Goon's picks for the week

Friday

DU at C.C.
UMD at UND
SCSU at Clarkson
Minnesota at Michigan State
Wisconsin at Michigan

Saturday

C.C. at DU
UMD at UND
SCSU at Clarkson
Wisconsin at Michigan State
Minnesota at Michigan

I hope I have not given SCSU any bad mojo for this weekend. I want SCSU to go out to Clarkson and spank the Knights and show the college hockey pollsters that the WCHA is for real and stacked top to bottom. I think that Clarkson's ranking is a little high.

Picks last week: 5-3
Year 33-17

A little perspective: Early Season Rankings.

USCHO.com poll

1. Miami (48) 11-1-0
2. Michigan (2) 11-1-0
3. Denver 8-2-0
4. Colorado College 7-3-0
5. Michigan State 8-3-0
6. UND 5-3-1
7. Clarkson 9-3-0
8. New Hampshire 6-2-1
9. Notre Dame 9-4-0
10. (tie) Massachusetts 5-2-4
10. (tie) St. Cloud State 6-2-2
12. Wisconsin 5-5-0
13. Minnesota 7-5-0
14. Boston College 3-3-5
15. Minnesota-Duluth 5-3-2
16. RPI 6-3-2
17. Niagara 8-3-0
18. Harvard 4-2-0
19. Michigan Tech 5-6-1
20. Northeastern 5-4-1

USA Today poll

1. Miami (26) 11-1-0
2. Michigan (8) 11-1-0
3. Denver 8-2-0
4. Colorado College 7-3-0
5. UND 5-3-1
6. Michigan State 8-3-0
7. Clarkson 9-3-0
8. New Hampshire 6-2-1
9. Notre Dame 9-4-0
10. Massachusetts 5-2-4
11. St. Cloud State 6-2-2
12. Minnesota-Duluth 5-3-2
13. Boston College 3-3-5
14. Wisconsin 5-5-0
15. Minnesota 7-5-0

Power Rankings From College Hockey News

1 Miami 24 11-1-0 .9167 1t .6487* 1
2 Michigan 23 11-1-0 .9167 1t .6428* 2
3t Colorado College 21 7-3-0 .7000 8t .6346 3
3t Denver 21 8-2-0 .8000 3 .6301* 4
3t New Hampshire 21 6-2-1 .7222 7 .6109 5
6 Minnesota-Duluth 19 5-3-2 .6000 17t .5947 6
7 North Dakota 18 5-3-1 .6111 16 .5845 7
8 Notre Dame 17 9-4-0 .6923 10 .5800* 8
9 Michigan State 16 8-3-0 .7273 5t .5796* 9
10 Clarkson 15 9-3-0 .7500 4 .5753 10
11 Harvard 14 4-2-0 .6667 11t .5549 11
12 Wisconsin 13 5-5-0 .5000 26t .5437 12
13 Minnesota 12 7-5-0 .5833 20 .5436 13
14t Niagara 10 8-3-0 .7273 5t .5434 14
14t Northeastern 10 5-4-1 .5500 24t .5433 15
16 Bowling Green 9 6-3-0 .6667 11t .5428 16
17t Massachusetts 8 5-2-4 .6364 14t .5424 17
17t Merrimack 8 6-4-1 .5909 19 .5398 18
19 St. Cloud State 6 6-2-2 .7000 8t .5369* 19
20 Rensselaer 5 6-3-2 .6364 14t .5358 20
21 Michigan Tech 4 5-6-1 .4583 32t .5289 21
22 Boston College 3 3-3-5 .5000 26t .5271 22
23 Robert Morris 2 6-3-1 .6500 13 .5245 23
24 Cornell 1 4-3-0 .5714 21 .5208 24
25 Princeton 0 3-3-0 .5000 26t .5135 25

These ranking (whether they be the RPI, USCHO and USA Today polls) are really nothing to get excited about this early in the season. They make for nice reading and give the bloggers something to talk about. My team the UND Fighting Sioux beat MSU Spartans and then they were swept last weekend by Miami of Ohio and the Spartans still stay above UND in the USCHO poll, no bias there. All I can say is whatever. Per Brad Schlossman the Fighting Sioux have played a hardier schedule so far this season and do not play an unranked team until the Sioux go to Mankato to play the Minnesota State University Mavericks.

Michigan State (5)
Boston College (14)
Northeastern (20)
Michigan Tech (19)
Colorado College (4)
Wisconsin (12)

On the flip side of that #1 Miami of Ohio has played a much easier schedule, one could say that their schedule doesn't look all that intimidating:

Vermont
Ohio State
Nebraska-Omaha
Northern Michigan
Notre Dame (8)
Michigan State (9)

Ohlund gets 4 games for vicious slash

During tonight's Minnesota Wild XM radio broadcast Wild color commentator Tom Reid asked Minnesota Wild enforcer and resident tough guy Derrick Boogaard if there was going to be any carryover from the Ohlund's vicious slash on Koivu. Boogaard's answer was, "no". While I believe that Boogey wasn't being forth coming, I also believe he can't say, "sure we are going to take a pound of flesh from the Canucks". I can only predict how this game is going to play out, I have this game circled on my calender. I am expecting a bloodbath on November 21st when the Wild play the Canucks.

Looking at the suspension 4 games seems very light for a vicious slash that broke a bone in Koivu's leg. I think that fact that Ohlund isn't a goon probably played the reason for the rather light suspension. If this had been one of the league thugs performing this act it would have been a 20 game suspension. That being said, there is no excuse for a player getting away with a slash like that and Ohlund should have gotten at least a 10-15 game suspension.

TORONTO(November 18, 2007)– Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund has been suspended for four games, without pay, as a result of a slashing incident during NHL game #277 against the Minnesota Wild, Nov. 16.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Ohlund will forfeit $74,866.32. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 16:06 of the third period when Ohlund struck Minnesota player Mikko Koivu with a slash. He was assessed a slashing major and game misconduct. Koivu suffered a broken bone in his left leg on the play.

Ohlund will miss tonight’s game against Calgary, Nov. 20 in Edmonton, Nov. 21 in Minnesota and Nov. 23 in St. Louis. He will be eligible to return Nov. 25 at home against Chicago.

Zajac and Parise score for the Devils

I thought we would move on from the Wisconsin series, while there was lots to talk about, there is also nothing like beating a dead horse. That dog won't hunt anymore.

The other night I was watching the game between the Pens and the Devils and the NCAA/WCHA was well represented in this game. Zajac had the first New Jersey goal a beauty and Zach Parise chipped in with a goal and an assist. Parise is leading the Devils through 17 games with 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.

How dare someone be upset after being cross checked

This is the play that everyone has been talking about on the Internet, it is the Fighting Sioux goal by T.J. Oshie at the end of the first period; a momentum killer in my opinion. T.J. Oshie scores a nice goal then gets a vicious cross check by the Wisconsin Badgers resident thug/hack Davis Drewiske. The funny part is the announcers view of the game through their cardinal and white goggles.

This is how silly the Wisconsin television people sound: much to their amazement they can't see how a Sioux player can get upset after getting cross checked in the back of the head after scoring a goal. It's unheard of and bush league. The even funnier part is the guy explaining how the Sioux should be getting a another penalty as well (notice all the while that there are 3 Badger players and only 2 Sioux hockey players in the penalty box)

Jasper's Rink Looks at Joe Finley

I had this email sent to me by the Washinton Capital's Blogger Jaspers Rink it's a blog article about Big Joe Finley, sweet.

I can't believe the amount of press this series has gotten? Max Watkins, LOL, funny how the new paper writers in Madison, Wisconsin can't even get Matt Watkin's name right. Come on folks; all you have to do is look at the North Dakota team roster if you want to know how to spell his name. And they said that I have a spelling problem, I am also not writing for a media outlet. Maybe we should refer to Wisconin's super frosh Kyle Turris as Krissy Turris. Kind of has a nice ring to it.

----Here is the Article----

Thanks to the indispensable Inside College Hockey for pointing us to a bit of news regarding University of North Dakota blue liner and 2005 Caps first-rounder Joe Finley.

It seems that Finley's Fighting Sioux and the University of Wisconsin (the numbers one and five teams in the nation, respectively) had a fairly rough-and-tumble series in Madison this past weekend, with much of the attention focused on Badger super-frosh Kyle Turris (the third overall pick in this past summer's Entry Draft). As the Wisconsin State Journal describes it:

"In the first period of the series opener Friday, won 4-0 by UW, Turris was walloped at the offensive blue line by Fighting Sioux junior defenseman Joe Finley, a fellow NHL first-rounder (Washington) who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds.

"Things escalated in the second game, which saw North Dakota gain a split with a 3-1 victory. Winger Max Watkins thumped Turris in the neutral zone, Finley literally tackled Turris along the right boards, senior defenseman Robbie Bina put a headlock on Turris in the corner and junior center Rylan Kaip made a point of trying to drive Turris to the ice during every faceoff."But while Big Joe may have been done, um, badgering Turris, his weekend wasn't quite complete. After the second game, Finley apparently went Jeff Gillooly on UW's mascot:"

UW official confirmed that Finley allegedly used his stick to smack Bucky Badger in the leg when the two passed one another on the runway to the dressing rooms Saturday night."Beating up on a future NHL superstar is one thing, but Finley had better be careful or he might just find himself with the last thing anyone needs-Pissed off Sandra O on his tail

This Weeks Predictions

Friday

Minnesota State-Mankato @ Denver
Alaska-Anchorage @ Minnesota
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin @ Colorado College

Saturday

Minnesota State-Mankato @ Denver
Alaska-Anchorage @ Minnesota
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin @ Colorado College


3-5 last week
28-14 on the year

Message board fallout from last weekend's series

This is in my opinion the save of the year so far; it would be very hard to top it. Lammy’s save last season in the NCAA playoffs was close to this. When I first saw the shot I said, "That’s a goal." However, after looking at the replay a few times it was obvious that it was an incredible save. One could make the argument that it was no small feat keeping that puck out of the open net. The Badger announcer was right it could have been a game changing save. I have to say that Bill Howard is a genius and he always has the Badger goalies ready to play game in and game out.

This is some funny stuff

I found this over on the BADger's fan message board known as Buckyville.COM, while I find this kind of stuff amusing, lets remember the Badgers are the same hockey team that had a player named Brad Winchester that decked a cop in a bar in Madison, Wisconsin, this is also the same Brad Winchester that is now known for his fighting skills in the NHL. Yep; Wisconsin has never had any goons on its teams in the past.

Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan. Those are where the goons come from. It should be no surprise that North Dakota has more players from these three provinces ( than any other team in college hockey. Hell, even North Dakota's goon coach is from Alberta.

The game they teach up there is not consistent with the rules and principles of college hockey and college athletics in general. Books, you mean I have to read books in order to play hockey? Wait, you mean I can't butt-end their best player in the jaw? Wait, you mean I can't slash their mascot on the unprotected shin? That's not how they teach hockey up in Saskatoon.

Rick Zaparniuk, Brad Cox, Howard Walker, Kevin Maxwell, Doug Smail, Dean Dachyshyn, Jim Archibald, Dave Donnelly, Ed Belfour, Lee Davidson, Garry Valk, Jason Herter, Russ Romaniuk, Dixon Ward, Teeder Wynne, Curtis Murphy, and Jason Ulmer are all past examples of players who had a lot of skill, but who also couldn't escape their goon tendencies. Over the past decade, UND has moved to more American-based players which has resulted in a lot of national success. This year, however, their roster is again chocked full of the kind of thugs that would make Gino Gasparini blush.

I wouldn't call Ed Belfour, Lee Davidson, Garry Valk, Jason Herter, Russ Romaniuk, Dixon Ward, Teeder Wynne, Curtis Murphy, and Jason Ulmer a bunch of jack booted thugs or goons.

Pollsters Show Love for the Dub. (Sioux 7)

In this weeks, Nov. 12, 2007 USCHO poll, the WCHA has 8 teams in the top 20.
The W has 80% of their teams ranked, I wonder if any other conference has had that distinction? (Little help from the C and HE) The only teams not ranked are MSU-Mankato and Alaska-Anchorage (AA is listed under "others receiving votes").

#4 - Denver
#5 - North Dakota
#7 - Colorado College
#9 - Wisconsin
#12 - Minnesota
#13 - St. Cloud State
#17 - UM-Duluth
#18 - Michigan Tech

I would like to believe that would give claim, at this time, to call the W the best league, top to bottom, in the country. The WCHA's non-conference record as a whole is 22-5-4 (.774) the break down by conference is:

vs AHA 1-0-1
vs CCHA 10-3-1
vs CHA 7-0-0
vs ECAC 1-0-0
vs HE 3-2-2

I know it is still early in the season, but we are over a month into it, so it isn't like a pre-season poll. Which by the way me pre-season poll looks a little topsy-turvy right now, but give me/them time...

This is my definition of a brawl

I have seen some refer to what happened at the end of Fridays game as being a brawl. Not even close. The water bottle incident is my text book definition of a brawl, funny how Sioux assistant coach Carey Eades was right in the middle of it. Listen to the Wisconsin announcers, "Eades has done it again".

I just found this on line.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal Joe Finley smacked the Bucky Badger mascot, I wonder if anything will come out of this incident or not...

Meanwhile, a UW official confirmed that Finley allegedly used his stick to smack Bucky Badger in the leg when the two passed one another on the runway to the dressing rooms Saturday night.

UW senior associate athletic director Vince Sweeney said Sunday he had not spoken with the student, who he identified as David Blanchard, but it was Sweeney's understanding that the alleged incident was unprovoked.

"We'll talk about it (today),'' Sweeney said. "We may pass it along to the (WCHA).''

Adam Wodon's take on the Sioux and Badgers

CHN/Wodon: North Dakota responded to getting shut out the night before. T.J. Oshie scored his sixth of the season in the win. But the story of the game was the full out line brawl in the third period. Every skater on the ice got a roughing and a misconduct -- that's 120 penalty minutes right there -- and North Dakota's Rylan Kaip got the extra roughing. Wisconsin's only goal came on the ensuing power play.

The Sioux and Badgers Rough it up.

Wow, what a way to end a very intense hockey game, almost playoff type hockey this weekend. I thought the coaches were going to start swinging at each other during the hand shake, thank God for DVR because I almost missed it. I would put my money on Hakstol to clean Mike Eave's clock but that is looking through kelly green colored glasses. While I can see how one could make the argument that there was no need for Kaip to charge Smith the way he did, so what? It's not like you couldn't see this thing whole incident coming, in the end it was nothing more than a harmless scrum, that's hockey and I like the fact that Kaip played with the game with an edge, the Sioux need that from their leaders. The Badger player Smith is lucky Kaip didn't pummel him, talk about a miss match.

There is no questing that Kyle Turris is a good player but he has lost some of my respect, Turris might want to think twice before he hacks another player with his stick. Turris is lucky that Jones who is known to be a little bit of a lose cannon, didn't go postal on him. Star player or not you can not slash an opposing player in that matter and not expect to be challenged for it.

By definition: Charging is
taking more than three strides before hitting an opponent. That is exactly what Kaip did. Kaip didn't blind side the Wisconsin player like some in the blogsphere have suggested. This hit although a penalty is not worthy of additional sanctions or punishment from the league or from the coaching staff. I will make a prediction that Hakstol will not discipline Rylan Kaip, nor does he need too.

Some perspective

Super Rookie Kyle Turris has 5 goals 9 assist for 14 points, however, he only has 2 assists in 4 WCHA games. In the WCHA teams are going to focus on Turris because the Badgers do not have a lot of offensive stars up front. Teams are going to be on Turris every night.

Linkorama: UND and UofW

There are a few links to the Weekend Hockey series with the Wisconsin Badgers.

Todd Milewski the Beat Writer for the Capital Times.

The Badger backers blog is also a place to read some good Badger intelligence but he hasn't updated his blog as of late but there is still a lot of time yet...

Another great source is the Hockey In Wisconsin Blog this site has a lot of great information on hockey happenings in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin series is going to be a tough series as the Badger never play very well in the Kohl Center. For all those people that say the Badgers don't play a TRAP are delusional. Good news for Sioux fans Elliot is no longer with the Badgers and Shane Connelly isn't going to be confused with the second coming of Brian Elliot. Connelly is 5-3-2 with a GAA of 2.60 and a save percentage of .897. I am excited to see how Kyle Turris looks for the Badgers. Below are the Badgers lines according to Todd Milewski

Street-Turris-P. Johnson
Engel-Geoffrion-Grotting
Mitchell-Dolan-Ford
Davies-Bendickson-Turnbull
Gorowsky-Bohmbach-Bearson

Drewiske-Goloubef
Smith-Klubertanz
McDonagh-McBain
C. Johnson-Bardis

Are the wheels Coming off in Minneapolis

I found this post over on the Ciske Blog and Bruce brings up a very interesting points, the Gophers have been pretty consistent over the years and being in the bottom of the WCHA is an enigma. That being said, Ciske is right is also right, no one is going to give the Gophers a lot of empathy as well and we might tell their fans to enjoy the view from the other end.

I also predict that if the Gophers loose at least a game this weekend the wheels are going to come off in Minneapolis. I have say that I have enjoyed reading Gopher Puck Live this past week as they Gopher fans have tried to keep things calm and not panic. For the people that think the Gophers are just going to steam roll the Mavericks they dead wrong. The Mavericks are a hard nosed team that played like a wounded animal that has been cornered and are not going to be intimated by a team still trying to get the puck out of their own end. Also this is the first home game for the Mavs so they are going to be keyed up.

Speaking of hockey...the Gophers are 0-4 in the WCHA. This has not happened since, well, ever. And I doubt that anyone around the league will be singing songs of sympathy for UMTC. Minnesota hasn't finished outside the top five in the league since 1997-1998, when Doug Woog was still the coach. That was also the last time they missed the Final Five. They're due.

Fighting in Hockey

First off that is a great fight. I stumbled across this clip on Chris Dilk's Western College Hockey 2. Chris is questioning whether fighting has a place in Hockey.

Personally I think that If a players knows he has to fight if he committed an egregious act, actually polices the game of hockey and keeps that players honest. If I whack player "A" or commit an act of thuggery I know that I am going to have to look over my shoulder. I know sooner or later that a goon/though guy is going to be there to re-arrange my face, while it sounds like frontier justice it's worked in the NHL for year. If actions have consequences I am going to mind my P's and Q's. It's called the code and is used to police the game and keep players honest. I believe that because of the lack of fighting in college hockey the game is actually more dirty.

If the NCAA wanted to clean up the college game i.e. the stick work, running the goalie and the acts of thuggery in college hockey; I would suggest getting rid of the full face shield and game disqualification penalty. I think that if a player only received a game misconduct for fighting college hockey, the players could police the game and get rid of the face washes and stick work. If a player has consequences for egregious acts and he knows what he does on the ice has consequences he is going to be less apt to be a hack...

Who said Gopher hockey players can't read: Kessel reads to the kids.

I couldn't help my self on this one. LoL, who said that Gopher hockey player can't read? I might get a bunch of flack for this. But I couldn't resist after the University of Minnesota got into trouble with their basketball team not doing their own home work. I know. wrong sport. Honestly, this is one of those nice feel good stories. All joking aside it is nice to see these professional athlete giving something back to the community.

Charlestown, MA -- Boston Bruins leading goal scorer Phil Kessel launched ReadBoston's Reading Trail Program on Monday, November 5 at the John F. Kennedy Family Service Center in Charlestown.

"I enjoyed it," said Kessel after meeting the children. "I had a lot of fun."

The Reading Trail Program is an early literacy program designed to increase reading at home and in childcare settings. Kessel read to preschool students and passed out a free book (I Stink, the story of the garbage truck) to each child in attendance.

"It was a good time. (The children) behaved themselves well and they listened," said Kessel, who although nervous beforehand, was very, very pleased with the event, afterward.

This year, the Boston Bruins are partnering with ReadBoston and will participate in a number of events throughout the coming months. In addition to Kessel's appearance on Monday, the Bruins will provide Reading Trail Programs with customized "trail guides" to track the number of books each child reads; those children who complete their trail guides will receive a Bruins bookmark.

Asked if he would be volunteering to read again, Phil gave an emphatic shake of the head and a loud "Yes." The children and their teachers appreciated the gesture and he was given the latest (if not the most important) standing "O" of his career and the kids waved their new book and said "Thank you, Phil."

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other city leaders founded ReadBoston in 1995 with a simple, ambitious mission: to ensure that every child in Boston can read at grade level by the third grade. ReadBoston is making great strides to achieve its goal by forming partnerships with city organizations committed to children's literacy, and by funneling resources, innovative programs, books and best practices into Boston neighborhoods.

Kessel and the 7-5-1 Bruins are in the midst of a nine-game stretch where the Bruins face only their Northeast Division rivals - with three scheduled against the Sabres and two games each against the Maple Leafs, Senators and Canadiens - over the next three weeks.

Here is some Perspective

GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
T. Thomas 5 3 1 .949 1.65
M. Fernandez 2 2 0 .832 3.93
Manny Fernandez was supposed to be the big name starter that was going to give the Bruins some stability in net, instead it has been Tim Thomas so far. While things will probably come around a bit for Manny Fernandez by the second half of the season. The Boston goaltender is currently on he disable list and nursing an knee injury. Actually if you look at Manny's numbers on the season so far they look very AHL like.

This is the definition of cheap

I was watching this game last week and I thought Andre Roy definitely does not respect the code, this my friends is the definition of cheap and is nothing more than a bush league hack move. Andre Roy checks the guy which is fine and then before Clarkson can get his bearings starts firing hay makers at a defenseless player.

I have watched a few of the New Jersey games this year and I think David Clarkson brings more to the table than Cam Janssen because Clarkson actually have 1 goal and 3 assists for four points on the season.

Linkorama: Twelve to Four the Difference#links

UAA Hockey Fan Blog: Twelve to Four the Difference#links

I found this post over on Donald's UAA fan Blog. I found the exchange on the comments to be rather amusing. I wondering how long before the Gopher fans will be calling Donald a Halo?

For some perspective

I was wondering if there was any differential in how the power plays are broken down with a couple of teams. So I decided to take a look: Minnesota has received 40 power plays while their opposition has received 35 power plays. Donald's team UAA has had 32 power plays while the opposition has had 44 power plays. Finally UND has had 35 power plays will their oppostion has had 34. Granted UND has only played two WCHA theories but so far it seems as if the Seawolves are getting the shaft if you will...

The Polls are out: UND 3 or 4

USCHO.COM

1. Miami (49)
2. Michigan
3. UND
4. Michigan State (1)
5. Denver
6. New Hampshire
7. Boston College
8. Clarkson
9. Colorado College
10. Wisconsin
11. Maine
12. Notre Dame
13. Michigan Tech
14. Minnesota
15. Minnesota-Duluth
16. RPI
17. St. Cloud State
18. Princeton
19. Niagara
20. UMass

USA Today

1. Miami
2. Michigan
3. Michigan State
4. UND
5. Denver
6. Boston College
7. New Hampshire
8. Clarkson
9. Colorado College
10. Wisconsin
11. Maine
12. Notre Dame
13. Michigan Tech
14. Minnesota
15. Minnesota-Duluth


First off this polls are about as meaningless as a Rosie O'Donnell and her 9/11 truth theory, these polls make very interesting reads but it's just way too early in the season to infer anything from them. I almost think hockey should wait till after the Christmas break before they release the rankings. The BCS in college football waits until they have a certain number of games before they make any inferences. Championships are won in March and April and you win nothing except points and pride for wins in November, December and January.

While these polls make good water cooler discussion material but honestly, does any one think that if Clarkson was in the WCHA or Hockey East would be above Maine, Michigan Tech, Minnesota or Minnesota Duluth for that matter. They could be but I doubt it. How did that first round bid work out for them last season? That doesn't mean I don't like Clarkson University beause they are year in and year out a top team in the ECAC but they are not a hockey powerhouse in the East.

Also, I guess the USA today forgot that UND pasted MSU pretty good in the hockey hall a fame game. Anyone that doesn't think Denver is playing great hockey right now is delusional and they are are my pick for number #1 right now. I would like to see how they are doing later in the season with the younger players. Denver is looking really good to get back on top in the future if they can keep their top players.

Anthony Grieco leaves school.

What has been speculated all morning over on Sioux Sports and on Ryan Cardinal's WCHA blog is now official as Grand Forks Herald hockey writer
Brad Schlossman is reporting that Tony Grieco is leaving school and heading to the OHL.

Grieco headed to OHL By Brad Schlossman

Anthony Grieco, UND's backup goaltender, has left school and returned to Ontario, where he will play in the Ontario Hockey League, his father said Monday.

Grieco, an 18-year-old sophomore from Brampton, Ont., had not played this season for the Sioux. He saw action in eight games as a rookie, posting a 3-2-1 mark with a 3.49 goals-against average and .884 save percentage.

Grieco's father, Charlie, said it was essential for his son to get playing time as he recovered from a knee injury that he suffered at the end of last season.

"He needed some playing time or his skill level would be deteriorating," Charlie said.

Anthony will play for the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, a team that drafted him in the 10th round in the 2004 OHL draft.

Anthony will play for the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, a team that drafted him in the 10th round in the 2004 OHL draft.

Grieco drove through the night Sunday to return to Ontario, where he began practicing with the Majors this afternoon.

"He's built some really great relationships (at UND), so it was pretty emotional," Charlie said.

The departure leaves UND with two goaltenders starter Jean-Philippe Lamoureux and backup Aaron Walski. Lamoureux has started 32 consecutive games for the Sioux dating back to last season and was named the national player of the month in October by the Hockey Commissioners' Association.

"The team is playing solid and Phil has been playing well," Charlie said. "Being there a year and a half, (Anthony) needed playing time."

Grieco was a late addition to the roster last summer. He signed a letter of intent in June, just weeks before goaltender Jordan Parise freed up a roster spot by signing with the New Jersey Devils.

Grieco had been courted by the Majors throughout his tenure at UND, Charlie said.

Goon's World Perspective on the matter

While Grieco's numbers were not eye popping nor were they all-American like, I really did like what I saw with this kid. During the short tenure Grieco was here I thought he showed glimpses of greatness and promise, however, his juicy rebounds and a big five hole were also a big problem. I think Grieco's play against SCSU Huskies last season was huge as Grieco got 2 big wins against the Huskies while Phil was out, I also believe that it sort of saved UND's bacon. I can also see his side of this, the kid is young he wanted to play and decided to go to the OHL who wants his services. I also think he was rushed into the Fighting Sioux line up before we was ready or mature enough to handle the WCHA grind. It also seems that his mental prep wasn't very good. I believe that UND (who I liken to the FSU of college hockey) needs to employ a full time goalie coach, I believe that it would be very beneficial for the younger less seasoned goalies in the future. I wonder if UND could pry Howard away from the Badgers?

Funny thing Grieco is the first Fighting Sioux goalie over 6 feet in some time. Now the Sioux have an interesting dilemma, do they recruit a goalie and bring him in during the Christmas break Ala Josh Siembieda. What happens if Phil gets hurt? If I am not mistaken your supposed to have two goalies on the bench. Is Walski going to be able to carry the load if Phil gets hurt?