Goalies 

35 Kent Patterson
1 Michael Shibrowski
30 Jake Kremer

Minnesota Players Stats 


Fighting Sioux Forward Lines

29 Brock Nelson–10 Corban Knight (A) –7 Danny Kristo
16 Mark MacMillan–27 Carter Rowney–15 Michael Parks
Stephane Pattyn 28 –9 Mario Lamoureux (C) – 20 Joe Gleason
8 Dan Senkbeil–13 Connor Gaarder– No forward.

Fighting Sioux Defensive Pairings

4 Derek Forbort – 24 Ben Blood
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A) – 5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella

Fighting Sioux Goalies 

32 Aaron Dell 
31 Brad Eidsness
35 Tate Maris

UND Official Players Stats 

Radio: The games can be heard at 96.1 the Fox.
Television: ESPNU 208 DirecTV

NHL throws book at Keith, ignores Sedins hit

While a suspension for Duncan Keith is warranted by the National Hockey League, the Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan proved once again that there are two sets of rules in the NHL.

If you're a super star like Daniel Sedin or ________ insert superstar you can hit people in the head with an elbow and not suffer any consequences. However, if you a "lesser" star player like a Duncan Keith who doesn't have the mojo  of one of the Sedin twins or a an Evgeni Malkin you're given more lee-way and room to commit questionable bush league acts without the fear of being suspended until you have committed a fair number of them like Alex Ovechkin, then the league is forced to suspend them. Another fail by Shanahan.

CBC.COM --- "Regardless of Keith's assertion that the intent on this play was to impede Sedin's progress as opposed to a retaliation for an earlier hit, Keith's hit was still dangerous, reckless and caused injury," said NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan in a statement.
"We've also taken into consideration Keith's supplemental discipline record which includes no suspensions and one fine over nearly seven NHL seasons."