Grand Forks Herald: Task force on Fighting Sioux Replacement Has First Meeting

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It would appear that we have more clarity from the nickname task force. The nickname task force had their first meeting on Wednesday. Also, the nickname task force will be coming up with the process to select a new nickname for UND. That makes me happy. This is the kicker, the nickname task force's purpose is not to pick an actual nickname, they’re just defining the process of picking a new nickname. This will make a lot of UND fans less anxious.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald -- A UND task force met Wednesday to begin coming up with the process of picking a new nickname and logo for the school.

The task force won’t be picking a nickname, but will try to establish a concrete process the school will use to choose a new one after the controversial Fighting Sioux moniker was officially retired Dec. 31, 2012.

I’m not necessarily asking you to find the name, I'm asking you to identify the best pathway to get to that name,” UND President Robert Kelley said to the task force. “If we come up with a name at the end of that process, all the better, that certainly is our eventual goal, but just for right now, we're looking at the process.”

While this first meeting consisted mostly of policy discussion and planning potential meeting dates, the group had clear ideas about what it wants to accomplish.

Task force member and UND alumnus Chuck Horter stressed the importance of transparency while the task force co-chairman, Student Body President Tanner Franklin, said he wanted to make sure all stakeholders had their voices heard.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the nickname task force. Picking a potential replacement nickname for UND is a n emotional issue. There is going to be a lot of eyes on this task force and they're going to be under some pressure to make sure there's a smooth transition to a new nickname.

Breaking News: Tony Stewart not charged in death of Kevin Ward Jr.

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I apologize to the readers that don't follow sprint car racing, once in a while I will stray into other areas not related to college hockey or the NHL.

I am also a big time racing fans and this is a big development in the racing world and I covered this story extensively as it happen back in August. For those that don't know, Stewart is also the car owner of World of Outlaw's sprint car driver Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota.

I think the most damning thing is the fact that Kevin Ward Jr. was under the influence of marijuana at the time of this incident.  Actually, this announcement is kind of a shocker.

Jeff Gluck and Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports -- The Ontario County District Attorney's office took the evidence in Stewart's case to a grand jury, which found there was no basis for criminal charges, D.A. Michael Tantillo announced Wednesday.

Tantillo said toxicology reports revealed that Ward was under the influence of marijuana at a high enough level to impair judgment.

Tantillo said there were two charges submitted for consideration by the grand jury against Stewart: manslaughter in the second degree and criminally negligent homicide. He said neither received the necessary 12 votes from the grand jury to charge Stewart. The grand jury heard the evidence and deliberated "over the better part of two days," Tantillo said.

Tantillo said Stewart was presented the opportunity to testify but wouldn't confirm whether he did.

Tantillo said two videos of the incident were examined and revealed there was "no aberrational driving by Tony Stewart."

Stewart still could face a civil suit from Ward's family.

The fact remains, that a driver died in this incident and this will probably change Tony Stewart's life forever.

New Haven Register: ‘EZ-AC’ Hockey a thing of the past

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Here's a good article about ECAC Hockey and how they have gone from being a league that many college hockey fans scoffed at, to a league that's now looked at as being "the" power conference in college hockey. The ECAC has won the last two Frozen Four and that's an accomplishment that nothing to sneeze at. Seriously. Especially, with the academic standards that they must uphold.

Chip Malafronte, New Haven Register “I think our league is as good as any, if not the best,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold, whose team finished as national runner-up to Yale in 2013. “We’re showing that we’ve got the high-end teams that can win national championships. Even more than that, the depth of our league; our bottom teams are always really good and you see every year our 11th- or 12th-place teams beating the No. 1 team in the nation. It’s a deep league and that’s a credit to our coaches and our universities and the commitment we have to our programs.”

Indeed, these are exciting times for the ECAC, once so callously referred to as the “EZ-AC” by fans of more prosperous conferences from Maine to Alaska. Yale’s title in 2013 snapped a 23-year championship drought dating back to Harvard’s run in 1989. When Union won it all in April, it marked the first time the league took consecutive crowns since Boston University went back-to-back in 1971 and 1972.

It’s clear the ECAC hasn’t been this strong since a chunk of members split off in 1984 to form Hockey East. Given the restructuring of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and demise of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association last year, the league is as competitive as ever against the rest of the nation.

“Real strong,” Yale coach Keith Allain said. “You’re talking about the last two years because the league won national championships. But four years ago we had a team that could have won, but lost to Minnesota-Duluth, who did win the national championship that year. The league has gotten stronger; the programs within the league are stronger in terms of feeding off each other. A rising tide lifts the other ships.”

UND Hockey: Get Your GameDay App

UND Hockey Fans, don't forget to get your GameDay App. It's free, just click on the appropriate link below. Hockey Season, starts in 11 days. I have a Samsung Mega and this app looks great on my phone.

Fans can download the app now on the App Store (link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/und-north-dakota-gameday/id824982957?mt=8) and on the Google Play Store (link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emotionmedia.fannex.und&hl=en).



Big Ten Hockey Conference TV Schedule

The Big Ten Hockey Conference released their television schedule for the 2014-15 season. 

2014-15 MEN’S HOCKEY TELEVISION SCHEDULE (All times Eastern)

DATE                               TIME                      MATCHUP                                                                      TV

October 24, 2014        9 PM                      Bemidji State               at        Minnesota                BTN

October 25, 2014        8 PM                      Bemidji State               at        Minnesota                FSN+

November 1, 2014     5 PM                      St. Cloud State            at        Minnesota                FSN

November 7, 2014     8 PM                      Notre Dame                 at        Minnesota                BTN

November 9, 2014     5 PM                      Notre Dame                 at        Minnesota                ESPNU

November 14, 2014   8 PM                      Minnesota-Duluth     at        Minnesota                FSN+

November 20, 2014   TBD                        Michigan State            at        Ohio State                 FSD+/STO (delay)

November 21, 2014   7:30 PM                Penn State                    at        Michigan                    FSD+

December 5, 2014      7 PM                      Ohio State                     at        Michigan                    BTN

December 5, 2014      7 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Michigan State        FSD

December 5, 2014      9 PM                      Penn State                    at        Wisconsin                  ESPNEWS

December 14, 2014   5 PM                      Clarkson                         at        Michigan State        FSD

December 28, 2014   3:30 or 7 PM       Michigan Tech             vs.      Michigan                    FSD+

December 28, 2014   3:30 or 7 PM       Ferris State                   vs.      Michigan State        FSD+

December 29, 2014   3:30 or 7 PM       MSU/FSU                      vs.      Michigan                    FSD+

December 29, 2014   3:30 or 7 PM       MTU/MICH                   vs.      Michigan State        FSD+

January 2, 2015           8 PM                      Merrimack                    at        Minnesota                FSN+

January 9, 2015           6:30 PM                Minnesota                    at        Michigan                    BTN

January 9, 2015           7 PM                      U.S. NTDP                     at        Michigan State        FSD+

January 10, 2015         4 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Michigan                    FSD/FSN+

January 16, 2015         7 PM                      Michigan                        at        Ohio State                 FSD+/STO

January 16, 2015         9 PM                      Wisconsin                      at        Minnesota                BTN

January 17, 2015         5 PM                      Michigan State            at        Penn State                ESPNU

January 17, 2015         6 PM                      Wisconsin                      at        Minnesota                FSN/FS Wisconsin

January 23, 2015         7 PM                      Ohio State                     at        Michigan State        FSD/STO

January 23, 2015         8 PM                      Minnesota State        vs.      Minnesota                FSN+

January 23, 2015         9 PM                      Michigan                        at        Wisconsin                  BTN

January 24, 2015         5 or 8 PM             UMD/BSU                     vs.      Minnesota                FSN

January 24, 2015         7 PM                      Ohio State                     at        Michigan State        BTN

January 30, 2015         7:30 PM                Michigan State            vs.      Michigan                    FSD

January 30, 2015         9 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Wisconsin                  BTN

January 31, 2015         8 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Wisconsin                  BTN

February 6, 2015         6:30 PM                Wisconsin                      at        Penn State                BTN

February 6, 2015         9 PM                      Ohio State                     at        Minnesota                BTN

February 7, 2015         8 PM                      Michigan                        vs.      Michigan State        BTN

February 7, 2015         8 PM                      Ohio State                     at        Minnesota                FSN+/STO

February 13, 2015      6:30 PM                Wisconsin                      at        Ohio State                 BTN

February 13, 2015      7 PM                      Penn State                    at        Michigan State        FSD

February 13, 2015      9 PM                      Michigan                        at        Minnesota                BTN

February 14, 2015      6 PM                      Penn State                    at        Michigan State        BTN

February 14, 2015      8 PM                      Michigan                        at        Minnesota                FSN+/FSD+/STO

February 20, 2015      6:30 PM                Minnesota                    at        Penn State                BTN

February 20, 2015      9 PM                      Michigan State            at        Wisconsin                  BTN

February 21, 2015      5 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Penn State                ESPNU

February 22, 2015      TBD                        Ohio State                     at        Michigan                    FSD+/STO

February 26, 2015      9 PM                      Michigan State            at        Minnesota                BTN

February 27, 2015      6:30 PM                Penn State                    at        Ohio State                 BTN

February 27, 2015      7:30 PM                Wisconsin                      at        Michigan                    FSD+/FS Wisconsin

February 27, 2015      9 PM                      Michigan State            at        Minnesota                BTN

February 28, 2015      4 PM                      Wisconsin                      at        Michigan                    BTN

March 6, 2015              5 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Ohio State                 ESPNU

March 7, 2015              6 PM                      Minnesota                    at        Ohio State                 ESPNEWS

March 7, 2015              7 PM                      Wisconsin                      at        Michigan State        FSD/FS Wisconsin+

March 13, 2015            7 PM                      Michigan                        at        Michigan State        FSD

March 14, 2015            5 PM                      Michigan State            at        Michigan                    FSD

March 14, 2015            7 PM                      Ohio State                     at        Wisconsin                  BTN

March 14, 2015            8 PM                      Penn State                    at        Minnesota                FSN+

March 19, 2015            4:30 or 8 PM       No. 6 Seed                    vs.      No. 3 Seed                BTN

March 19, 2015            4:30 or 8 PM       No. 5 Seed                    vs.      No. 4 Seed                BTN

March 20, 2015            4:30 or 8 PM       No. 4/5 Seed                vs.      No. 1 Seed                BTN

March 20, 2015            4:30 or 8 PM       No. 3/6 Seed                vs.      No. 2 Seed                BTN

March 21, 2015            8 PM                      TBD                                  vs.      TBD                              BTN

KEY:
FSD – FOX Sports Detroit
FSN – FOX Sports North
FS Wisconsin – FOX Sports Wisconsin
STO – SportsTime Ohio

Related articles

• Big Ten Hockey: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series

UND Women Fourth in WCHA Head Coaches' Preseason Poll

2014-15 WCHA Head Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Rk       Team (1st place votes)              Points

1          Minnesota (6)                               48

2          Wisconsin (2)                                 44

3          Minnesota Duluth                       34

4          North Dakota                                 33

5          Ohio State                                       26

6          Minnesota State                          17

7          Bemidji State                                 13

8          St. Cloud State                              9

(Note: coaches could not vote for their own teams in the poll and points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system)

Reading this poll, it would appear that UND is flying under the radar. 

Hockey East Coaches’ Preseason Poll

1. Providence (7) 127
2. Boston College (3) 120
3. Notre Dame 94
4. Northeastern (1) 90
5. New Hampshire 86
6. Boston University 83
7. UMass Lowell (1) 79
8. Vermont 75
9. Maine 74
10. Merrimack 37
11. Massachusetts 33
12. Connecticut 26


The Hockey East coaches have spoken, and they're not giving UCONN any love.

ECAC Hockey Coaches Poll

1) Colgate
2) Union
3) Cornell
4) Yale
5) Quinnipiac
6) Dartmouth
7) Brown
8) Clarkson
9) RPI
10) Harvard
11) SLU
12) Princeton



Here's the ECAC preseason coaches poll. I am surprised that Union isn't number one.

College Hockey: 13 Days Until the 2014-15 Season Begins

The College Hockey regular season starts in... pic.twitter.com/xg5w81VF38
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) September 22, 2014

It's a Johnny Hockey until the 2014-15 college hockey exhibition season begins. There are actually 18 days until the regular season beings. UND starts off the regular season against the BSU Beavers in a non-conference home-and-home series, October 10-11, 2014.

Jump for joy! Only David Killip (@WMUHockey) more days until the regular season begins! #IsItOctoberYet #NCHCHockey pic.twitter.com/EFc9T1HtiB
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) September 22, 2014

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• NCAA Hockey: Fastest Growing Development Path
• National Collegiate Hockey Conference Social Media Guide

San Jose Sharks Pugilist Scott Adds Security

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According to CapGeek.com, former Michigan Tech Husky defenseman John Scott is paid $700,000.00 a year to skate around the ice and beat people up. Scott plays an average of 6.44 minutes a game. Other than fighting abilities, Scott has no other hockey talents. His Corsi numbers aren't that good either. That’s quite the racket.

Kevin Kurz, CSCNBAYAREA.COM --"It was just one of those things. He hit my guy, I didn’t really care for it,” Scott said. “I gave him a little nudge. He slashed me and I kind of went after him. Cooler heads prevailed, and we went our separate ways.”

Todd McLellan said: “I thought it was a really good moment for our team. Taylor finished a teammate really hard and John stepped in. He let everybody know what his job was. Taylor responded well. We didn’t need to wound or injure anybody. They handled it very well, and we moved on.”

Scott's role is clearly defined. He’s not going to play every night, and even when he’s in the lineup, his minutes will likely be limited. In 56 games with Buffalo last season, Scott had one goal and 125 penalty minutes – including five fights – while playing just 6:45 per game.

Sounds like the head coach of the San Jose Sharks, Todd McLellan has said that Scott is going to be an insurance policy, or extra security. I wonder if Scott will be in uniform when the Leafs and Sharks play?