Sioux vs Gophers Week.

This is the series that Sioux fans usually mark off on their calender, the weekend series against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. You know, the one where Gopher fans try to tell us that Sioux aren't one of the Gophers rivals. Yeah, um, ok, whatever.

Right back at you

Of course Gopher fans not to be out done by Sioux fans will allude to this game, you know the one that preceded the Sioux win in Denver at the Final Five. Of course I say whatever floats your boat, you can have that win. I will take third place nationally over the Broadmoor Trophy any day.

Lets just say that it is time to get it on: During this series records seem to mean little if anything, but there is a lot of material fro the series like the 180 foot Robbie Bina Goal Time for the Sioux to take back the Ralph and start racking up some home wins. The Sioux need to sweep this weekend.

Record versus the Gophers last 3 seasons:

~2006-2007 3-1 (Including 1-1 in the Playoffs)
~2005-2006 1-3 (Swept at home by the Gophers)
~2004-2005 3-1 (Including 2-0 in Playoffs)
~The most important stat is 7 > 5

A few things from last night.

Just a few thing that I noticed from last nights game. It seems that Sioux fans have been through this routine before. It is almost like a bad dream or the movie Ground Hog Day. This is Dave Hakstol's fourth season as coach of the Fighting Sioux and for what ever reason the boys just don't go out do what it takes to win early in the season. We get it that championships are won in March and April but it is easier to win them if you win more than you lose in November and December. Last night the goal tending was awesome and the forwards didn't show up.

`First off shoot the puck. The goal doesn't have to be pretty to count. Get the puck on net and then drive to the net. if someone is in your way drive through them.

`Defensemen are supposed play defense and help in the defensive zone, see goalie. Odd man rushes can cause goalie to give up goals. The Fighting Sioux defensemen need to thank their goaile for saving their ass last night. This could have been a 5-0 game.

`What the hell is a obstruction penalty. I hate to keep harping on the officiating but the league needs to start evaluating some of the clown they have calling the games. Mason company was god awful last night.

`Denver's offensive skill is amazing. They will be lucky if they can keep them all in the off season.


Fighting Sioux 23 posted this stat on USCHO

Under Hakstol, North Dakota's record...
First Half*: 38-29-5 (24-26-2 WCHA) .5625 Win %
Second Half**: 46-21-7 (22-14-6 WCHA) .6689 Win %

* - Games played BEFORE Christmas Day
** - Games played AFTER Christmas Day

Finally...a judge that makes sense

I got this joke from a friend of mine.

Unprecedented, finally

Minneapolis, MN(AP) - A seven-year-old Bloomington, Minnesota boy was at the center of a Hennipen County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare re officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Minnesota Golden Gopher Mens Hockey Team, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

Interesting Perspective:

Here is an interesting perspctive that I found on Collegehockey News.

WCHA Evening Out After Years of Player Exodus
by Brad Salmen/CHN Reporter

The 2005 collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the players' union that ended the 2004 lockout might have an unintended consequence — leveling the playing field in the WCHA.

For a period of 10 years or so, beginning in the mid-1990s, the WCHA seemed to be split into three tiers — call them the "haves", the "have-somes," and the "have-nots." Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota, which indisputably have the biggest and most lavish facilities, were invariably in the top five of the league, while Colorado College, Denver and St. Cloud St. battled for the last two home-ice first-round WCHA playoff spots. Lesser-funded Minnesota St., Alaska-Anchorage, Michigan Tech and Minnesota-Duluth, meanwhile, occasionally crept into that top tier, but a simple season-by-season analysis shows that more often than not, they finished in the bottom half of the league.

Then came the 2004 NHL lockout, and the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union.

The agreement, which established a salary cap and capped the rookie maximum salary, also contained an important provision linking players' salaries to overall league revenues. As a result, the focus for both sides became increasing those revenues, which in turn put more pressure than ever on franchises to field competitive teams.

The result of this pressure trickled down to the American Hockey League (AHL), the premier minor league for the NHL. Instead of suiting some older, former NHL players as they had in the past, most of the AHL teams began courting more younger players to groom for the NHL.

There was another effect: Instead of the reduced rookie maximum making it less enticing for players to leave, it actually made it less risky for NHL teams to pursue them, so they went after college players more aggressively, and college players have not shown any reluctance to go.

Therein lies the rub, especially for the WCHA. While all six NCAA Division I hockey leagues saw an increase in underclassmen leaving before their senior year, a record 12 WCHA underclassmen signed pro contracts after last season, more than the rest of Division I combined.

It's no coincidence that the majority of those players — nine of the 12 — were from the aforementioned "haves" and "have somes." And the result of that mass exodus has led to a 2007-08 season that just might be the most competitive WCHA season in years.

"It used to be, there were two divisions, or three tiers (in the WCHA)," said St. Cloud St. coach Bob Motzko. "But in the last few years, it keeps melting more and more. There are no 'surprises' in the league anymore."

Consider: Colorado College (8-2-0 in the WCHA) was not one of the teams to lose an underclassman to early signing, and has raced to the top of the division after being picked seventh in the preseason Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches' poll. Ditto Michigan Tech (currently fourth place in the WCHA) and Alaska-Anchorage, who in a rare occurrence split at Minnesota two weekends ago. But Wisconsin, North Dakota and Minnesota, those three top-tier teams, all lost two players pre-graduation, and this season all three have struggled.

It's not pandemic; as always in hockey, there are X-factors. Denver, back-to-back NCAA champions in 2004-05, has not missed a beat without Geoff Paukovich and Ryan Dingle, and currently reside in second place. And Minnesota-Duluth lost two underclassmen as well (Mason Raymond and Matt Niskanen), but behind the surprising goaltending of Alex Stalock is in third.

Nevertheless, the increased loss of underclassmen prompted WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod and three other NCAA Division I League commissioners to write a letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman regarding the matter earlier this year.

Their concern, said McLeod, was not the impact on the league standings; on the contrary, he said, having more parity only helps the league overall. Instead, he said, the concern stems from having more players leave without graduating, which is not only bad for the athletes who may or may not have a career in the NHL, but also might affect graduation rates, a factor in NCAA scholarship administration.

"Since the bargaining agreement, (the WCHA) has had an influx of high-end players, which is great for the league — we enjoy having them when they do come here," said McLeod. However, he said, "it's a good news-bad new situation. Teams that recruit these top-end players find themselves struggling to fill their positions when they leave early, and teams that don't are able to get leadership from their senior players."

Ultimately, he said, the league's interests lie with the players. While McLeod said the dialogue with Bettman did not result in any concrete solutions, just starting that conversation is a good step forward.

"The goal is to graduate as many players as we can," said McLeod. "We have to be careful. I'm not sure we want to institute rules like they have in football (where a player cannot leave until after his junior year). But a number of coaches have expressed their concerns, and we're sympathetic to that."

The Departed

Twelve WCHA players signed NHL contracts last spring and summer rather than return for their final seasons of college hockey. Here's the list:

Denver: F-Geoff Paukovich (Edmonton Oilers), F-Ryan Dingle* (Anaheim Ducks).

Minnesota: D-Alex Goligoski (Pittsburgh Penguins), D-Erik Johnson (St. Louis Blues).

Minnesota Duluth: D-Matt Niskanen (Dallas Stars), F-Mason Raymond (Vancouver Canucks).

Minnesota State: D-Steve Wagner* (St. Louis Blues).

North Dakota: F-Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks), D-Brian Lee (Ottawa Senators).

St. Cloud State: F-Andrew Gordon (Washington Capitals).

Wisconsin: D-Joe Piskula* (Los Angeles Kings), F-Jack Skille (Chicago Blackhawks).

I am not so sure I would call DU, C.C. and SCSU the have some because all three team play in relatively nice new top of the line hockey arenas and all three teams pick up just as many of the high profile recruits as the so called top tier teams. If anything I would call them the Have more light. Look at the players that Denver University has right now, Denver's sophomore class is as good if not better than any one class in the country. Same with SCSU the Huskies always have players that rank up near if not the top of the league in points. I do agree with the have-nots part of this article.

Here is something you wont' see this weekend againt DU.

Here is something you won't see against DU, or at least I don't see it happening. Both combatants are now gone from their respective teams and I believe that we have finally moved on. Time for Sioux fans to focus on the rivalry; Paukovich is no longer there to kick around. While in the past this series always had the makings of being a blood bath the last couple of years, I don't think this will happen anymore. Both teams are skilled and can get up and down the ice. I am predicting that both teams will probably concentrate on the game. There is no longer any need for retribution, there is also no longer any need to even scores. Time to play some WCHA hockey.

Series against Denver: UND leads the all-time series with Denver 125-108-7. The Sioux have earned splits against the Pioneers in their last two series in the mile high city, winning 6-2 and losing 7-3 on Feb. 24-25, 2006, and losing 4-3 in overtime and winning 3-0 on Feb. 23-24, 2007. In its last 14 games against the Pioneers in Denver, UND is 10-3-1. Overall, UND and Denver are 3-3-0 in their last six meetings.

~Last Year in Denver T.J. Oshie and Ryan Duncan both had great weekends recording 5 points each for the weekend against DU. No small feat since DU is a defensive juggernaut. Look for the Pioneers to check these two guys pretty hard. Oshie is probably going to think there is Denver Pioneer in his jersey by the end of the weekend.

~To the people that said that Oshie and Duncan are having horrible seasons. How? Both players have average a point a game against top competition. They aren't feasting on second tier bottom dwelling teams.

~Offensive defenseman, Robbie Bina 11 points and Taylor Chorney 9 both have made a huge impact in the offensive zone this season.

Danny Heatley Makes the Hockey Dirt Hall of Shame

I was kind of shocked by this selection. Former Badger Danny Heatly makes the Hockey Dirt Hall of Shame. This is the response that I posted on this subject at the Hockey Dirt web page:

I am not so sure I would put Danny Heatly on the list.

Sure he was the driver in an accident that killed team mate Dan Snyder, the Snyder family forgave Heatly and to include him in the same list as a bunch of criminals is a disservice.

*I am not for putting Former WCHA hockey player Danny Heatley on this list that includes criminals and thugs. If people disagree with this they should go to this web-page and sound off at the Hockey Dirt site.

Building the NHL Hall of Shame

While the NHL badly trails the NFL, NBA and MLB when it comes to producing and harboring disreputable characters, the passing of Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz is a reminder that the NHL has had and its share of crooks. Anyone unfamiliar with the Wirtz story might want to get their hands on Mark Weinberg's biography: Career Misconduct.

Wirtz, like fellow felon Harold Ballard, is among the (dis-)Honoured Members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Another of hockey's most disreputable figures, Alan Eagleson, has thankfully been expelled from the Hall.

Hockeydirt proposes that Wirtz, Ballard and Eagleson be nominated as the founding members of the NHL Hall of Shame.

Who else "deserves" to be recognized as hockey's most infamous characters? We're looking for idea. Here are a few possibilities:

Todd Bertuzzi

Dino Ciccarelli

Mike Danton

Dany Heatley

Wayne Maki

Marty McSorley

Dan Quinn

Who else deserves consideration?

I can see Danton, Bertuzzi, McSorley all three are thugs, but some of the other ones, well its up for discussion...

Wayne Maki, In a preseason game on September 21, 1969, Maki and Boston Bruins defensemen "Terrible" Ted Green engaged in a bloody, violent stick-swinging fight; Green was hit in the head and suffered a fractured skull and a brain injury. Maki was eventually sent down to the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL. Later commentators have rated Maki's attack as one of the most vicious attacks in league history.

Mike Danton, In spring 2004, two days after the Blues were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Danton was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. On July 16, 2004, he pled guilty to attempting to hire a hitman, who was actually a police dispatcher, to murder David Frost, his agent. To this day, however, Frost denies that he was the target.

Dino Ciccarelli's, career featured several controversial moments, both on and off the ice. In 1987 he pleaded guilty to indecent exposure and received probation. Then on January 6, 1988, in a game played at Maple Leaf Gardens, Ciccarelli attacked Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Richardson with his stick. As a result of this incident, Ciccarelli was convicted of assault, fined $1000, and sentenced to one day in jail.

After retiring, Ciccarelli allegedly had several physical altercations with members of the media. Some have criticized the Hockey Hall of Fame for focusing on issues other than hockey for his exclusion, but others point out that the induction committee has maintained such integrity in order to avoid tarnishing such an honour.

Dan Quinn, was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1990, and that started a period where Quinn played for 7 teams in 5 years. In the middle of it, in 1992, Quinn was alleged to have raped a woman at a party. He was released by the Minnesota North Stars, the team he was playing for at the time. The police did not decide to press charges, and Quinn was back in the NHL the next season.

Aaron Voros pounds Jiri Novotny

This is a sweet bone crushing hit and I am not sure why the Blue Jackets playes were getting upset about it, because it is not a dirty hit. I could see this reaction if the hit was dirty. This just proves why you need to keep your head up and on a swivel at all times when your on the ice. Novotny gets planted as Voros keeps his elbows down. From the video it is very apparent that Voros doesn't take more than three steps, he just came from the penalty box so it is definately not charging. If anything Novotny is guilty of skating with his head down; a Cardinal sin. As a player you have to be aware of where you are at all times on the ice.

This weeks picks

Friday

North Dakota @ DU - UND
St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin - SCSU
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota - MTU
Colorado College @ Alaska-Anchorage -CC
Minnesota-Duluth @ Minnesota State-Mankato -TIE

Saturday

North Dakota @ Denver - DU
St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin - SCSU
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota - TIE
Colorado College @ Alaska-Anchorage - C.C.
Minnesota-Duluth @ Minnesota State-Mankato - Duluth

Last week 5-5
Year 38-22

Scott Hartnell hits Andrew Alberts from behind

The Philadelphia Flyer's are at the heart of another questionable hit. This time another Bruin is on the recieving end a cheap hit.

-----UPDATE-----

TORONTO -- Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Hartnell has been suspended for two games, without pay, as a result of being assessed a game misconduct during NHL game #342 against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 26, the National Hockey League announced today.

"It appears that Mr. Hartnell was attempting to let up on delivering a check to an opponent that was in a vulnerable position," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "However, at the point of contact, he did deliver a blow to the head of Mr. Alberts that resulted in an injury."

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Hartnell will forfeit $44,919.78. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Hartnell was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for a hit on Boston defenseman Andrew Alberts at 14:22 of the second period.

Hartnell will miss Wednesday's game at Carolina and Dec. 1 against Dallas. He will be eligible to return Dec. 5 at Minnesota.

2 games, you have got to be kidding me. All this thug gets is two games for a dirty questionable hit on a player in a vulnerable position. I think the reason that Hartnell only gets 2 games for this cheap hit is the fact that he isn't a so called goon or tough guy with a shady reputation. The fact that the Bruins were playing the Flyer's for the first time after Randy Jones' questionable hit hit on Patrice Bergeron October 27th now witness this silly act. The league needs to take a pound of flesh from the Philadelphia Flyer's management, now a team that has had a player suspended: 25, 20, 6 and 2 game respectively. The Flyer's organization needs to be held accountable for the acts of its players.

Former Badger Adam Burish vs Byron Ritchie

This is a great fight that I first saw this morning over on the NHL network. I didn't realize that Burish was that great of a fighter, but he can hold his own...

What?

I am not sure what prompted this post: but here is Donna's post after Friday's game on Running with the Dogs I guess she is saying that Sioux fans are a bunch of halo's who complain about the refs. That's ok, I am fine with that. I actually thought it was funny. Also, Goon's world is a huge fan of Donna's work and would never let an article stand in the way.

UMD 3, Ref Complainers 8

What kind of a fanbase whines about officiating when their team wins by 5 goals? UND Blogger Goon should be ashamed of himself. Evidently, Sioux fans are only satisfied when zero penalties are called on the Sioux and their opponent is down 2 men for the entire game. Plus, since the UND PP was pretty much crap last night, I would think they wouldn't want to showcase that too much. Not that they'd ever give our PK any credit.

Yeah, I know, I sound like a sore loser right now. It's not that. I just hate playing this series. I resent the implication by many of the UND fans that we don't even deserve to play their team, that we should just roll over and die because our team is worthless and the only team worth their time is UMTC, with whom they are obsessed. I really wish that tDogs could have shown that we were better than that, and for moments during the game, they did. I felt like I developed acute bipolar disorder during the course of the game.

I went to the game on Friday and this is what I had to say on Sioux sports about the Refs:

I am thinking tomorrow night we are going to see a tight checking trap feast/game. Anything can happen with that buffoon reffing the games. The 3-0 lead then came the reffing by the score board calls

First off I don't nor do I claim to speak for Sioux fans. I speak for the Goon and the Goon only. First off, I am never going to give props to the officials because I believe the officials in this league suck, period, I will not sugar coat my feelings towards the refs, nor will I ever hide my disdain for them.

On the post. OK I admit; that is my work and I spelled Buffoon wrong originally in my post on Sioux sports, however, I don't think what I posted was that far off the mark, in my perspective it was true. There is no doubt that UND came out pretty strong and took the game to UMD. The Sioux got a 2 quick goals and it looked as if the Sioux were going to be off to the races. It would be an accurate assessment to say that they were clicking on all eight cylinders. Realistically speaking I also know that the last Sioux goal was a fluke. Call it what you want it was a weak goal or a bag goal. The funny part is that it was scored by a player that was sitting on the bench by the time it puck crossed the goal line. So what? It is better to be lucky than good.

That being said, it also doesn't take a rocket scientist to say that the calls made after that third goal by referee Todd Anderson were based on the scoreboard. I dare anyone to tell me differently. In fact I turned to my buddy that I was sitting next and said just that. I will stand by my comments that Todd Anderson is a clown or buffoon and that he is one of the worst refs in Division one hockey, almost as bad as Don "I make shit up as I go" Adam.

Lastly, I don't think Sioux fans believe that no-one is worthy of playing the Sioux except the Golden Chokers. First off; I believe that most of the Sioux fans that I know appreciate most if not all of the WCHA teams and love watching whoever they are playing. This is the WCHA not the EZAC. Teams must bring it every night and there are no nights off...

This isn't much of a Fight: Shelley and the Boogey man

It is shame this is considered a fight. It's also a shame that the refs stepped in that quickly.

Here is a nice fight compulation.

In the WCHA there are no nights off.

1 Miami 12
2 Colorado College 1
3 Michigan 21
4 Denver 5
5 New Hampshire 6
6 North Dakota 3
7 Notre Dame 10
8 Minnesota-Duluth 2
9 Michigan State 17
10 Minnesota 7
11 St. Cloud State 18
12 Wisconsin 4
13 Northeastern 11
14 Michigan Tech 8
15 Niagara 37
16 Harvard 35
17 Bowling Green 20
18 Robert Morris 29
19 Clarkson 34
20 Boston College 13
21 Merrimack 25
22 Massachusetts 31
23 Alaska-Anchorage 27
24 Northern Michigan 9
25 Vermont 15

Just to illustrate just how tough the WCHA conference is right now, the WCHA has spots 1-5 locked up in strenght of schedule. Not surprising; UNH is ranked 6th, then Minnesota is 7th and Michigan Tech is ranked 8th. That is a statement on how teams have to come ready to play in night in, night out.

On the flip side of that CCHA conference teams strenght of schedule is not as hard as the WCHA; Miami of Ohio's scheudle is ranked 12th, Michigan state's schedule is ranked 17th and the University of Michigan is 21st.

Clarkson Unviersity's schedule is ranked a cup cake like 34th.

A few things

First off; why are the Minnesota State University Mavericks always the recipient of a high light goal from the leagues opposing teams? This is the goal that everyone is talking about from this past weekend.

It's too bad that college hockey games are not more available in your cable packages like NHL Center ice is, I really believe that there needs to be a nationwide NCAA Hockey Center ice. Last season there were a few of Denver University and Univesity of Wisconsin games on FCS but I have yet to see one because of all the College football games that are on fox sports net on Saturday nights.


Kessel=Money

Former Gopher and current Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel has scored 7 goals all were scored during Bruins wins.

Zdeno Chara works over Guillaume Latendresse

Ouch, I am not so sure that Latendresse should have challenged Chara, in retrospect it seemed stupid. I would love to see Chara fight more but I would rather not see him hitting players up high like that as well.

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)