Check out the John Tortorella interview on CBC

I saw this on CBC the other night. This is some classic stuff, its no wonder we don't see this more often where the coaches don't upset with stupid questions from moronic reporters. It was obvious that Tortorella didn't want to answer stupid rhetorical questions, even telling on of the reporters to get the F' out of here, in return the reporter tells him to F' off as well.

Wild and Duck Pre-game

Although thsi series didn't go the way Wild fans would have hoped, the playoff series between the Ducks and Wild did seem to open a few more wounds. This should make the rivalry between the Ducks and Wild even a little more fun to watch next season and beyond.

This series proved that although Derrick Boogaard contributes nothing in the way of points on the scoreboard, his presence makes the opposition think about the Boogey many whenever he is on the ice.

Cool Oshie Video

Check out this Cool Video
I was looking around on YouTube today for a video that someone had asked me if I had seen when I came across this beauty, this is from the 2005 Minnesota High School Hockey tourney. I wonder if T.J. can do that with a sand wedge and a golf ball?
Move Over Tiger Woods

Oshie and Toews Plead Guilty

Today in some less than flattering news from the UND hockey program; Two of UND's top players T.J. Oshie and Jonathon Toews pleaded guilty to guilty today for minor on premises: Read the Whole Story Right Here

Two of the UND hockey players charged after being caught at a Grand Forks tavern on Jan. 28 changed their underage drinking pleas to guilty today as part of a plea agreement.

Jonathan Toews, 18, and T.J. Oshie, 20, pleaded guilty to minor not allowed on liquor premises, a Class B misdemeanor. The two were charged after Grand Forks police responded to a call at Judy's Tavern, where Toews and Oshie were part of a group that included another UND hockey player, Robbie Bina.

I am sure this story will end up on Damian Goddard's bad boy page, lol. Since this is the off-season I am sure that we will see a big deal made out of this story. As I had mentioned before I won't be adding much more to it, because in my opinion it is a nonstory. Now finally we can all get some closure on this issue and move on, I am sure the Bison Fans and Kevin McFeely will have a field day with it, this too will pass.

Erik Johnson Signs With Blues & Johnson Quip

EJ Whines about PT
This caught my eye when I was reading this blog article. Johnson claims he didn't expect to be playing behind a senior and a junior. This is the reason the Gophers were bounced from the NCAA playoffs early the last two seasons. Its the me, me, me attitude of putting personal gain ahead of team goals. I think actually the Gophers will be better without EJ.

Many people including Johnson were taken back by the lack of playing time he received from the Minnesota coaching staff. Johnson didn’t expect to be playing behind a senior and a junior d-man. Johnson will tell you he thrives when he’s the guy. He admits he doesn’t play as good as he can when he’s not the premier guy. Johnson credits US Development coach John Hynes for giving him the confidence to take on this type of pressure. Johnson and Hynes butted heads and engaged in a few verbal wars in his first year with the program, but By the time Johnson left for Minnesota he had had grown an enormous amount of respect for Hynes.

When Johnson met with the Minnesota coaching staff following the season they suggested that he return for another year but Johnson feels turning pro will allow him to develop at the necessary pace. Johnson signed an entry level contract that was pretty easy to negotiate. He will earn $850,000 and can make an additional $850,000 in A bonuses and another two million in B bonuses.

Brett Burns gets dirty

Bret Burns had never had a fight during his NHL Career until the Ducks and Wild playoff series this season. Brent Burns has really picked up his game and become a force to be reckoned with on the blue line. Someone one was joking that he has more fights than the Wild's tough guy the Boogey man, Derrick Boogaard.


In this fight Chris Kunitz pulls Brent Burns hairs. I mean come on grown men don't pull the opposition players hair.

The Fans Cheer for Boogaard

Listen to these homer announcers, I do like the Wild announcers much better than these two clowns. The Ducks have no moral ground to stand on when they are talking about teams being cheap. Brad May is one of the biggest hacks to ever play the game of hockey. His sucker punch on Johnsson just proves my point, three games isn't enough he should be banned from further playoff play this season if the Ducks move on. I believe Derrick Boogaard had a big hand in last nights win and the fans show their apciation. It was funny when Derrick pointed to the ice and said, it's easy to talk boys why don't you step out on the ice for a little meeting. This is why I love the playoffs.

The Terrible Two's

As many of my friends, and the folks who sat around me at the UND games know, I started to call Brain Lee (#22) and Joe Finley (#2) the terrible two's. They earned this nickname accordingly so, with there less than stellar first half of the season play, aka pylons. (As a footnote, Finley's play the second half of the season was incredibly improved.) Then I received this picture courtesy of "Marty the Party" and could not stop laughing at it. IF I THINK HE IS A PYLON, HIS TEAM MATE DOESN'T IMPROVE HIS IMAGE ANY WITH THIS PICTURE.

Point of interest, the opinion is that of Sioux_7 and not the Goon

Colby Armstrong KOs Patrick Eaves

While you can decide on your own what you think of the hit, this is a good example of why you keep your head up when Colby Armstrong is on the ice. Although he is not very big Armstrong is known for bone crushing checks. In my opinion this is a legal hit. I might be questionable, but it's a lot cleaner than the hit that Chris Neal put on Drury earlier in the season. Then in the after math Dean McAmmond then decides to pick a fight with Max Talbot who works McAmmond pretty good.

Eventually some day Colby will get tagged by someone that will be looking to light him up like he has done to others. Some have predicted that Chris Neil will come looking for him before then end of this series. I wonder if anyone will come to his aid. Live by the sword and you die by the sword.

Matt Green and Brandon Bochenski Make the USA

Sioux Land Two on Team USA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– USA Hockey today named the first 18 players to its U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Moscow, Russia, April 27-May 13.

2007 United States Men’s National Ice Hockey Team
GOALTENDERS (3)
42 Robert Esche Whitesboro, N.Y. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
47 John Grahame Denver, Colo. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) LSSU
1 Cory Schneider Marblehead, Mass. Boston College (NCAA)BC

DEFENSEMEN (5)
41 Andrew Alberts Boston Bruins (NHL) BC
44 Keith Ballard Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) UofM
5 Matt Greene Edmonton Oilers (NHL) UND
3 Jack Johnson Los Angeles Kings (NHL) Michigan
2 Brian Pothier Washington Capitals (NHL) RPI

FORWARDS (10)
39 Tyler Arnason Colorado Avalanche (NHL) SCSU
10 Brandon Bochenski Boston Bruins (NHL) UND
17 Chris Clark Washington Capitals (NHL)Clarkson
26 Erik Cole Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)Clarkson
16 Nathan Davis Miami (Ohio) University (NCAA)
8 Phil Kessel Boston Bruins (NHL) UofM
59 Chad LaRose Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
20 Toby Petersen Edmonton Oilers (NHL) CC
11 Paul Stastny Colorado Avalanche (NHL)DU
12 Lee Stempniak St. Louis Blues (NHL) Dartmouth

A Nice Break down from the WCHA. 2 Sioux, 2 Gophers, 1 Tigers, 1 Huskie, 1 Pioneer. It's good to see our league get that kind of notice.

Hostile and Abusive?

I shouldn't give this site any more traffic; but check out the Double-A Zone. They have posted a picture of the Fighting Sioux hockey team on the players bench but ironically the Fighting Sioux are photographed from behind, I guess they Josh doesen't want to show the Fighting Sioux logo. There is also a nice

The Pylon of the Week.

The envelope please

Tonight during the Wild game Martin Skoula looked like a pylon as he was defending against a short handed rush by Ryan Getzlaf, there is no excuse for this type of soft play. I think it's time for Skoula to sit and someone else to play. If the Wild don't get their act together they are going to be golfing soon.
Martin Skoula

Here is a prediction

I doubt the Sioux and Gophers will be in the same regional with Michigan for three years in a row. Let's just say there will be no more regions of death. If that happened could you imagine the whinning Red and tDon would do, Red failed to give the Fighting Sioux any credit when the Fighting Sioux dismantled his Michigan team during the West Regional, instead deciding to blame his team loss on the officating. I could see these two high profile coaches snapping if that happened to be the case. I know it's way too early to predict these type of thing but those three teams will not be in the same regional again for some time.

Goon's World Play of the Year: Lammy's Big Save

This was the save that everyone was talking about. This save even made the top ten plays of the day on ESPN high lites. I believe that you could probably call it the play of the year in college hockey in my opinion.

Message board fodder on Toews

Some interesting reads

There has been some interesting things written on the Internet since the Sioux and Jonathon Toews finished their season. The speculation about what Jonathon Toews is going to do could fill many reams of paper. It's no mystery that Jonathon Toews is a great player who is barely 19 and just finished his sophomore season at UND.

There is a lot of excitement amongst Black Hawk fans; rightfully so. Toews is a dynamic player and will go on and make an impact in the NHL. From what I have read many of the Chicago Black Hawks fans are already penciling him to the lineup or making the assumption that Toews is gone and will sign a professional contract as well.

Now mind you; these fans KNOW NO MORE than Fighting Sioux fans do, they probably know less that us up here in Grand Forks. I doubt many of them have actually seen the kid play, but they are making the same assumption many of us are as well. While I think that Toews will in fact be leaving the Fighting Sioux during the summer, I don't think he is going to make the instant impact the fans in Chicago think he is. Toews might even start the season in Rockford, Il.

Look to what other talented players from the college ranks have done in their first year of professional hockey. Phil Kessel is the first player that comes to mind Phil a simular talent has a whopping 29 points in 71 games. I just hope the Chicago fans aren't putting undue pressure on this kid and expecting too much from him.

This is what I am talking about
This is what Joe Six Pack is writing about in Chicagoland. I would be willing to bet Tallon is happy this guy isn't on staff. I don't think he even has a clue how much Drury is going to cost for Buffalo to sign. I can see at least 4-5 million to resign him. Chicago isn't known to be big spenders.

Havlat-Toews-Cherpanov
Ruutu-Drury-Skille
Bourque-Bolland-Makarov
Bickell-Hamilton-Brouwer


1)anything to sign Drury, Overpay who cares, he plays in ever aspect of the game, dump aucoins 4 mill. Put Ruutu and Skille together and watch them produce on both sides.

2)Draft Cherepanov, he broke the greatest russians totals as a rookie this year...he led WJC in points and goals , Havlat Toews and Cherepanov could possibly be the most potent line the Hawks have ever seen touch the ice.

3)Keep bourque around good bang for the buck type of player, play him with the likes of Makarov and Bolland and this young line could shine bright. Makarov is a poster boy for the NHL nowadays, I've watched him play, he;s pretty shifty and skilled.

First off you have to take this stuff with a grain of salt, Let be real, Buffalo isn't going to let Drury go and look for Buffalo to sign Drury and Daniel Briere when the season is over. Look for Skille to be in the Chicago farm system all season long. There is no way he is going to do much in the NHL. Skille was barely a factor with the Badgers in the WCHA. Lets get real, Jack Skille scored 39 points in two seasons at Wisconsin, Toews had 86 in two seasons.

Finally the only person that knows what Jonathon Toews is going to do is Jonathon Toews and the Towes family and probably his fellow team-mates. Bloggers in Chicago or St Louis can tell us what they think he is going to do or pontificate on what Toews is going to do but honestly they don't know for sure until you read the press clipping of the impending announcement. If Toews comes back to the Sioux the D.O.T. will probably go down as one of the most prolific lines in college hockey history.

Detroit Dismantles the Flames

I was listening to XM-204 tonight on my way home from work and the ice cap boys got me thinking about first round upsets. I think its safe to say after watching tonight game it looks like Calgary isn't going to be the team to knock off a top seed in this year Stanley Cup playoffs.

Detroit as of late has been known for their early exits. Last season the Edmonton Oilers beat the Red Wings in the first round. The Red Wings went home to play golf and the Edmonton Oilers went to the Cup finals before losing to the Canes in the Stanley Cup finals.

Tonight it appears that the Detroit Red Wings want to make it further than the first round as they absolutely destroyed a usually very defensive Calgary team. Detroit out shot the Flames 46-20 and got a well-balanced attack from the whole line up. If it wasn't for Miikka Kiprusoff the game could have been 10-1.

I think this might be Detroit’s last chance to make some noise in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the team it has right now. If the Red Wings don’t win it all this year this may be the last hurrah for many of the Red Wing’s players many of them are ready to start collecting social security.

Kind of makes you wonder if the Flames wasted all of their energy making the playoffs or are the Wings that good? It is a question that many of us are going to be asking as the playoffs play out.

Former Fighting Sioux hockey player David Hale played 10:13 and looked solid all game.

Oh by the way incase anyone is confused Hockey Town in Warroad Minnesota.

FSN Fails to Show the Wild Game

Wild Game Missing on the TV Dial

Last night I was waiting to watch the Minnesota Wild against the Anaheim Ducks. So I turn to television to FSN at 9:30 pm and to my amazement I see that the Twins game is still on. Ok, I am sure as soon as the game is over FSN will switch over the Wild and Ducks. So I was wrong.

In a game that no one saw on Television the Ducks beat the Wild 2-1.

Here are some Highlights to the game no one saw out side of MPLS

Sour grapes by the homer Anaheim announcers, the play was close to being offsides but wasn't in my opinion.

Gaborik Nominated For Bill Masterton Trophy

Marian Gaborik was named the Minnesota' Wild's nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, given to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The Twin Cities chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) announced today the nomination of Minnesota Wild right wing Marian Gaborik for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Gaborik, 25 (2/24/82), has recorded 51 points (28-23=51) in 44 games and ranks first on the team with seven GWGs, second in goals, tied for fourth with a +9 rating and fifth in scoring despite missing 34 games due to a serious groin injury suffered Oct. 20 at Anaheim. His hard work and dedication to treating the injury allowed Gaborik to return to the lineup Jan. 6 and help lead the Wild to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. Minnesota is 18-1-2 in games he has scored a goal this season and 30-8-6 in contests he has played in. The Trencin, Slovakia-native has not gone more than three straight games without a point since a four-game pointless streak Jan. 16-21, 2004. Gaborik was the Wild’s first-ever pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (third overall) and is the team’s all-time leader scorer with 325 points (162-163=325) in 404 games.

A nice honor for a dynamic player. It's obvious from watching the Wild this past season when Gabby is in the line the Wild have a great chance of winning the game. When he was hurt the Wild struggled with their team indentity. Good to see him get noticed for his efforts on the ice.

Michigan State National Champs

Are they the best team?

First off Goon's World would like to congratulate the Michigan State Spartans for winning the NCAA title. Also I would like to congratulate the Spartans for keeping the National title in the west, and not allowing a Eastern team to win the National Title. State was the last team standing when it counted the most. The Spartans won the title fair and square and the Michigan State Spartans did what they had to do to hang a banner next fall.

I though I would chime in on this subject. I have seen a few things written this week that I think are funny but are also down right silly. Check out this rant from USCHO.COM

Happy Wrote on USCHO:I think you are very wrong. MSU got the easiest draw, and they won. The discussions happen because other teams had a much harder draw, and got eliminated. MSU completely avoided having to play any of the teams from the region of death, which happened to included all the west's skating first team all-Americans, and the Hobey winner. hey, I won $100 betting on the FF, and I would have bet much more that if MSU and Michigan would have traded places in the west, MSU would not have got out of Denver either. UND knew how to beat MN, but MN had already shown they knew how to beat MSU. I consider them the last man standing, not the best team.

To win the title you have to beat the best. This years Frozen Four was stacked. It's obvious that UND, B.C. and Maine were good teams or they wouldn't have been in St Louis. Michigan State won regional which some have argued was a patsy and an easy draw, that folks is just sour grapes. State won their regional and qualified for the frozen four. Michigan State beat a veteran Maine team fair and square and then beat offensive Juggernaut Boston College to get the title.

I wonder if that poster is saying that Maine and B.C. are a couple of patsies? Lets break this down further; Maine didn't lose to a WCHA team all season as the Black Bears went 4-0 against one of the toughest leagues in college hockey. That's no small feat in my opinion. B.C. won their regional and their league title and were ridding a 13 game unbeaten streak when they played State, so I can't say that they are a bunch of hacks either. I know Happy writes some funny and silly stuff and I like most enjoy his work but his logic is flawed. Let's also not be confused Happy is is a partisan Gopher fan. So it is what it is. Lets give credit where credit is due.

Duncan and Chorney will return for Junior Year

Really Good News

Herald Article on Duncan and Chorney
Two of the Fighting Sioux hockey star players have announced that they are going to return for the 2007-2008 season. There is is a huge sigh of relief in Grand Forks today. Ryan Duncan and Taylor Chorney have decided to put their professional careers on hold and return to their college team. During a time of season know for depressing announcements, this is really good news and their presence on the team will welcomed with open arms.


Expect some Defections

The Fighting Sioux are still waiting for decisions of super sophomores T.J. Oshie and Jonathon Toews, I am sure we will get their decision soon. I think in all reality we can expect Toews to announce that he is going to forgo his final two years of eligibility to play for the Chicago Black Hawks. I would also imagine T.J. Oshie must be at least 50/50 on whether he is going to return or not. I am hoping that Oshie will return for one more season. I don't know if the Sioux will lose anyone else.

Sabres favorites in the Stanley Cup

Sabres ready to win it all

The NCAA championship is over, 16 teams have slugged it out for 82 games and earned the right to play for the Stanley Cup. Although I am a Bruins and Minnesota Wild fan, I am picking the Buffalo Sabres to win the Stanley Cup. They start their series against the New York Islanders that qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs on the last day of the seaosn. The first round match up will feature former Fighting Sioux players Jason Blake and Drew Stafford.

In my opinion the Sabres are the total package, the Sabres roll 4 lines and have 6 players that have scored 20 or more goals, that is not a small feat in today's NHL. The Sabres are a smaller team that has florished under the new rules of the NHL. The Sabres are quick and fast and can score goals in bunches.

A look back at the Frozen Four (Fighting Sioux goals)

When you look back at this season one thing to remember the Fighting Sioux by is their ability to score goals in bunches, also the Fighting Sioux had a never quit attitude, never say die. Anyone that suggests that the Fighting Sioux gave up in their semi final game is wrong. The Fighting Sioux hockey team competed to the end, Boston College is a good hockey team and deserved to win that hockey game. With the defections that will take place in the off season its safe to say that this team will look a lot different when they open the season in the fall. The Fighting Sioux hockey team will miss Eric Fabian's heart, Chris Porter grit and leadership and big time goals and finally Scott Foyt's dedication. Personally I think you have to admire a guy that comes to practice everyday and know your probably not going to get to play as much as maybe he would have liked. To me that speaks of his character. Foyt should make one hell of a lawyer.

So this is a sweet replay of the goals the Fighting Sioux hockey team scored at the Frozen Four. Video Courtesy of RedFrogND.

Jack Johnson get into two Fights in his last Game of the Season

You have to love Jack Johnson's spirit or JMFJ as the Michigan fans call him. Heck this is a feat the Boogey man would be proud of. Only thing; Jack if your going to wear the face shield I would recommend taking off your helmet before you drop the gloves and get into the fight. You can get 2 additional minutes for fighting with a face shield. I also think Johnson is a good enough player that he isn't going to have to fight all the time but you do have to admire his grit for sticking up for his goalie that was run over in a cheap hit.