Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tickets remain available for WCHA-opening series against UAA this weekend



GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Reserved seating and general admission tickets remain available for North Dakota’s series this weekend against Alaska Anchorage, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opener for both teams.

Tickets for both Friday and Saturday’s games became available as a result of unclaimed student tickets, as well as tickets unused by Alaska Anchorage.

Tickets can be purchased at the UND Box Office at Ralph Engelstad Arena or online at Ticketmaster.com.

General admission tickets are also available for all remaining home games, and some reserved seating remains available for select home games. Visit www.undsports.com or follow @UNDTix on Twitter for ticket availability information throughout the season.

Dates
Opponent
Adult Price
Youth Price (12 & Under)
Oct. 26-27
Alaska Anchorage
$35
$20
Nov. 2-3
Boston University
$40
$25
Nov. 16-17
Minnesota Duluth
$40
$25
Dec. 7-8
Denver
$50
$30
Jan. 4-5
Holy Cross
$25
$15
Jan. 11-12
Colorado College
$40
$25
Jan. 25-26
St. Cloud State
$40
$25
Feb. 1-2
Wisconsin
$40
$25
Mar. 1-2
Bemidji State
$35
$20

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Home of UND Hockey; REA removes signage



As we found out yesterday, workers began removing “Home of the Fighting Sioux” from the sides of Ralph Englestad Arena. In its place it will not read “Home of North Dakota Hockey”…
Removal of the outside signage will take most of this week, according to REA spokesman Chris Semrau. It will be replaced by “Home of North Dakota Hockey” in late November when the new letters and signage are ready, he said. [Grand Forks Herald]

Game Notes for UND versus UAA 10/26-10/27

Seal of the University of North Dakota
Seal of the University of North Dakota (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The University of North Dakota begins WCHA play this weekend when they take on the University of Alaska Anchorage in a two game series at Ralph Englestad Arena on October 26 and 27.

Friday, #4 USCHO and USA Today poll – North Dakota (1-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) versus Alaska Anchorage (2-1-1, 0-0-0 WCHA)

Game times: 7:37 pm CT on Friday, 7:07 pm CT on Saturday.

Radio:  UND 96.1 (KQHT-FM) – The Fox.

Webcast and Audio:  UNDSPORTS.COM

Television: Midco Sports Net, FCS Central both nights.

Series History: UND leads the All-Time series against UAA: 45-17-4. UND has had success against UAA as of late as UND has won five in a row against UAA and has a record of 11-2-1 the last 14 games. UND beat UAA 5-0 last Friday in the first game of the Brice Goal Rush Tourney.

Players to Watch:

North Dakota: Forwards: Connor Gaarder (0g-2a—2pts), Corbin Knight (0-g0—0pts), Carter Rowney (0g-0a—0pts), Roco Grimaldi (1g-1a—2pts), Mark MacMillan (2g-0a—2pts). Defense: Jordan Schmaltz (1g1a—2pts) Dillon Simpson (0g-1a—1pts), Andrew MacWilliam (0g-1a—1pts), Derek Forbort (0g-0a—0pts). Goaltender: Clarke Saunders 1-1, 1.01 GAA, .962 save Percentage.  

Alaska Anchorage: Forwards: Matt Bailey (1g-3a—4pts), Scott Allen (3g-1—4pts), Alex Gellert (2g-1a—3pts) Defense: Blake Leaske (0g-1a—1pts), Quinn Sproule (1g0a—1pts), Derek Docken (1g0a—1pts). Goaltenders: Chris Kamal 1-1-0, 2.40 GAA, .907 save percentage, Rob Gunderson 1-0-1, 2.90 GAA .877 save percentage.

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Paul Ladue scores shootout winner against Fargo Force



Here is a UND recruit update. In USHL action on October 19th, 2012 the Lincoln Stars played the Fargo Force at Lincoln Icebox Arena.

Future UND defenseman Paul Ladue scored the game winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout to give the Lincoln Stars the win over the Fargo Force 4-3. Through six games this season the former Grand Forks Central star Ladue has (0g-a6—6pts) and is a +8.
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Monday, October 22, 2012

Results of the WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 2

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine. 
Each week, I participate in a WCHA Web Media Poll that is run by the Tech Hockey Guide with 11 other hockey bloggers and writers and Week two of theWCHA Web Media Poll is out.
Michigan Tech jumped from eighth place to fifth and the University of North Dakota dropped one place from second to third place.


TeamPtsPreviousRecordHighLow
1)Minnesota (9)14113-1-012
2)Denver (3)13132-0-013
3)North Dakota12321-1-024
4)Minnesota Duluth9642-2-048
5)Michigan Tech8782-2-039
6)Colorado College8053-1-0410
7)St. Cloud State7272-2-049
8)Nebraska Omaha6762-2-0410
9)Minnesota State52102-0-2511
10)Wisconsin4690-2-0612
11)Bemidji State24111-1-0912
12)Alaska Anchorage17122-1-11012
Representing Name Publication Twitter
Alaska-Anchorage, Taylor Hall College Hockey News @thall907
Bemidji State, Troy Mills The Beaver Pond
Colorado College, Joe Paisley, Paisley Hockey @Paisleyhockey
Denver, Mike Chambers, Denver Post @MChambersDP
Michigan Tech, Tim Braun, Tech Hockey Guide @TBraunTHG
Minnesota, Dan Myers, Minnesota Hockey Magazine @1DanMyers
Minnesota Duluth, Bruce Ciskie, The Ciskie Blog @BruceCiskie
Minnesota State, Chris Dilks, Western College Hockey @ChrisDilks
Nebraska-Omaha, Matt Semisch, Radio Free Omaha @matthewsemisch
North Dakota, Eric Burton The Hockey Writers Combine and Goon’s World @goon48
St. Cloud State, Jeremy Larson, Husky Hockey Time @jclarson02
Wisconsin, Andy Johnson, Bucky’s 5th Quarter @andyjohnsonB5Q
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Highly touted Kerdiles to stay at Wisconsin

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers Combine


The University of Wisconsin Badgers fan base got some great news today, as they found out that their highly touted incoming freshman forward Nic Kerdiles will be staying at the University of Wisconsin and will not be bolting for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, who own his rights.

If Kerdiles had decided to bolt to the Western Hockey League – instead of serving his eight game suspension – he would have been eligible to play immediately for the Rockets.

This is a “huge” win for college hockey fans, but also college hockey in general, which over the past two years has suffered through the loss of some highly touted blue chip recruits and players, who bolted the CHL.

As a college hockey fan, it is a breath of fresh air to see a kid like Kerdiles’ stature happy to be a student at the University of Wisconsin and now have one foot out the door already. Kerdiles said as much today during the press conference.

 "To be the best student-athlete I can be and work toward my degree at a great university,” Kerdiles said.
It also looks like there wasn’t a lot of doubt in Kerdiles’ mind where he wanted to be and he is proud to be part of the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team.

"I'm so glad to be able to call myself a Badger and to continue doing so,” Kerdiles said. "There was never a doubt" he would remain with the Badgers. It was an easy decision for my family and I."

It also sounds like the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers Mike Eaves is also very relieved to have this problem behind him and that he will not have to worry about his blue chip forward bolting to the WHL or anywhere else.

"I'm glad we're going to put this behind us and move forward," Eaves said. "When he gets back in there, we'll have an impact player in our lineup"

Kerdiles is eligible to return to the Badgers lineup on November 9th, 2012 when they play the Denver Pioneers at Magness Arena  in Denver, Colorado. Kerdiles already has November 30th, 2012 circled on his calendar.

When the Badgers finally get Kerdiles back in the lineup from his 10 game suspension – it will be like a team getting a free agent player at the trade deadline or a players returning from injury reserve after a long term injury. But for now, the Badgers Kerdiles will just have to sit and wait.

Home of the Fighting Sioux coming down at the Ralph

s/t to @hitzgirl... We knew this day was probably comin, but it stings none-the-less.

UND Drops to fourth in USCHO Poll

October 22, 2012

Team(First Place Votes)RecordPointsLast Poll
1Boston College(27)2- 1-09623
2Minnesota(12)3- 1-09081
3Miami( 4)3- 0-18314
4North Dakota( 1)1- 1-08282
5Denver( 3)2- 0-08007
6Michigan2- 1-07695
7Cornell( 1)0- 0-06666
8Union( 1)2- 1-06358
9Notre Dame3- 1-05879
10Western Michigan3- 1-051912
11Massachusetts-Lowell1- 1-147310
12New Hampshire( 1)3- 0-046615
13Boston University1- 1-035711
14Minnesota-Duluth2- 2-033113
15Northeastern2- 1-026714
16Northern Michigan3- 1-021017
17Harvard0- 0-018517
18Ferris State1- 1-217816
19Colorado College3- 1-014719
20Quinnipiac3- 1-111620
Others receiving votes: St. Lawrence 109, Minnesota State 39, Nebraska-Omaha 28, Michigan Tech 16, St. Cloud State 12, Wisconsin 10, Lake Superior 9, Providence 8, Rensselaer 7, Michigan State 5, Merrimack 4, Air Force 3, Alaska 3, Ohio State 3, Yale 3, Alaska-Anchorage 2, Massachusetts 2, Holy Cross 1.

 

INCH hangs up the skates

It was announced yesterday that Inside College Hockey is no longer going to be posting on a regular basis. What are your thoughts on that? Good or bad?
October 21, 2012 This feels a bit like a sudden-death loss, but those of us close to the site have known it to be inevitable for some time now – it’s time for Inside College Hockey to hang up the skates.

Essentially, real life has caught up with us. Family, jobs, and other responsibilities haveencroached – not on our affinity for college hockey – but on our ability to consistently generate Power Rankings, First Shifts, conference notebooks, INCH Podcasts, Napkins, Hobey Trackers and all the other elements that we’ve consistently produced. It's not fairto our loyal readers, and all of those participants that make college hockey great, to give them anything less than our best efforts.
I am sad; I think that INCH had done a good job promoting college hockey from a humorous and at times “snarky” perspective. Who is going to rile up the various fan bases?

I don’t know what I am going to use to fill the void? I listen to the INCH podcasts on my walks with my dog Dakota and now I am going to have to look for another show to fill that void, there are not a lot of podcasts that touch on college hockey from a national level.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

While most of us were asleep... Sifting through the debries on day later

The discussion all started with this tweet in question.



As most college hockey fans know by now, North Dakota lost in the championship game of the Brice Goal Rush Tourney last night in Fairbanks, Alaska. Obviously, UND was "favored" to win the game and after they lost twitter and a few of the fan message boards were a buzz.

Actually, it happens a lot after UND loses just ask @UNDSID

I mean, it is, what it is. UND lost a hockey game that most thought they should have won. It's not like this loss is of the Holy Cross level. To quote a former Michigan player, "the best team doesn't always win." That's hockey and that's sports in general.

From the fun fact department. No team other than a team from Alaska has won the Brice Goal Rush Tourney, UA has won the tourney in 2009, 2010 and 2012. UAA won it in 2008 and 2011. That streak is in tact after this past weekend.



These were some of the tweets that I found in my twitter feed today. I have to give credit, where credit is due, UND lost a game to a team that wanted the game more. UND didn't cash in on their opportunities and UA did, that's hockey. UND wasn't going to go 42-0-0, there will be a few more losses before the season is over and I bet they will lose a game to a team that they should've beaten.





Here is the list of teams that have played in the Alaska Goal Rush Tourney.
2008: Mercyhurst, Maine, UAA and UA
2009: Robert Morris, Rennselaer, UAA and UA
2010: Colorado College, Union, UAA and UA
2011: Mercyhurst, Omaha Nebraska, UAA and UA
2012: Merimack, North Dakota, UAA and UA


This is a blog post that I found on the subject today.
Alaska Nanooks Hockey blog --- Efforts like we saw tonight show exactly what the Nanooks are capable of. Tonight they outskated, and outworked a good North Dakota team. It's amazing the number of excuses that are out there online that the only reason that the Nanooks won was because of the suspensions to North Dakota players. My answer: those players made the choice to have the party, and getting caught was part of the risk and you have to live with those consequences. But that excuse can't be used to cope with the loss, nor take away anything from this victory for Alaska. The fact is UND was outplayed by the Nanooks tonight.
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WCHA Power Rankings (10/21/12)

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logo
Here is this week’s, the WCHA Power Rankings. This season, I will be doing the WCHA Power Rankings for Inside Hockey with Taylor Seibel who is a contributor of College Hockey Weekly.
1.  Minnesota Gophers (3-1-0, WCHA 1-1-0) – This past weekend, the Minnesota Gophers split their weekend series with Michigan Tech (2-5 L – 3-2 W) in Houghton, Michigan.  This weekend, the Gophers have an exhibition game with the US National Development Under 18 team on Friday night.

2. Denver University – (2-0-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Pioneers beat nonconference foes University of Mass-Lowell and Air Force Academy (5-1 W – 5-2) at Magness Arena. This weekend, the Pioneers entertain Michigan Tech in WCHA action.

3. University of North Dakota – (1-1-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, UND traveled to Fairbanks Alaska to play in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tourney, where they won their first game against of the tourney against the UAA Seawolves 5-0 W, then lost in the championship game against the UA Nanooks 1-2 L. This weekend, the Green and White entertain UAA Seawolves in WCHA action.

4. Colorado College – (3-1-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Tigers spit their weekend nonconference games. In their first game, the Tigers beat Atlantic Hockey foe Air Force Academy 6-2, the following night the Tigers lost to Hockey East Foe University of Mass-Lowell 1-3.  This weekend, the Tigers travel to Ithaca, New York to play nonconference foe Cornell University of the ECAC.

5. Minnesota Duluth – (2-2-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, UMD Bulldogs split their weekend series with CCHA foe Notre Dame at the new Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend Indiana (3-1 W – 1-4 L). This weekend, the Bull Dogs entertain the Wisconsin Badgers in WCHA action.

6. Michigan Tech – (2-2-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Huskies split their weekend series against the high flying Minnesota Gophers (5-2 W – 2-3 L) at the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena. This weekend, the Huskies travel to Denver to play the Pioneers in WCHA action.

7. Nebraska Omaha – (2-2-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Red Mavericks split their weekend series with the Northern Michigan Wildcats (5-2 – 1-2 L) in Omaha, Nebraska. This weekend, the Mavericks stay home to host the Bemidji State Beavers in WCHA action.


8. Saint Cloud State
– (2-2-0, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Huskies swept the Alabama Huntsville Chargers (8-3 W – 4-0W) at the National Hockey Center.  This weekend, the Huskies entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks in WCHA action.

9. Wisconsin – (0-2-0, WCHA 0-0-0) This past weekend, the Badgers were idle. This weekend, the Badgers travel to Duluth to play the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a crucial WCHA series at Amsoil Arena.

10. Minnesota State Mankato – (2-0-2, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Purple Mavericks beat and tied the Rensselaer Engineers (3-3 T – 4-3 W O.T.) at the Verizon Wireless Center, in Mankato, Minnesota. This weekend, the Mavericks travel to Saint Cloud to play the Huskies
11. Bemidji State – (1-1-0, WCHA) – This past weekend, the Beavers split their weekend series with the Lakers of Lake Superior State University (0-2 L – 5-0 W). This weekend, the Beavers travel to Nebraska, Omaha to play the UNO Mavericks.

12. Alaska Anchorage – (2-1-1, WCHA 0-0-0) – This past weekend, the Seawolves Traveled to the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tourney, where the Seawolves lost to UND 0-5 L and beat Merrimack College 6-3. This weekend, the Seawolves travel to Grand Forks to play UND in WCHA action.

Here is Taylor Seibel’s power rankings for the WCHA.

1. Minnesota – (3-1-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) – Despite nearly getting swept in Houghton, Minnesota stays at #1 on my list.  Michigan Tech is a very strong team that should get plenty of victories over top teams this season.  However, Minnesota will have to fix some of their defensive miscues if they want to keep the top spot.  Up next for the Gophers is Canisius on Sunday.  
                                             
2. North Dakota – (1-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – North Dakota played very well in a 5-0 victory on Friday.  Then on Saturday, UND laid an egg.  Now, certainly there are plenty of excuses that could be used to explain the loss, but at the end of the day a top team should win that game.  UND will have a chance to get back on track next weekend as they open up WCHA play against Anchorage.

 3. Denver – (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – Denver looked shaky coming into the season, but put everything together this weekend, as they beat Lowell 5-1 on Friday and followed that up with a 5-2 victory over Air Force.  Denver begins WCHA play next weekend as they host Michigan Tech in what should be a great early season contest.

 4. Michigan Tech – (2-2-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) – The Huskies move up to #4 for me after a very impressive weekend.  Tech split a series with the consensus #1 team in the country, and they dominated stretches of the weekend.  Tech could have very well swept the series if not for some impressive goaltending by Minnesota’s Adam Wilcox.  Michigan Tech travels to Denver this weekend.

5. SCSU – (2-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – St. Cloud was able to handle Alabama Huntsville this past weekend getting the sweep.  The Huskies’ defense shut down the Chargers in getting the shutout, and they will have to keep that up if they wish to compete for the MacNaughton Cup this season.  SCSU hosts Minnesota State Mankato this weekend in WCHA play.

 6. Wisconsin – (0-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – The Badgers did not play this weekend, but they received some decent news that star Freshman Nic Kerdiles’ suspension would be reduced to 10 games (as opposed to the whole season).  We’ll see if Kerdiles still decides to stay at Wisconsin, but hopefully he can provide a boost for the Badgers.  Wisconsin travels to Duluth to take on the Bulldogs this weekend in WCHA play.

 7. Minnesota Duluth – (2-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – Duluth traveled to South Bend and split a Thursday-Friday series with the Irish.  Duluth has shown flashes of brilliance that could very well land them in the top half of my rankings sooner than later.  Duluth hosts Wisconsin in WCHA play next weekend.

 8. Colorado College – (3-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – The Tigers beat local rival Air Force on Friday before falling to Doug Carr and the Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks on Saturday.  Lowell is a very strong team, so nothing to get too worked up about down in the Springs.  CC continues their non-conference schedule next weekend, as they travel to Cornell.

 9. Nebraska Omaha – (2-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – Another weekend, another split for the Mavericks.  This time, UNO split a series against Northern Michigan.  Early on, UNO has been very inconsistent, scoring 10 goals in their 2 wins, but only 3 in their 2 losses.  Next weekend, UNO will look to cure those inconsistencies as they host Bemidji State.

 10. Minnesota State – (2-0-2, 0-0-0 WCHA) – The Mavericks proved that they continue to be the cardiac kids, as they came back to tie and beat ECAC foe RPI this past weekend.  Mankato has the talent and coaching to make a significant rise up these rankings, and that could very well start next weekend as the Mavericks travel to St. Cloud to take on the Huskies.

11. Bemidji State – (1-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) – The Beavers met up with future WCHA foe Lake Superior State in Bemidji this weekend and managed to split, losing 2-0 on Friday before turning the tables and shutting out the Lakers 5-0 on Saturday.  The Beavers will need strong defensive performances like they had on Saturday if they wish to challenge for home ice this season.  Bemidji travels to Omaha next weekend to take on UNO.

 12. Alaska Anchorage – (2-1-1, 0-0-0 WCHA) – Anchorage was soundly defeated by North Dakota on Friday at the Alaska Goal Rush 5-0, but the Seawolves responded nicely with a 6-3 victory over Merrimack on Friday.  The Seawolves look to get some revenge next weekend as they travel to Grand Forks to take on North Dakota, this time in WCHA play.
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The morning after the UND vs. UA game


Get off of the ledge...



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Saturday, October 20, 2012

UND women finish sweep of SCSU

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logo

Grand Forks, ND – The University of North Dakota women finished off their first sweep of the weekend as they beat Saint Cloud State University 1-0.

Senior goalie Jorid Dagfinrud (Sarpsborg, Norway) was solid in net for UND as she stopped all 19 shots she faced to record the shutout. Dagfinrud was solid all weekend as she stopped 34 of 35 shots on weekend.

After the game Dagfinrud that this to say about the getting UND first sweep of the season.

"It means a lot, Dagfinrud said. “I mean we can do it, it’s good preparation for next weekend when we play the Gophers. So…We are just going to enjoy tonight, flush it, and then we are back on the ice on Monday, preparing for the Gophers.”

UND head coach Brian Idalski had to say this about his goaltender Jorid Dagfinrud.

“She [Dagfinrud] played well," Idalski said. “She really did – she made a couple of really great saves on the back door and obviously she is very athletic – she was solid for us getting the shutout and I am happy for her.”

In my opinion, this was "one" of UND’s most complete games of the season, as they controlled the play in all three zones of the ice and cycled the puck well and got the puck down low and generated some high quality shots.

Freshman goalie Katie Fitzgerald (Des Plaines, Ill), was equal to the task as she kept the Huskies in the game and stopped 35/36 shots many of the saves that she made were of the difficult variety.

With the win tonight, UND grabbed a share of first place in the WCHA standings, Minnesota is tied with UND – but also has two games in hand on UND.

Senior Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, ND), continued her torrid pace as she scored her third goal on the weekend to give UND a 1-0 lead 09:12 mark of the second period, assisting on Jocelyne’s goal was Becca Kohler (St Thomas, Ontario), picked up two points on the weekend. That was the second point on the weekend for the freshman Kohler who added her first career goal in last night’s game.

With her eighth goal of the season, Jocelyne Lamoureux has scored eight of UND’s 15 goals this season.

UND stays at home next weekend and will play a two game series against the defending NCAA champions on Saturday and Sunday at 2:07 pm.

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Saturday night humor


MTU's Alex Petan and his amazing goal.



s/t to Nathan Wells from Minnesota's SB Nation. This the goal that everyone is talking about today. Check out this amazing goal by Michigan Tech freshman Alex Petan as he does his best impersonation of Minnesota Wild draft choice Matt Dumba. Petan and the Huskies would beat the Minnesota Gophers 5-3 in Houghton, Michigan last night.
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Saturday afternoon thoughts

Results of Friday Oct. 19

Minnesota 3 at Michigan Tech 5 (WCHA)
Minnesota Duluth 1 at Notre Dame 4 (NC)
Lake Superior 2 at Bemidji State 0 (NC)
Rensselaer 3 at Minnesota State 3 ot (NC)
Alabama-Huntsville 3 at St. Cloud State 8 (NC)
Northern Michigan 2 at Nebraska Omaha 5 (NC)
Colorado College 6 at Air Force 2 (NC)
North Dakota 5 vs Alaska Anchorage 0 (NC)
UMass Lowell 1 at Denver 5 (NC)

Couple of observations and comments about last night’s games.

First off, great win by the UND hockey team last night even when they had a shortened bench due to suspension and injuries. UND had many key cogs missing from their lineup, but they were still able to get the job done.

Missing from the lineup were; the injured Michael Parks (12g-10a—22pts), and suspended players, Brendan O’Donnell (5g-1a—6pts), Andrew MacWilliam (2g-5a—7pts), Carter Rowney (18g-15—33pts), Corbin Knight (16g-24a—40pts), Danny Kristo (19g-26a—45pts), if my math is correct, based on last season’s statistics that’s 153 points from last night’s lineup.

I was at the UND Women’s game against SCSU last night so I wasn’t able to watch the UND men’s game on the internet broadcast but from the radio broadcast it did sound like UND took the game to the UAA Seawolves even with a depleted lineup.

Those that will be missing from the lineup tonight; the injured Michael Parks (12g-10a—22pts), suspended players, Connor Gaarder (4g-6a—10pts), Stephane Pattyn (4g-3a—7pts) and sophomore defenseman Andrew Panzarella (0g-4a—4pts), Danny Kristo (19g-26a—45pts), as you can see from the numbers that there will be a little more fire power in the UND line up tonight as UND is only missing about 88 points from tonight's line up.

Earlier this week Minnesota defenseman Mark Alt provided some unneeded bulletin board material when he had this to say about playing at Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan.
Mark Alt on visiting #mtuhky: "It's not the best city ... when you get there. I don't want to be mean, but it's definitely a dreaded trip."
I honestly don’t know what is wrong with some of these kids? There is no reason to add fuel to the fire. As hockey players, you’re on a business trip to play hockey, you’re going to spend a few nights doing homework, practicing, watching game film and playing hockey. It’s not like you’re on a vacation and you’re going, this isn’t Florida or Spring Break. Besides, the MTU fans and residents of Houghton, Michigan don’t care what some kind from the Minneapolis Metro has to say about their town.

Needless to say, Michigan Tech was ready to play hockey last night and Minnesota looked as if they were beaten to the puck and out played for most of the night, I wouldn’t hand the Gophers the McNaughton Cup just yet. This is the WCHA and teams are going to bring their “A” game every night, the season is a war and Minnesota will have the target on their.

After beating Notre Dame 3-1 in the first game of their series, I was surprised that UMD didn’t come back with Freshman Matt McNeely who was very good in the first game against the Irish. I watched the first game on the Notre Dame Webcast and I have to admit that one of the best online hockey broadcast that I have seen.

Sam Brittain stopped 38/39 shots as the seventh ranked Denver pounded the 10th ranked Mass-Lowell in Denver.

Wisconsin Freshman Nic Kerdiles’ suspension reduced to 10 games by the NCAA

Originally posted at the Hockey Writer – Combine

Earlier in the month, we had found out that highly touted incoming Wisconsin Badgers freshman forward Nic Kerdiles, had been suspended for one year by the NCAA for a violation of the NCAA’s amateurism rules.
Courtesy of the United States of Hockey --- Apparently, Kerdiles stayed in a hotel room the night of the NHL Entry Draft that was part of a block paid for by a credit card owned by family advisor and certified NHL player agent Ian Pulver. According to the source, though the Kerdiles family eventually repaid Pulver, apparently enough time had lapsed prior to repayment leading the NCAA to view this as a loan from an agent and therefore an improper benefit.
With the reduction of the suspension from the NCAA, Kerdiles will now have a 10 game suspension, with time served. The Badgers have already played in two games so eight games remain on Kerdiles’s suspension. Kerdiles will be eligible to return on November 30, 2012 when the Wisconsin Badgers play the Denver Pioneers in Denver, Colorado.

Kerdiles’s has a big decision ahead him, one of his option is that he was been drafted by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey Leagues and he could leave the University of  Wisconsin and he would be eligible immediately to play in the WHL.

As a college hockey fan and advocate, I would hope that ends up “not” being the case.

Walter Dickey, Wisconsin's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Regulatory Affairs, who handled the appeal on behalf of the University of Wisconsin, issued the following statement.

"While we recognize the significant nature of a reduction in penalty from a full season withholding to 30 percent, we are dismayed that any penalty whatsoever was imposed on Nic Kerdiles in this matter. We remain confident that the facts demonstrate Nic had no culpability. The facts serve as evidence that he has the kind of character we believed he had when he was first recruited. Throughout this ordeal, Nic has demonstrated nothing but poise and integrity consistent with the outstanding student-athlete we know he is.
"Nic is currently exploring his options which we have encouraged him to do. Our hope is that he remains a Badger."

Friday, October 19, 2012

UND women outlast SCSU

Grand Forks, ND – UND Women’s head coach Brian Idalski was asked about how he thought his team played so far this season.

“A work in progress,” Idalski said. “We still delegate to a few kids and expect them to bail us out a lot and that shouldn’t happen. I think our focus for us is getting scoring and help from all three lines and that isn’t happening."

If there has been a knock on this year’s University of North Dakota’s Woman’s team it’s been their inability to play a full 60 minutes of hockey and to stay out of the penalty box.

Coming into the game UND was leading the WCHA in penalty minutes with an average of 15.2 per game killing 20 of 23 penalty kills which is good enough for third place in the WCHA.

Tonight, the march to the penalty box continued for UND but they were able to kill five of six SCSU power plays.

The head coach was asked about the penalty kill after the game

“Coach [Eric] Fabian has done a great job,” Idalski said. “Really, it’s [penalty kill] has done well.”
Idalski went on to explain that his team is making strides and his team is almost there.

“Quite honestly in all the games we seem to be winning the attempted shots we’re winning all of the statistical battles… we don’t seem to have that comfort level as far as finishing off plays, it’s going to come, it’s a couple kids out of the line up, it’s some people still learning their way and you kind of hope the monkey you just feel they need a good confident game and some kids are going to explode out.”

Out of the gate, UND out-shot the SCSU Huskies by a lopsided total of 13-7, but Huskies sophomore goalie Julie Friend proved to be no friend to UND as she made many difficult and timely saves that came down low, from the slot.

UND was able to break through at the 08:26 mark of the first period with a goal by senior forward Jocelyne Lamoureux, assisting on the goal was Jordan Slavin and Monique Lamoureux.

SCSU would answer the UND goal with a goal from Molly Mott at the 02:27 mark of the second period, assisting on the goal was Alex Nelson and Haylea Schmid.

Through two periods of hockey, UND did everything but out score SCSU as the UND women out-shot the Huskies 19-13 but the score would remain tied 1-1.

UND would go ahead for good, breaking the tie at the 0:46 mark of the third period with Jocelyne Lamoureux’s second goal of the game on power play, assisting on the goal was Sam LaShomb and Monique Lamoureux.

UND would add to that lead with a beautiful by freshman Becca Kohler down low as she scored her first goal of her career with a goal at 15:44 mark of the third period. Assisting on the goal was Layla Marvin Ashley Furia.

After the game an excited Becca Kohler seemed relieved to get her first career goal.

“It was like a monkey off the back,” Kohler said. “Those expressions come to mind, like you practice all week for it in the morning and you get up early for that, to get the reward for the first goal is a good feeling, it feels good.

SCSU would pull their goalie in the later with about a minute to go but the Huskies were unable to get any more goals past senior goalie Jorid Dagfinrud who was solid in goal on the nigh stopping 12 of 13 shots.

After the name Coach Idalski was asked about the status of his injured forward Michelle Karvinen.
“Like I eluded to in the press conference this past week, Michelle is probably going to be re-evaluated next week and we would like to get her back for Minnesota obviously.

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