Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

It’s funny that the season is just underway and it is only two until thanksgiving.  Where does the time go?  Looking at the standings there are teams that appear to be top half teams and other that will be bottom half teams.   There are teams that have played 4 more games than others, so that has to be factored into account.  MTU started with a split with UM and has gotten swept the last four games, ouch, they need to get back on track in Houghton.  UAA and UMD are hoping to avoid the same early season fate of MTU, by getting some points this weekend.


WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013

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


WCHA Games

Bemidji St. @ #19 Colorado College
Last weekend the Beavers enjoyed a weekend off and the Tigers swept the Badgers in Madison.

We two of the three teams who haven’t lost a WCHA game in this series.  Looking at the overall numbers this season give us a little insight, CC scored 27 and given up 22 goals over 8 games, and the Beavers scored 11 and given up 7 over 4 games.  The Tigers play on their oversized sheet of ice, at World Arena, and we all know that with all that extra ice it is harder to check players.  The Tigers will have the home ice advantage in this series, but the Beavers know how to play defense and frustrate teams.  Tigers 3-pts


#3 Denver @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Pioneers spilt with the SCSU Huskies in Denver and the Mavericks split with the Gophers.

The Pioneers got blanked last Friday, but rebounded nicely on Saturday for a split.  The Mavericks are undefeated at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato this year, 2-0-1.  The Pioneers play on a standard ice sheet, and MSUM plays on the oversized Olympic sheet, so DU might have some adjustments to deal with.  Also the Pioneers play their arch-rivals next week, the CC Tigers, so they cannot afford to look past this weekend.  Also this will be DU’s first games away from home this season.  The Mavericks have to build up their confidence after last weekend’s play against a top team in Gophers.  I’m going with the Mavericks Friday and the Pioneers Saturday.  SPLIT

#6 North Dakota @ #15 St. Could St. 
Last weekend NoDak split with the BU Terriers in Grand Forks and the Huskies split with the Pioneers in Denver.

The Huskies are a perfect 4-0-0 at the National Hockey Center this young season, and NoDak is 0-1 on the road this year.  SCSU has given up 20 goals in 8 games, or 2.5/game, UND has given up 12 goals in 6 games, or 2.0/game.  Which leads to the old quote, defense wins games, offense sells tickets.  Last year these teams split both series, each going 2-2-0, with splits at both rinks, with SCSU winning on Friday’s and UND winning on the Saturday’s.  At the moment, I don’t see why the trend should change this weekend.  SPLIT

#2 Minnesota @ Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend the Gophers split with the SCSU Huskies in Minneapolis and the Seawolves had a free weekend in Anchorage.

The Gophers make the long flight to Anchorage this weekend to play the Seawolves.  Last year, in October, when the UM went to UAA the Gophers swept them. This year the Gophers are 1-2-0 away from Minneapolis and the Seawolves are 1-0-1 in Anchorage this season.  I’m going with a little upset in this series, UAA is due one.  SPLIT


#20 Minnesota-Duluth @ Nebraska-Omaha (Sat/Sun)

Last weekend the Bulldogs were on a bye week and the Mavericks swept the MTU Huskies in Houghton.

The Bulldogs find themselves in a tough spot early in the season, tied with UAA for the bottom spot.  UMD can ill afford a winless weekend in Omaha, starting of the conference schedule with no wins in four games would be a deep hole.  UNO is off to a good start in the league sitting alone in 3^rd place and only losing once in four WCHA contests.  I’m not sure why this is a Saturday night, Sunday afternoon series, but it is what it is.  The Mavericks have scored 25 goals in 8 games, 3.1/game, and the Bulldogs have scored 14 times in 6 games, 2.3/game.   Since both coach’s are ex-UND coach’s they are very familiar with one another.  SPLIT

BYE WEEK
Michigan Tech
Wisconsin

North Dakota Wednesday Press Conference notes.

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine...

This week, the University of North Dakota travels to Saint Cloud to play a two game series with their conference rival the SCSU Huskies.

It’s not an understatement to say that the Huskies are one of UND’s “fiercest rivals” and there have been some epic and heated battles along the way.

This weekend’s series, is also one of those series that fans mark on their calendar because of the huge number of UND fans that liven in and around the metro area. The National Hockey Center very accessible because it’s is a close 60 mile drive from the Twin Cities.

Over the last  10 years, UND has not won a game at the National Hockey Center in Saint Cloud Minnesota on Friday nights and sports a record of 0-6-4. UND is flawless on Saturday nights, during the same 10 year program game and has a 10-0-0 record.

UND’s record on Friday night the last 10 years has been a subject of discussion this past week on the social media outlets.

After playing three weekends of hockey and getting two splits and a three point weekend; this week UND looks to change their fortunes by getting a sweep.

North Dakota Senior Forward Corbin Knight was asked about the series and what they had to do to get the sweep.

“I think… we hope to see is a full 60 minutes both nights I think,” Knight said. “The last few games against Boston we played a pretty good game on Friday night and got the win  and pretty good two periods on the Saturday night and a not so good third period and we didn’t end up winning that game, so… I think that going to be something that’s really going to dictate how positive our weekend is; whether or not we can play a full 60 minutes both night and hopefully to get two wins.

Corbin Knight had this to say about the streak on Friday night.

“Yeah… it’s a pretty crazy stat that has kind of been floating around social media and our locker room and stuff,” Knight said. “Like I said, it’s a tough place to play – they always play hard in their own rink.  But I think it’s just one thing hopefully where if we can just improve on all of the stuff we have been working on practice this week and play a full 60 minutes hopefully our game will take care of itself and if we play well hopefully it will be a favorable outcome.

This is what Corbin Knight had to say about playing in the National Hockey Center.

“It’s pretty crazy I mean… with the big ice usually it’s kind of tough to have a good atmosphere,”  Knight said. ”But when got  a good student section, with a lot of loyal fans there, it’s a lot of fun playing there it can be a usual electric atmosphere in that building.

Junior defenseman Dillon Simpson as asked if the team is feeling the pressure by not being able to get the two wins and a possible sweep.

“I don’t know if pressure is the right word.” Simpson said. But we know what we have to do. We haven’t been able to close out weekends – that’s something we have been focusing on. But we got to in and worry about Friday first – hopefully we have a good game and go from there.”

Simpson was asked if he was aware of the stat and had this to say about the record on Friday night.

“We going to ignore that stat as long as we can,” Simpson said. “Like said, we got to go and worry about Friday for now. We had a good week of practice so far… you know – do our best – have a good game plan and go out and execute and see what happens.”

Senior Defenseman Andrew MacWillam on playing against Saint Cloud this weekend and the atmosphere in the National Hockey Center.

“It’s a fun place to play and we have had some heated battles there over the last few years,” MacWilliam said.  “Especially since I have been here, there is a little bit of history there – they’re a good team this year and were going to have to be ready to face a competitive squad and we’re going there to get two wins. But they’re going to be feisty.”

MacWilliam was asked about not being able to get the sweeps for the weekend series.

“Yeah I mean… we have to learn how to close out a weekend,” MacWilliam said.  “That’s two weekends in a row that we had the lead going into the third period on Saturday night and came out on the losing side. We have to learn as a group to put the finishing touches on a win.”

MacWilliam had this to say about dealing with the Huskies speedy forwards.

“It’s going to be tough draw for us as a defensive unit especially on the big ice there,” MacWilliam said. “We’re going to have to key in a few guys and make it miserable for them and be physical hopefully though out the two games wear them down.”

Head coach Dave Hakstol on the Huskies and playing in the National Hockey Center.

“Well we’re back in conference play and we talked about it before,” Hakstol said. “Even though it’s early in the season every point is at such a premium and we do have a good rivalry with Saint Cloud State – they’re off to a good start – they’re a team that certainly in my mind I picked to finish in the top two in our league. They’re a veteran team – going into the National Hockey Center is always a tough place to play – its’s a momentum type of building – it’s a loud building and they play real well there… so we’ll be well prepared and look forward to it.

Huskies banged up 

Saint Cloud will be without two of their top forwards this weekend. According to Mick Hatten, beat writer for the Saint Cloud State Huskies, “[Ben] Hanowski has not been able to practice since he was injured in a game Oct. 26 against Minnesota State-Mankato at the NHEC. He was hit into the boards by Eriah Hayes, who received a major penalty for charging.”

Also, Huskies freshman forward Joey Benik is sidelined with a broken leg and apparently is a few weeks away because he is just getting his cast off.

Related articles

• Terriers bite North Dakota back 4-2 (thehockeywriters.com)
• North Dakota bites Terriers 4-2 (thehockeywriters.com)

Revised and Updated College Hockey Television Schedule

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine. 

Previously, I posted a national television schedule for NCAA Division I college hockey.  As with most sports, television schedules are fluid and change a lot, so I added a few dates to the television schedule that I posted back in October.

According to recent information that was announced last weekend during the nonconference series between BU and UND; NESN out of Boston, Massachusetts is picking up game two  of the UND and SCSU series in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. That is good news for college hockey and NHL fans that are looking for something to fill the void left by the NHL Lockout.  Also, Boston College travels across town to play their heated rival the Boston University Terriers on Sunday November 11th, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. central on NESN.

Apparently NESN is picking up Saturday's UND vs. SCSU game next weekend (available on DirecTV and Dish).
— Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) November 2, 2012

If you have been scanning twitter and the various NHL webpages on the Internet you will realize that the NHL owners and NHL Players Association are still really no closer to signing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Sure they’re going to meet tomorrow (6th of November, 2012) but will they actually get to work and try to save the 2012-13 season?

Fri. Nov. 9 Boston University at Merrimack FOX College 7:30 p.m. TBD
Sat. Nov. 10 North Dakota at Saint Cloud State NESN 7:00 p.m. 628/434
Sun Nov 11 Boston College at Boston University NESN 5:00 p.m. 628/434
Thu. Nov. 15 Notre Dame at Michigan CBS Sports Net. 7:30 p.m. 613 / 158 (C)
Fri. Nov. 15 UMD at UND FCS/Midco 7:37pm TBD
 Fri Nov. 16 UMD at UND FCS/Midco 7:07pm TBD

Can we have some F'N NHL Hockey?

We just went through what seems like the longest election of our time...At least the American's did.  To make things worse, the NHLPA and the NHL owners are still locked in a labor dispute and we still don't have an agreement after 52 days. Can we please get this thing settled? Lock both sides a room until they can come up with an agreement.

Is there a solution looming.

This is good news... Right?

NHL-NHLPA meeting still going....
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) November 7, 2012

#CBA As of 9:25 p.m. ET, talks between NHL/NHLPA still ongoing. Interpret that as you wish...
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) November 7, 2012

NAHL grads making early impacts in college hockey

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This was an article that I came across my Tweet Deck; UND sophomore forward Connor Gaarder has been on fire this season so far and has almost equaled his goal total from last season. Gaarder is also second on the team in scoring with (3g-2a—5pts). I expect to see a huge improvement out of Gaarder this season and UND head coach Dave Hakstol speaks highly of Gaarder.He’s a good hockey player,” Hakstol said. “He goes to those hard areas..."

NAHL.COM --- Connor Gaarder, forward, University of North Dakota (North Iowa/Coulee Region 2009-11) – Gaarder carved out a place for himself in the UND hockey history books this past Friday night, becoming the first walk-on (no scholarship money) that anyone could recall to score a hat trick. His three-goal game was pivotal as North Dakota downed Boston University 4-2 in front of 11,589 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena in the nonconference battle between two ranked teams. Gaarder's third goal -- he came into the game with zero this year-- proved to be the winner. Gaarder scored four goals in 33 games last year, nearly matched that in one night on Friday.

************

Pheonix Copley, goaltender, Michigan Tech University (Corpus Christi IceRays, 2010-11) - Michigan Tech goaltender Pheonix Copley, who helped the Huskies to a two-game split against top-ranked and visiting Minnesota in the middle of October while starting both games, was named the Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Oct. 23.??A 6-3, 175-pound freshman from North Pole, Alaska, stopped 28 of 31 shots on goal on Oct. 19 while giving up just two even-strength goals against the No. 1 Golden Gophers to earn his first collegiate win. He then posted 31 more saves in a 3-2, one-goal setback last Saturday and held Minnesota scoreless on all five power-play chances as the two teams were tied at 2-2 until the 16:25 mark of the final period.

ESPN Announces NCAA Hockey Regional TV Schedule

OFFICAL PRESS RELEASE

For the ninth consecutive year, ESPN networks will present all 12 games in the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional and Semi-Regional rounds live from four regional sites, in addition to the Frozen Four and Championship matchups from Pittsburgh, Pa. Every game will air over ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or on ESPN3 and local syndication. The games carried over ESPN3 and syndication will also re-air on ESPNU.

As in previous years, the 2013 tournament brackets will be announced on the NCAA Hockey Championship Selection Show, slated to air Sunday, March 24 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. ESPN’s 24-hour college sports network will air more than eight consecutive hours of non-stop college hockey coverage each day during Regionals – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – with a doubleheader of live action Friday and a tripleheader on Saturday. In total, ESPNU will air 30 hours of game action within a 54-hour span.
ESPN’s coverage continues in April with both Frozen Four games airing on ESPN2 and the Championship airing on ESPN. All of ESPN’s NCAA hockey coverage will also be available on computers at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app live.

ESPN has aired games from the men’s championship since 1980 and extended its commitment to the NCAA last year to include the airing of the entire Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship through 2024.

2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Schedule:

Is a deal close between the NHLPA and the NHL Owners

You have to wonder if a deal is close to being done. Articles like this give me hope that we can salvage a NHL season.

Dan Oldfield, CBC Sports --- We've heard that the No. 2 guys in the NHL and the NHLPA, Bill Daly and Steve Fehr, held a "marathon" bargaining session this weekend. We also learned there are plans to bring the parties together for more formal talks this week. What does that mean?

I’ll be bold here and say it means a deal is inevitable.

One can only believe that a marathon session (with several breaks) means that Daly and Fehr had something to talk about and they were clearly checking compass directions with other key players. More than that, there obviously is reason to return to the table. They would not be doing this merely to restate positions already well known to each other.

The two sides are meeting today in New York City. According to the NHLPA the following players Craig Adams, David Backes, Martin Biron, Chris Campoli, Sidney Crosby, Mathieu Darche, Ron Hainsey, Johan Hedberg, Milan Lucic, Manny Malhotra, Steve Montador, Shawn Thornton, Kevin Westgarth.

AHA Commissioner explains stiff suspension for Griffins forward

English: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) logo. Source: http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/Public/mlp/promotions_special_events/pe_web/promo_manual/memos/identity.pdf Converted by User:King of Hearts from :Image:National Collegiate Athletic Association logo.png using Inkscape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Sunday, Atlantic Hockey commissioner Robert DeGregorio explained his very lengthy suspension to Canisius sophomore forward Matthew Grazen for his check from behind on Air Force Academy junior Forward George Michalke who is still out with an apparent head injury.

Ben Kirst, USCHO Arena Reporter --- On Sunday, DeGregorio explained the punishment.

“I know that people are trying to compare this to what happened in other leagues,” DeGregorio said. “But I am the commissioner for Atlantic Hockey. My job is to provide a safe environment and to apply the rules of the NCAA to our league.

“I’m not responsible for what happened in Minnesota a year ago,” the commissioner continued, in apparent reference to Gophers forward Kyle Rau’s one-game suspension for an illegal hit on Denver’s Jason Zucker, “or in Hockey East or in any of the other leagues. Nor do I comment when I get calls. I am responsible for my league. In viewing what had happened, and the extent of the injury — and one of the things that I do and others don’t, is they don’t weigh the extent of the injury — I felt it was important.”

DeGregorio took a unique approach to the suspension. Grazen, who missed the Griffs’ road trip to Minnesota on Oct. 28 as part of his NCAA-mandated suspension for a disqualification penalty, was prohibited from playing in Canisius’ two-game series against Clarkson last weekend and will miss upcoming contests with Robert Morris on Nov. 9, RIT on Nov. 10 and archrival Niagara on Nov. 16.

Grazen will then complete his punishment later in the season when the Griffs travel to Colorado Springs to face Air Force on Feb. 15-16, a move made by DeGregorio in an attempt to diffuse potential on-ice retribution.

Frist, I have not been able to find video of the hit in question any but everything that I have read is that the hit was vicious and violent and worthy of a suspension.

I have to applaud the AHA Commissioner for having the stones to make a tough call. I believe that Degregoiro is right; his job is to ensure that the league provides a safe environment and to apply the rules of the NCAA to his league. Unlike another league office that comes to mind – almost immediately – whose threshold for handing out a suspension has to be very high before he will act upon an on ice hit or incident. Thank God, my favorite school is leaving said league after this season.

Hockey is a physical game but unnecessary and dangerous hits need to be addressed. You can have a physical game without decapitating an opponent or causing him to be a drooling vegetable.

Results of the WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 4

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine 

Each week, I participate in a WCHA Web Media Poll that is put on by the Tech Hockey Guide with 11 other people that represent both the print media as well as the hockey blogosphere. Here’s the week four results of the WCHA Web Media Poll.

As you can see by the standings, there is a lot of movement in this week’s poll, North Dakota and Colorado College stay the same. Minnesota falls from second place to fourth and Saint Cloud State University Huskies moves from fourth to second place after splitting their weekend series with Denver. The biggest mover is Nebraska Omaha, who moves from 10th place to sixth.

	Team	Pts	Previous	Record	High	Low
1)	Denver (6)	134	1	5-1-0	1	5
2)	St. Cloud State (3)	124	4	5-3-0	1	5
3)	North Dakota (2)	122	3	3-2-1	1	5
4)	Minnesota	118	2	5-2-0	2	4
5)	Colorado College (1)	96	5	5-3-0	1	7
6)	Nebraska Omaha	80	10	4-3-1	5	8
7)	Minnesota Duluth	66	8	2-3-1	5	10
8)	Bemidji State	47	9	2-1-1	6	11
9)	Minnesota State	46	12	3-3-2	6	11
10)	Michigan Tech	45	7	2-6-0	7	12
11)	Wisconsin	41	6	1-4-1	6	12
12)	Alaska Anchorage	17	11	2-2-2	9	12

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