Ben Blood on playing for the Sioux

s/t to a Tradition of Excellence, who had this on his blog today. Blood’s statement is a good endorsement of college hockey and the Fighting Sioux hockey program and their development of talent.

"There's a number of reasons," Blood said as to why he stayed in school. "One, to get an education. Two, because North Dakota is such a special place. There's nothing like playing in Ralph Engelstad Arena. We have a coaching staff that's second to none there, and they certainly know what they're doing when it comes to developing hockey players and moving them on to the next level."

The rugged 6-foot-4, 226-pound defenseman has already played in two games with the B-Sens, but is happy to get an introduction to the city and building where he expects to start next season.

"The play is definitely faster," he said. "Guys are bigger, smarter ... you've got to be more positionally sound out there. I think I just need to play a bit more and get used to it. It helps getting out here, getting used to the lifestyle so it's not really a culture shock next fall." [Press Connects]

First off, I am a fan of both the CHL and the NCAA hockey route, I think both are very good ways to make the NHL. Traditionally, the CHL (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) has produced the most hockey players from Canada who are currently playing in the NHL, that is a fact none of us can deny. That being said the NCAA has done a good job developing both American and Canadian born players for the NHL. All you have to do is look at the NHL rosters around the NHL.

Speaking of player development, Let's Play Hockey has an interesting article on the development of American hockey players and compared the CHL vs. the NCAA.

• 30 players from Minnesota left the U.S. to play primarily in the OHL or WHL. Of these players, only four have made it to the NHL for at least 41 games – Dustin Byfugloen, Peter Mueller, Kurt Sauer and Mike Sauer. During this same period, 30 Minnesota players who played NCAA hockey made it to the NHL for at least 41 games – David Tanabe, Jordan Leopold, Jeff Taffe, Paul Martin, Andrew Alberts, Mark Stuart, Brandon Bochenski, Zach Parise, Keith Ballard, Ryan Carter, Tim Gilbert, David Backes, Colin Stuart, Tim Conboy, Matt NIskanen, Jack Hillen, Kyle Okposo, Brian Lee, Alex Goligoski, Erik Johnson, Steve Wagner, Mike Lundin, Matt Smaby, Blake Wheeler, Matt Hendricks, Dan Sexton, Jamie McBain, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan and Justin Braun.

Shanahan throws book at Bitz, suspends him for two games

So the Vice President of the Department of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan  was very busy the day after the first night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

First Shanahan fined Nashville Predators defenseman Shew Weber the NHL maximum of $2,500.00 and then suspended Canucks forward Bryon Bitz for two games for boarding Kyle Clifford, Bitz was assessed a major penalty and given game misconduct for boarding. Personally, the play in question, looked more like a hit to the head and an elbow.

At this pace, this season could end up setting records for fines and suspensions during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at this rate. Or not! At least Shanahan set a precedence that the league is not going to put up or tolerate dirty hits and questionable acts. 

Related articles

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Colin Campbell feels the Pen's Pain

The NHL front office is not happy that their linesmen blew a pretty obvious call last night. I suppose that means that the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is probably worried that the face of the NHL, Sidney Crosby's team will get eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flyers can expect the games to be called closer from here on out.

TORONTO - Colin Campbell feels the pain of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The NHL's senior executive vice-president of hockey operations acknowledged Thursday that linesman Tony Sericolo erred in not whistling the play dead prior to Danny Briere's first goal in the opening game of the Penguins-Flyers series.

"There's no other way to explain it but a missed call," Campbell told The Canadian Press in an interview. "We're as upset as Pittsburgh almost. It's a mistake."

Briere scored Philadelphia's first goal on Wednesday night after being sent in on a breakaway by teammate Brayden Schenn. The long pass came immediately after a neutral zone turnover and replays showed that Briere was a couple feet offside.

First off lets be clear, the refs blew this call, it's pretty obvious even to the untrained eye. I am also going to agree with the Penguins head coach. ''That's not why we [Penguins] lost the game,'' coach Dan Bylsma said immediately afterward. The Penguins lost the game because they stopped playing after going up by three goals.

The Tweet that some took issue with

Apparently the LA Kings have apologized for this witty tweet. I don't understand why they should. I like many other people, thought the tweet was funny and I agree with the tweet. I just hope the Kings can eliminate the Canucks so we don't have to watch their antics and their diving up and down the ice through out the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

David Shoalts, Globe and Mail --- The Los Angeles Kings have apologized for a flippant tweet from their official Twitter feed that mocked the Vancouver Canucks.

“We encourage our digital team to be creative, interactive and to apply a sense of humour whenever possible. To anyone who found it offensive we sincerely apologize,” Mike Altieri, the Kings’ vice-president, communications and content, said in an e-mail message Thursday afternoon.

Diver Down - Vancouver Canucks.

This is a perfect example why the Vancouver Canucks are one of the most hated teams in the NHL. I mean this is pathetic, there is no reason a North American Hockey player should be playing the game this way. This is not the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation, this is the NHL, the best hockey league in the world.

I want to be clear, diving in hockey to draw a penalty is poor sportsmanship, seriously, Ryan Kesler looks like a buffoon in this video, whether Kesler want to believe it or not, he's a role model to young kids and they look up to him.

I am being dead serious, I don't want to go to a high school hockey game and see this crap. Are we to believe that Kesler is that light on his skates and is so easily knocked off his skates? I disappointed than one of the better American forwards in the game of hockey has to resort to this type of crap?  I am not the only one that is less than impressed with this display.

Related articles

• Was this goalie interference? Burrow's goal (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Quest for the Cup: Bergeron, Lidstrom, Kesler, Richards Weigh In (insidehockey.com)
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Bryon Bitz faces hearing with Shanny and the Department of Player Safety

Former Cornell Big Red forward Bryon Bitz was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for this dirty elbow on Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford. This is an unnecessary and dangerous hit and needs to be taken from the game of hockey. I predict that since Bitz, who is a third or fourth line player, will end up serving a suspension of a game or two for this hit on Clifford because the league will want to send a message.

NHL.COM ---- Vancouver Canucks right wing Byron Bitz will face a disciplinary hearing with the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety Thursday.

The hearing regards a boarding major Bitz received Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against Los Angeles when Bitz hit L.A.'s Kyle Clifford at 12:12 of the second period. Bitz was also assessed a game misconduct on the play.

Related articles

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• Kings Beat Canucks In Game One 4-2. Enjoy It & Get Back To Business On Friday (lakingsnews.com)

Shea Weber Fined for hit on Zetterberg

Nashville Predators forward Cody Franson prior to a National Hockey League game against the Calgary Flames. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber will not be suspended for his hint on Redwings forward Henrik Zetterberg. There were many that called for Weber to have the book thrown at him for this hit.

NEW YORK -- Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber has been fined $2,500, the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for delivering a blow to the head of Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg in Game 1 of the teams' Western Conference Quarterfinal series in Nashville on Wednesday, April 11, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 20:00 of the third period. Weber was assessed a minor penalty for roughing.

"This was a reckless and reactionary play on which Weber threw a glancing punch and then shoved Zetterberg's head into the glass," said NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan. "As is customary whenever Supplemental Discipline is being considered, we contacted Detroit following the game and were informed that Zetterberg did not suffer an apparent injury and should be in the lineup for Game 2.

Related articles

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• Video: Shea Weber Slams Henrik Zetterberg's Head Into The Glass (chicago.cbslocal.com)

Was this goalie interference? Burrow's goal

"They're back!" The most unlikable hockey team in the NHL is up to their antics already. This is the goalie by Canucks punk Alex Burrows, also watch Ryan Kesler throwing his head back and your waiting for him to start flailing about, like he had been shot.

If L.A. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick's stick made contact with Ryan Kesler, it was because Kesler made contact with Quick who was in the blue paint and the goalie was trying to make a save and or trying to find the puck. To me this appears to be a text book goalie interference and the goal should have been waived off. What do you think?

Related articles

• Quest for the Cup: Bergeron, Lidstrom, Kesler, Richards Weigh In (insidehockey.com)
• Canucks Meet Defensive Kings in Round One (insidehockey.com)

So does Shea Weber get suspended for slamming Zetterberg into the glass?

This play is the talk of the night. At the end of tonight's game between the Detroit Redwings and the Nashville Predators, Predators defenseman Shea Weber took Henrik Zetterberg's head and jammed it into the glass, I am not sure what led up to this play but this is not acceptable in any league.

Weber for his efforts was given a two minute minor for roughing, the length of the Weber's penalty is irrelevant, because the league can review played that didn't get penalized.

I imagine the NHL's Department of Players Safety will take a look at this play, but you never know with Brendan Shanahan, he has been so inconsistent this season, almost to the point of it being a joke in his ruling this season. Shannahan has let players off the hook with no fine or suspension and then has turned around and given a suspension for hits that were not as bad as hits where a player deserved a suspension and got nothing. So who knows in this situation?

Zetterberg did board Weber earlier in the game so this could be a retaliation for that earlier hit?

If your conspiracy theorist you would expect Weber to be given a lengthy suspension because Shannahan played for the Detroit Redwings from 1997-2006.

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Daniel Briere goal - offsides

The Penguins announcer and the Pens fans aren't very happy about Flyers forward Danny Briere as you can see by the video he was clearly off-sides. It's a true fact, the video evidence proves that point.

Danny Briere was off-sides and he was in fact over the blue line before the puck crossed said blue line. That being said, the Pens lost the game because they stopped moving their feet and the Flyers keep clawing away and chipped away at the Penguins 3 goal lead and scored three more goals. The Pittsburgh Penguins had no answer for the Flyers tonight.

Related articles

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Because It's the Cup - Boston Bruins

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here. I have to admit that NBC Sports has come a long ways from the early days of Versus. This is the best time of year in my opinion, there is no other sport like NHL Hockey. Of Course I will be cheering on the defending Stanley Cup Champions the Boston Bruins.

A few good articles on the NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Someone posted these articles on Sioux Sports in the nickname section and they are worth a read if you haven’t seen them. There seems to be an emerging re-occurring theme of an Anti-NCAA sentiment by fans and journalists.

Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com --- "Do we really want the NCAA to be the moral police?" one college administrator said last week.
-----------[ Snip ]-----------
Some thought NCAA president Mark Emmert overstepped his authority when he warned Penn State it might be investigated for lack of institutional control in the Jerry Sandusky case.

Former NCAA president Myles Brand started the fight to eliminate offensive team nicknames. While some schools acquiesced quietly, the battle over University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname rages. All of it still doesn't explain why Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish" nickname isn't offensive and stereotypical.

"The NCAA drifts into social policy every now and again," said a source who has had business dealings with the NCAA. The source did not want to be identified. "Is that organization, by design, supposed to lead our moral fabric, be engaged in social policy?"

Here is another one that asks the question The NCAA: Is Membership Worth It? That's a good question... Do we really need the NCAA to monitor college athletics anymore? Some would say no. In some cases they have over stepped their bounds.

Frank Deford NPR --- Trust me: It's only 10 days since Kentucky took the title, but the NCAA is safely again where it likes to be, flying under the ethical radar, tucked away on the sports pages and in the warm embrace of ESPN.

So far as the college media and fans are concerned, we're already back to the only issue of real consequence: how to more properly conduct the football championship so that the big-conference schools can make more money, even as the poor players continue to make none.

But before we all put the NCAA out of our mind again, here is my question: Why do so many honorable colleges continue to let their good names be associated with such an un-American conglomerate? Oh, I can understand why the big-time colleges, like Kentucky — or like Alabama, the football champion — need a cartel. It's the same reason Saudi Arabia and Venezuela belong to OPEC.

But why, in particular, do Division III colleges feel a need to align themselves with such a big-foot organization? At the very least, the NCAA is just so unbalanced. Do schools like Williams and Johns Hopkins and Oberlin and Cal Tech really need NCAA oversight just for their students to leave the classrooms and play games?

Related articles

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• Letter from the NCAA to UND (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Comparing Brock Nelson and Chris Kreider's deals

Chris Kreider's Cap Geek page  

 I was perusing the Cap Geek numbers for former Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson and for former Boston College Eagles Chris Kreider and I was a bit shocked at the difference in numbers. It will be interesting to see how these two players’ careers play out.

 Brock Nelson's Cap Geek Page 

 

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Stephane Matteau gets some bad news

100 px (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Former Fight Sioux recruit Stefan Matteau will not be on the U18 team this spring.

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com --- The International Ice Hockey Federation ruled Thursday that Chicago native Stefan Matteau is ineligible to participate for U.S. at the upcoming World Men's Under-18 Championship.

Matteau, who is regarded as one of the top North American skaters eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft, is the son of former NHL player Stephane Matteau. According to Kevin Allen of USA Today, the ruling is based on the fact Matteau hasn't played two consecutive seasons in the U.S. after the age of 10.

Allen explains that although Matteau spent his first nine years in the U.S., he was living in Canada when he joined the U.S. program in March 2010. However, he didn't play a game for the team until September in that year.

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A week after the onslaught

Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After taking some time to let last weekend’s Frozen Four sink in; the first comment I want to make is that there is no shame in the Gophers or the Ferris State Bulldogs losing to the Boston College Eagles. The 2011-12 version of the Boston College Eagles is one of the best NCAA championship teams that I have seen for a very long time.

I was eviscerated by Gopher fans for my prediction that the Boston College Eagles would beat the Golden Gophers 5-1, I know I was off; the final score ended up being 6-1; silly me. 

Losing to the Boston College Eagles should never be looked at as a "chock job" either, I think we can put that to bed right now.

Let’s also not forget that Jerry York “will” be in the U.S. Hockey Hall of fame when he is done coaching, I would bet my next pay check on that.

Let’s break York’s impressive record down further.

Currently, coach York is the winingest active division I college hockey coach and he has been coaching for 40 seasons and started coaching during the 1972-73 season with the Clarkson Knights.

Coach York with 913 career wins and has a coaching record of 913-557-94 and an impressive record of 446-222-60 at Boston College.

York’s has led Boston College to ten Frozen Fours while he was the coach of the Eagles – 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012. York’s Eagles have four Frozen Fours at Boston College since the 2000-01 season.

Overall, York’s teams have also won an impressive 5 NCAA championships.

As a fan of team that has been beaten by the Eagles, let me just say I seen this act before and I really didn’t enjoy it very much. I am sure the Ferris State and Minnesota fans felt the same way a week later.

Let me just say that, the Boston College Eagles are a very good hockey team that plays well in all three zones on the ice and we need to give credit where credit. There is no shame losing to the Eagles.

This season’s version of the Boston College Eagles won an unprecedented 19 games in a row and during that winning streak the Eagles didn’t give up more than three goals in any game. That’s impressive in any hockey league.

The last game the Eagles lost was when they were swept by the Maine Black Bears back on January 27-28 when the Eagles lost both games of a weekend series in Orono, Maine (3-4 L, 4-7 L).  Since the late January display of mediocrity the Eagles were flawless.

After being swept by the Black Bears, the Eagles record stood at 14-10-1 and looked like they were an average bubble team and they were in the Pairwise Rankings. We all know how that turned out. 

My question is, will team’s finally change the way they recruit (fast forwards, some of them under sized and a very mobile defense corps, that play both ends of the ice well) based on the way the Eagles have steamrolled the opposition when they get to the Frozen Four?

Just for the record, Boston College only had 9 NHL draft choices on their team as opposed to the Minnesota Gophers who had 17.

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Playoff links – Lord Stanley Cup is on the line

Boston Bruins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I think the Washington Capitals are going to have a hard time matching the Boston Bruins grit and toughness. The Bruins play their best when they're playing a rough and tumble brand of hockey. Just ask the softer Vancouver Canucks who were brutalized by the Bruins last season.

Katie Carrera, Washington Post --- The Bruins – or if you prefer, the big, bad Bruins – have a reputation for toughness. Their brand of hockey comes with physicality and snarl. They like to push teams around between whistles and get under opponents’ skin afterward.

While fighting isn’t really common in the playoffs, one doesn’t need to drop the gloves to be tough to play against and physically dominate a contest or series. Boston’s knack for such things precedes it, but the Capitals believe they can hold their own.

“I think we’re alright,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys that can throw the body around, too. We’re not a team like them where we come out and always do that, but we do that when we need to — and we’re going to need to in this series.”

The TD North Garden is a tough play for visiting team to play on any given day. Pierre LeBrun from ESPN looked at the five toughest arenas to play in druing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

4. Boston Bruins Well, I guess you can ask the Vancouver Canucks to vouch for whether playing in Boston is any fun. The Canucks were destroyed in three games in Beantown during the 2011 Cup finals, which reinforced what a tough place it is to play in especially come playoff time. The Bruins are the NHL's toughest, most rugged team and that meshes well with a New England crowd that likes its hockey that way. All of which makes for an electric, and intimidating, atmosphere.

Former NHL Official Kerry Fraser is concerned about inconsistency in today’s NHL Refs. Well that makes two of us. I thought the officiating in last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs was bad, but could have been worse. I hope we don’t have anyone biting anyone this year.

As the NHL playoffs kick off this week, Kerry Fraser says he’s concerned about inconsistency in today’s refereeing.

“Right now, the game is very fast and it’s hard for young officials without the experience to keep up with the pace,” said Fraser, who retired a year ago as the most senior referee in the National Hockey League.

During the playoffs last year, too many refs were inconsistent when it came to major infractions, said Fraser, who officiated for 30 years. And the supplementary discipline doled out by the league hasn’t helped.

“There were head shots when players were sometimes suspended and sometimes not.

“The referees became confused seeing what was happening upstairs with suspensions or lack of, and it created inconsistent officiating,” Fraser said.

The "media" is still concerned about Timmy Thomas missing the White House event. Can we just play hockey? I could care less if Thomas takes a stand on his personal Facebook page or has a political message on the back of his goalie mask. The last time I checked Thomas was an American Citizen and is afforded the right to free speech. [Boston Globe]

Reporter: "Given the setting, that's it's in D.C., is there any concern on your part about the White House stuff getting kicked up and all that stuff …"

Thomas: "Thanks guys, we finally got somebody to get me out early."

The Washington Capital have issues in net right now. [Boston Globe]

Assuming Tomas Vokoun (groin) and Michal Neuvirth (leg) won’t be ready for Game 1, 22-year-old Braden Holtby will get the call to start the playoffs between the pipes. Holtby has never appeared in an NHL playoff game.

Holtby will be backed up by Dany Sabourin. The Capitals recalled the ex-Bruin from Hershey today.

Stanley Cup playoffs 2012: Alex Ovechkin vs. Zdeno Chara matchup could affect Capitals-Bruins outcome ...

Here are the various prediction on the series between the Bruins and the Capitals. Anyone who has seen the Capitals play know that they have a lot of fire power and I don’t think the Boston Bruins will be looking past anyone.

Dan Steinberg, Washington Post --- NHL.com doesn’t provide game predictions, but all seven of the site’s writers say the Bruins will win the series.

The NHL Network’s Craig Button agrees, although his colleague E.J. Hradek took the Caps. (Two out of four NHL.com international writers also took the Caps, for what that’s worth.)
Both of CBS Sports’s “Eye On Hockey” writers take the Bruins. TSN’s Scott Cullen says Bruins in six. Yahoo’s Nick Cotsonika says Bruins in six. The Toronto Sun’s Chris Stevenson says Bruins in six. Sporting News’s Jesse Spector says Bruins in five. Canadian site SportsNet says Bruins in five. And four of five Pro Hockey Talk writers say Bruins in 5, with the fifth, Ryan Dadoun, taking the Caps in 7.

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UND 5th in final INCH Power Rankings

1. Boston College 33-10-1 (19-7-1 Hockey East, 1st)
2. Ferris State 26-12-5 (16-7-5 CCHA, 1st)
3. Minnesota 28-14-1 (20-8-0 WCHA, 1st)
4. Union 26-8-7 (14-4-4 ECAC Hockey, 1st)
5. North Dakota 26-13-3 (16-11-1 WCHA, 4th)
6. Minnesota Duluth 25-10-6 (16-7-5 WCHA, 2nd)
7. Michigan 24-13-4 (15-9-4 CCHA, 2nd)
8. Denver 24-15-2 (15-11-2 WCHA, 4th)
9. Miami 24-15-2 (15-11-2 CCHA, 4th)
10. Western Michigan 21-14-6 (14-10-4 CCHA, 3rd)
11. Cornell 19-9-7 (12-4-6 ECAC Hockey, 2nd)
12. UMass Lowell 24-13-1 (17-9-1 Hockey East, t-2nd)
13. Air Force 21-11-7 (15-6-6 Atlantic Hockey, 1st)
14. Boston University 23-15-1 (17-9-1 Hockey East, t-2nd)
15. Maine 23-14-3 (15-10-2 Hockey East, 4th)
16. Harvard 13-10-11 (8-5-9 ECAC Hockey, 3rd)
17. Michigan State 19-16-4 (14-11-3 CCHA, 5th)
18. Colgate 19-17-3 (11-10-1 ECAC Hockey, 4th)
19. Merrimack 18-12-7 (13-9-5 Hockey East, 5th)
20. RIT 20-13-6 (14-7-6 Atlantic Hockey, t-3rd)

One more final time this season; as always I include the INCH Power Rankings, because I find them amusing.  In the final INCH Power Rankings, nothing really jumps out here as being really controversial.

On a side note, some fans like to bag on the guys from INCH and personally, I think INCH does a good job covering college hockey. I have had the pleasure of meeting Jess Myers the last couple of years at the Final Five and Jess is one of the funniest and also one of the nicest guys that I have ever met, he is a class act as well.

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Don Cherry gives Sidney Crosby some free advice

The conversation in question starts at about 4:27 of the video. No one questions that Sidney Crosby is an awesome hockey player, but John Tortorella is right, Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are two of the biggest whiners in the NHL. There is more than enough evidence to prove that point.

Ok! Granted, it's no mystery that Torts was upset with Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik for his dirty, bush-league knee on knee hit on Rangers forward Derek Stephan, last Thursday night. I think Tortorella is right, can you imagine if that hit had been put on Malkin or Crosby, there would be a lot of complaining and whining coming out of the Penguins locker room and you would expect a maximum fine and or suspension handed out by the NHL.

Frankly, I would like to see Don Cherry give the Sedin twins in Vancouver the same lectures as well as these two super stars spend a lot of time diving, flailing and flopping around on the ice a throwing their heads back whenever they're hit.

ProSportsDaily Staff ---- Don Cherry joined a growing number of hockey personalities who are publicly taking issue with Sidney Crosby.

After New York Rangers coach John Tortorella labeled Crosby a whiner, Cherry spoke out against the Pittsburgh Penguins captain during his weekly "Coach's Corner" segment on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.

"A long time ago when Crosby was coming out, I tried to warn him (to) 'quit diving, quit whining.' (Then) I was the worst guy in the world ... and all I was trying to do was help him," Cherry said.

"All I said was stop whining, stop diving and snapping the head back."

Related articles

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• Don Cherry offers Sidney Crosby advice (cbc.ca)
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2011-12 AHCA/CCM Hockey Men’s Division 1

Here are the 2011-12 East and West All Americans teams.

All-American Teams

All-American West First Team

Goalie: Taylor Nelson, Sr., Ferris State University (Regina, SK)

Defense: Torey Krug, Jr., Michigan State University (Livonia, MI)

Defense: Justin Schultz, Jr., University of Wisconsin* (West Kelowna, BC)

Forward: Jack Connolly, Sr., University of Minnesota Duluth*# (Duluth, MN)

Forward: Jaden Schwartz, So., Colorado College (Wilcox, SK)

Forward: Reilly Smith, Jr., Miami University (Mimico, ON)

All-American East First Team

Goalie: Troy Grosenick, So., Union College (Brookfield, WI)

Defense: Danny Biega, Jr., Harvard University (Montreal, QC)

Defense: Brian Dumoulin, Jr., Boston College* (Biddeford, ME)

Forward: Spencer Abbott, Sr., University of Maine (Hamilton, ON)

Forward: Alex Killorn, Sr., Harvard University (Montreal, QC)

Forward: Austin Smith, Sr., Colgate University (Dallas, TX)

All-American West Second Team

Goalie: Kent Patterson, Sr., University of Minnesota (Plymouth, MN)

Defense: Chad Billins, Sr., Ferris State University (Marysville, MI)

Defense: Dan DeKeyser, So., Western Michigan University (Clay Township, MI)

Forward: Nick Bjugstad, So., University of Minnesota (Blaine, MN)

Forward: J.T. Brown, So., University of Minnesota Duluth (Burnsville, MN)

Forward: Jason Zucker, So., University of Denver (Las Vegas, NV)

All-American East Second Team

Goalie: Joe Cannata, Sr., Merrimack College (Wakefield, MA)

Defense: Mat Bodie, So., Union College (East St. Paul, MB)

Defense: Tim Kirby, Sr., U.S. Air Force Academy (Austin, MN)

Forward: Barry Almeida, Sr., Boston College (Springfield, MA)

Forward: Brian O’Neill, Sr., Yale University (Yardley, PA)

Forward: Jeremy Welsh, Jr., Union College (Bayfield, ON)

* First Team in 2010-11; # Second Team in 2009-10

University of Denver defenseman Joey LaLeggia was named the sixth annual HCA National Division I Rookie of the Year award.

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The Stanley Cup Playoffs - Goon's Predictions

Who do you like to win Lord Stanley's Cup? I am taking the Boston Bruins to repeat as the Champs? What do you think? Who is your pick to win it all?

Western Division

1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. L.A. Kings – 1 Vancouver Canucks

2 St. Louis Blues  vs. 7 SJ Sharks – 2 St Louis Blues

3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. 6 Chicago Blackhawks – 6 Chicago Blackhawks 

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 Detroit Redwings – 5 Detroit Redwings 

Conference Semis

1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 6 Chicago Blackhawks – Vancouver Canucks

2 St Louis Blues vs. 5 Detroit Redwings – St Louis Blues

Western Conference Finals

Vancouver Canucks vs. St Louis Blues – St Louis Blues.

Eastern Division

1 New York Rangers vs. 8 Ottawa Senators – 1 New York Rangers

2 Boston Bruins vs. 7 Washington Capitals – 2 Boston Bruins

3 Florida Panthers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils – 6 New Jersey Devils

4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers – 4 Pittsburg Penguins

Conference Semi Finals

1 New York Rangers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils – New York Rangers

2 Boston Bruins vs. 4 Pittsburg Penguins – Boston Bruins

Conference Finals

1 New York Rangers vs. 2 Boston Bruins – Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Finals

St Louis Blues vs. Boston Bruins – Boston Bruins

Brendan Lemieux going to UND not OHL

In case anyone is confused Brendan Lemieux posted this on Twitter tonight.

Related articles

• More UND bolters to CHL? (RW77) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

More UND bolters to CHL? (RW77)

Today the OHL held their Priority Draft. And some UND recruits are on the list.

The first two occur in the 4th round. The first was the Barrie Colts taking Brenden Lemieux with the 6th pick of the fourth round. Seven picks later, UND recruit Nick Schmaltz got selected by Windsor. There may be more, but it is unlikely (this post was written while the OHL draft was in the middle of the 10th round of 15 rounds).

What does this mean?

Hard to tell. I know very little about Barrir and Windsor's tactics. They aren't ultra agressive or perhaps even overtly Anti-NCAA like London of the OHL, Moncton of the QMJHL, or Red Deer of the WHL. However, Windsor has been pursuing Jordan Schmaltz very heavily and drafting his little brother is another tried and true tactic that has worked in the past. That being said, Jordan and Nick have both gone on record saying that they are committed to the NCAA route. I hope that is true, but with all the nefarious tactics and rumored financial incentives that have surfaced as of late, one cannot be too confident.

Of the two drafted, I think Lemieux has the highest probability of bolting for the Major Juniors. His dad went through Major Juniors (though with the QMJHL, not the OHL).

As with most cynical people, I have my predictions and what I hope. I predict the Schmaltzes show up in Grand Forks. I predict Lemieux will go the way of Matteau and go OHL.

It's too bad but it is the reality of the sport. Of course, I hope I'm wrong about Lemieux and he does skate for UND. I just won't believe it until he does. And, for the record, I believe the same will be true for uncommitted blue chipper Seth Jones.

We'll just have to wait and see... or perhaps Brad Schlossman can shed some light post draft.

EDIT: One other interesting development: UNO incoming recruit Alex Broadhurst was drafted in the 2nd round by London, a team that enjoys pressuring players away from the NCAA.

Speaking of Dirty Hits.... (RW77)

All the talk about hits to the head and from behind has been discussed at length but how about this odd one...

Minnesota Wild bubble player Nate Prosser, a former player with Colorado College, got into a scrum around the Minnesota net with Chicago journeyman Jamal Mayers.... and headbutted him.

WTF?

Here is the link to the story which includes the incident in question (it is at the 1 minute mark or thereabouts).

What a stupid stupid stupid thing for Prosser to do. I mean, right now the Wild is in "see what we've got" mode for future moves, cuts, extensions, and whatever. Prosser was an undrafted free agent. The Wild have very little invested in him. This act won't necessarily end his career with the Wild (or any NHL franchise) but it won't endear him to his teammates and team management either.

He will no doubt face suspension for it but the question is: How many games?

I predict 2 games. Prosser has no NHL history of any negative manner administratively speaking (in other words, he's a first time offender). UPDATE: Turns out he was suspended 1 game. However, to reiterate what I said before:

WTF?

I know those who know me or have read what I've written in the past know that I'm no fan of the Minnesota Wild, but I've never known them to resort to this crap. They've always been a well disciplined team, to my knowledge. I can't even recall off the top of my head the last time a Wild player was suspended.

I'd love to know what he has to say... truthfully. However, with the media like it is and his agent and advisors in his ear, we'll never know what was really going on in his head.