WCHA > CCHA

If the playoffs started today this is what the WCHA and the CCHA representatives would look like per the PWR at Siouxsports.com. Looks like the WCHA is regaining some strength as a league.

CCHA
1. Michigan
2. Miami
7. MSU
14 Notre Dame

WCHA
3. C.C.
5. UND
6. DU
10. UMD
11. MSU-M
13. Wisconsin

Scores of Relevance
CCHA
Ferris State 5 at Notre Dame 3 CC
Michigan State 1 at Northern Michigan 3 CC
Michigan 4 at Miami 2 CC

WCHA
Wisconsin 1 at Michigan Tech 1 WC OT
Alaska Anchorage 1 at Minnesota State 3 WC
St. Cloud State 3 at Colorado College 5 WC
Minnesota 1 at Denver 1 WC OT

Miami vs Michigan

Tonight I was able to watch the much talked about match up between the Miami RedHawks and the Michigan Wolverines on CCHA television network, I mean CSTV. While I do say that tongue in check I do think CSTV spends way too much time patting that CCHA on the back and has kind of slighted the WCHA and Hockey East.

Speaking of the CCHA television network; tomorrow night if you have that channel in your cable package you will be able to watch the UNO Mavericks and the tOhio State Buckeyes. Clear your calender folks, this is a must watch game. Talk about a meaningless game between two middle of the road teams in a top heavy mediocre league. Come on folks, at least give us game two of the Miami and Michigan match up which is an more interesting match up. It could save you a lot of money in travel cost to just stay in Oxford, Ohio one more night.

Back to the game; while the score was close, the game was not in my opinion. The RedHawks were basically knocked out of the game after the 1st period. I thought Michigan was obviously the better team, as they put the RedHawks away in the first period by burying lose pucks in front of the net. Hum, looks a lot like the team that the Fighting Sioux played last season in Denver, fast skilled and opportunistic. I was, however, not impressed with Miami or with Jeff Frazee's WJC backup. On the flip side I was impressed with Ryan Jones strength and defensive skills, I would have to say that the man is a brute.

The Wolverines then went on the vapor lock mode and got into penalty trouble in the later stage of the game. The Wolverines masterfully killed the penalties and were able to hold the RedHawks off. It will be interesting to see who wins tomorrow nights game. If Michigan sweeps I will go a long way in the Wolverines sewing up the CCHA title and a number one seed.

NMU on the rise?

If I was a top team in the CCHA I would be hoping I don't have to play the NMU Wild Cats who are now all of a sudden they have tied Michigan for two games and beaten MSU.

WCHA the no scoring league

Someone mentioned how the WCHA is becoming the no goal league, five of eight teams only scored one goal. Here is the reason why seven out of the top twenty goalies in the NCAA are from the WCHA. NCAA goalie leaders.
Save Percentage: Saves GA Save%
1 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux North Dakota SR 652 46 .934
2 Billy Sauer (COA) Michigan JR 647 46 .934
3 Jeff Zatkoff (LAK) Miami JR 522 38 .932
4 Ben Scrivens Cornell SO 521 38 .932
5 Richard Bachman (DAL) Colorado College FR 575 43 .930
6 Michael-Lee Teslak Michigan Tech JR 319 24 .930
7 Mitch O'Keefe Ferris State JR 391 31 .927
8 Mark Dekanich (NSH) Colgate SR 660 53 .926
9 Alex Kangas (ATL) Minnesota FR 444 36 .925
10 Matt Lundin Mercyhurst JR 603 49 .925
11 Juliano Pagliero Niagara JR 562 46 .924
12 Matt Climie Bemidji State SR 427 35 .924
13 Kevin Regan (BOS) New Hampshire SR 563 47 .923
14 Alex Stalock (SJS) Minnesota Duluth SO 661 56 .922
15 Jeff Lerg Michigan State JR 785 67 .921
16 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State JR 608 52 .921
17 Kyle Richter Harvard SO 559 48 .921
18 David Leggio Clarkson SR 652 57 .920
19 Billy Blase Yale SO 432 38 .919
20 Peter Mannino Denver SR 622 55 .919

Check out these two interesting chats:

Here are a couple of very interesting discussions

Thursday's INCH chat

Two good points from this. This one is interesting

jon (oxford) : If miami sweeps the weekend will everybody else besides the pollsters around the country especially the WCHA give Miami some respect and stop saying they have played a weak schedule. even if the schedule is "weak" 27-3-0 and going 5-1 against Notre Dame, MSU, and Michigan with a 13-1-0 road record is pretty good I think.

Mike Eidelbes: The same thing happened with Notre Dame last year Maybe the WCHA folks can't fathom a team from outside their league topping the national rankings. We've said all along, you can only play the teams on your schedule -- Miami doesn't have control over the strength of its
opponents. Here's the test we use at INCH: If Team A and Team B played a seven-game series at a neutral site, which would win? In Miami's case, I don't think there's anyone in the country that wins under those criteria. In fact, I don't think anyone takes the RedHawks to seven games.

Billy (Atlanta):WHY is J.P. Lamoureux not getting more consideration for the hobey baker... I never hear his name mentioned in hobey baker discussions and he has outstanding numbers .934 SV%, 1.72 GAA, 4 SO...all while facing the stiffest competition of any team as UND has only played 2 games out of its total 27 against non-ranked opponents

Joe Gladziszewski: I think Lamoureux is getting plenty of consideration. He was prominently featured in our Hobey Tracker several times this season. The fact is that BC's Nathan Gerbe and Michigan's Kevin Porter have stood out among the pack. The next eight spots among the finalists are still wide open, and it's a strong goalie group in that pack when you consider Lamoureux, Mannino, Lerg, Zatkoff, Regan, etc. If JP continues to play well and North Dakota keeps winning over the next five weeks, the individual recognition will definitely come.

That is a really good question; why isn't Jean-Philippe Lamoureux getting more love for the Hobey Baker?
Phil is 4th nationally in save percentage and goals against average and 8th in winning percentage. That is pretty good.

I found this question to be very interesting: It is a good point.

Jacob (Detroit): Why has the CCHA gotten so top-heavy? Lake Superior State and Western Michigan used to at least put up a fight.

Mike Eidelbes: That's a tough one. There's certainly a dividing line in the CCHA between the haves and the have-nots. I'd speculate that finances may have something to do with it -- schools like Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, Nebraska-Omaha, and Notre Dame have very healthy budgets, whereas Lake Superior and Western aren't at that level. And let's be honest -- the teams at the top have done a better job of attracting talent and developing those kids once they get there.

Check out this flame feast on the in-forum. This discussion is getting to be really silly, I think McFeely was right when he said that every discussion about UND or NDSU turns into a pissing match between NDSU and UND fans.

To prove this point all you have to do is look at this discussion about a UND coach getting suspended and again it turned into the classic UND and NDSU brawl. God I really do miss playing the other school. At UND all we can really do is hope some day we can renew the rivalry. I only wish NDSU had hockey, wow, would that be fun.

This one is really funny, I would be willing to bet he doesn't watch a lot of hockey, but it is really funny. I have to admit that I love a train just as much as the next guy but it also does seem that we have lost our civility as a nation.

Bobjo 2/6 09:41 a.m. German Shep said "This is typical of the horrible conduct coming out of und now days. The place is a disgrace. Really, Hak should have been fired, and the players involved in the fights should be suspended a minimum of 4 games. Time to stop this." 11JBN11 "What you see is what you get. Its not only a personal character issue it is an institutional character issue. The gesture is symbolic of the institutions relationships: contempt and disrespect." Amazing how NDSU folks became judge and jury. I'm sure they are not biased one bit right? LOL These statements are hillarious. Again, it seems that those pesky rules that are in place by the NCAA and WCHA should be trumped by an NDSU football fan's opinion. Shep, did you watch the game? I'm guessing not. Do you ever watch college hockey? I'm guessing not.

Mr. G. 2/6 06:42 a.m. Soooo....all one needs to do is apologize and all is well? Don't think so. What Hak did is an embarrassment to the hockey program, the school, the city, and the State of North Dakota. His actions support the reason non "hockeyites" think the sport is for testosterone filled barbarians!

Rick O. 2/6 06:16 a.m. Hakstol broke the sportsmanship code by making that rude gesture. He broke the rule and the WCHA punished him accordingly. Without favortism. The WCHA in my opinion treated Hakstol no differently than they would have any other coach in the same situation. I think the suspension is appropriate.

David 9 2/6 04:55 a.m. I haven’t kept up with NCAA rule changes in recent years, but when I ref’d an act like that would have resulted in a “gross misconduct penalty” which was assessed for extreme unsportsmanlike conduct and/or abuse of an official. The suspension is appropriate, but any fines and/or further disciplinary action should be left up to UND. I think the only "unfair" thing here was that he was left behind the bench.

yelo 2/5 2:10 p.m. WOW, I mean WOW is all I have to say to Anna F’s comments, I mean really do you live in a little bubble shielded from the rest of the world. UND’s historic and proud nickname has absolutely nothing to do with Hakstol’s suspension. Have you ever been to a Sioux hockey game every game they play a tribute to the Sioux nation (even after loosing their support). This is a sport at a school that is rich with tradition and excellence. Now that being said the reason this happened: “The Gophers” Yes this whole incident squarely rests on the Gopher/Sioux rivalry. It has been so prolific in the last few years that it has gained national attention from INCH and ESPN. One cannot argue that it is one of the fiercest rivalries in college sports. With heated rivalries come heated arguments and exchanges. This is just one instance in a long long list of instances with in this clashing of teams. Was the punishment fair yes, should it have happened no of course not, but any person adult or child that plays hard and plays with passion knows over the course of a battle things happen, it doesn’t make them right but they do happen.

Bumstead 2/4 6:00 p.m. I don`t suppose it will ever happen, but would it not be interesting to do a poll of the coaches of the rest of the WCHA schools, as to their opinion of what happens to them and their teams, when they come and play in the hallowed hall in the cities called the home of Gopher hockey? Watch some of those games on FSN, that super unbiased station that is not satified to just broadast the games, but along with it, use the cameras and personal comments, to re-ride down, every team that plays there? Maybe the Gophers, could have a better record, if they learned to have to play all games, like they do on the road, and not be able to coast when they are home, because there is a real understanding between the Refs, you know, those unbiased ones in the striped shirts, and the rest of the teams and coaches? Bumstead

Early Exits

This is an interesting conundrum that the NCAA and the NHL are going to have to work out eventually before it comes to a head. I personally think that some NHL GM's don't respect the college game. Every off season there is a stream of players leaving their college teams early for the professional and or the major junior ranks. Fans of the WCHA have come to expect players leaving during the offseason; none of us expect them to start leaving early during the season to sign professional contracts. To me it is a character issue when a player quits/leaves his team during the season to sign a professional contract or leave for Major Juniors.

The Kyle Okposo situation was down right silly; we ended up having an artillery dual in the media between a college coach and a general manager over why a kid was signed during the middle of the season. I agree with the Denver Post writer, he makes some great points. There should be a rule once a player plays a game with his college team, the professional team that owns his rights should have to wait till after his college season is over before he can be signed to a professional contract. It should be the same with free agent players as well…

NHL must discourage early exits
By Terry Frei
The Denver Post

Imagine that a star Colorado tailback has a falling-out with the coaching staff at midseason, mysteriously is left home from a trip to Iowa State (causing some to speculate that he actually is being rewarded), leaves campus, explores his options and ultimately signs a contract with the Green Bay Packers the next week.

The apocalypse would be upon us.

Something similar is happening in college hockey.

The NHL should implement a rule that once an NCAA player appears in one game in a season, he can't be signed until his team's season is over.

It would remove the temptation for college players to bail the first time they have a grievance with their coach or a fight with their campus girlfriend, or for NHL teams to be the equivalent of obnoxious rink parents who pry their kids out of a program if they're not getting enough ice time or star treatment.

The need for such a rule will be evident tonight, when the Minnesota Gophers and University of Denver Pioneers open a two-game series at Magness Arena.

The Gophers lost winger Kyle Okposo at midseason, when he signed with the New York Islanders. The Isles tried to rationalize it with general manager Garth Snow's sophomoric whining that respected UM coach Don Lucia was impeding Okposo's development.

DU sophomore forward Brock Trotter, the Pioneers' leading scorer, signed Thursday with the Montreal Canadiens (ironically, owned by Vail resident George Gillett Jr.), and was assigned to the Habs' minor-league affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Trotter Saga isn't a Dick Francis-written equine mystery, but still is a mystery nonetheless.

The difference between hockey and football is that the NHL's draft age is roughly 18 — and teams retain players' rights. NHL organizations generally wait as all but the absolute elite prospects play major junior in the Canadian Hockey League, college hockey in the U.S., or in Europe. But the NHL's patience is diminishing.

Okposo was the seventh choice in the 2006 NHL draft. Trotter, 21, hasn't been drafted. This almost certainly wasn't a case of the Canadiens coaxing Trotter off campus. He seemed to advertise his availability to NHL organizations and junior teams after he didn't make the trip with the team to a series at Minnesota State last weekend, and Montreal stepped up with a free- agent offer.

DU coach George Gwozdecky has refused to say why Trotter was left behind last weekend, and Thursday night, he still wouldn't say whether Trotter had been kicked off the team. It seems safe to assume he was at least suspended.

Yet even if Trotter had no opportunity to return to the DU roster this season, the NHL must avoid being allowed to even further popularize the perception among college players — drafted or undrafted — that one of their options if they run into or cause trouble during an NCAA season is to sign a pro contract immediately.

Coaches accept collegians leaving early, usually only grousing when they feel that NHL teams encourage drafted players to leave programs to play major junior instead, or sign them when they're physically not ready for pro hockey.

But the NHL's post-lockout collective bargaining agreement lowered the threshold age for free agency and in other ways added to the pressures for NHL teams to sign their draft choices sooner — even if it means sending them to the minors.

"It's certainly a concern that one or more of the elements of the CBA may be working to facilitate the earlier signing of college players, and to the extent that's happening, it's obviously not consistent with the intent of the parties," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told me recently. "We are committed to working with the colleges and with the Players' Association to monitor signings and trends, and to try to address these issues in a positive way, if at all possible."

For the good of all, the NHL can't allow itself to even subtly encourage players, whether drafted or undrafted, to leave college programs in the middle of a season — or to make them think they could end up rewarded for being suspended or kicked off teams. The NHL can't help plant the thought that you don't have to run home to Mommy and Daddy in the middle of a college season . . . because one of the options is to see if an NHL team will hand you a lollipop and immediately sign you.

Players to leave/dismissed from their college team (recent list)
1.) Brock Trotter DU
2.) Kevin Quick Michigan
3.) Brett Motherwell B.C.
4.) Kyle Okposo UMN
5.) Chris Wilson UNO
6.) Tony Grieco UND

The Section 8 Hockey Blog looks back at the George Pelawa Tragedy

I found this story as I was checking out the Section 8 hockey blog. I do recommend checking it out, it is a very good hockey site. It has everything you want to know about Section 8 hockey.

I also found this moving story on George Pelawa and how his life was cut short. George was a team mate of mine at Bemidji High School (football team) and the guy was amazing athlete but also an amazing person. It would not be unaccurate to say that everyone like Big George.

The George Pelawa Tragedy; A Personal Look Back

By: Timothy Oshie
Publisher

When I think back to my collegiate days and my journey back to Minnesota in 1986, I'm reminded each day how precious life is.

I was a Bemidji State University basketball junior college recruit coming via Everett Community College in Washington. It was in late August of '86, that I had the distinct opportunity to meet a gentleman by the name of George Pelawa.

We played golf together in an Native American Tournament near Bemidji. I can vividly remember his massive frame yet a very soft spoken young man. We had a chance to catch up on life and he told me he was excited to attend and play hockey for the University of North Dakota in a couple weeks.

That vision and opportunity never happened. George Pelawa was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Labor Day Weekend of 1986.

I can remember the Cass Lake / Bemidji communities mourning this special young man. I remember how the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and it's members were so devastated by the loss of this incredible young man. It was a very sad day for Native America as one its fine young members with lofty dreams and such a great heart was taken from Mother Earth.

Here are some of the google searches I found on George Pelawa this morning:

Almost 21 years ago (Labor Day Weekend), the Flames lost 1st rounder George Pelawa in a car accident. He was a day or two away from starting his freshman year at UND. He was 6'3" 240 lbs, 3 sport athlete; was named Mr. Hockey among all MN high school players his draft year.

The Flames still have a scholarship in his name at Bemidji High School.

A Song Dedicated To George Pelawa written by his father:

Tom Cochrane and Red Rider: This one still gives me chills. In 1986, the Calgary Flames drafted George Pelawa 16th overall. He was a prospect that had size to go with a scoring prowess. He was playing in the U.S. collegiate circles and was killed in a highway collision. The story is told from the fathers point of view. No hockey Dad can distance themselves from the lyric "My boy's gonna play in the big league/ my boy's gonna knock 'em dead" without feeling it's sting. It is a true Canadian tale that ends when "Ice meets metal/In the wrong lane to the big league".

Cochrane's broken hearted "Aaaah aha" wail makes one's neck hair stand on end. The truest of Canadian classics.

From SiouxSports.com Archives:

Big George Pelawa was a team mate of mine at Bemidji High School in football, he was a 3 sport athletic star. George played linebacker in football and could affect a game by himself.

George could have been a Division 1 athlete in Football, Baseball and Hockey. He was that gifted. I would have loved to seen him in a Fighting Sioux uniform. Unforunately returning from a gathering in his hometown late one night before his freshman season, he was killed in a car crash. What an awesome guy. It still makes me sad to this day to think about it...

George Pelawa was a NHL 1st Round Draft Choice of the Calgary Flames (16th overall) in the summer of 1986 and was entering his Freshman season at the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

STATE OF THE WCHA (By HeidiSioux)

Goon's world would like to welcome Guest Writer HeidiSioux.

I am becoming more concerned with the state of the WCHA with each passing weekend. Virg Foss (love him or hate him) from the Grand Forks Herald has had what I thought were two interesting articles in the last month. The first one was the following:
UPON FURTHER REVIEW, WCHA MUST GET REPLAY FIGURED OUT
Published on January 20, 2008, Grand Forks Herald (ND)
which basically says the league needs to get their act together (unfortunately it is an archived article and costs $2.95 to read it – however if you go to the front page, type in Virg Foss in the search it will allow you to read the first few paragraphs) and the one that was printed on Sunday, (Virg Foss Article), and again tells the WCHA to get their act together and adds additional items that the league should address.

Let’s start with the officiating situation. It is atrocious!!! The following is a list of refs off the top of my head who I think should have restrictions on the teams that they can ref (if they should be allowed to ref in the WCHA at all).

Randy Schmidt – He has been suspended for this year, but if he is reinstated next year he should never again be allowed to ref a Denver, St. Cloud or Wisconsin game as his perceived bias toward Denver (or maybe it is just his basic incompetence) has tainted any call that he might make in a game concerning these teams.
Todd Anderson should not be allowed to ref a Duluth game (grabbing a player by the jersey) or possibly Alaska-Anchorage game (some say controversial disallowed goal vs UND)

Don Adam - should not be allowed to ref a UND game EVER. This goes all the way back to the Mike Commodore days when he had an absolute hatred for the kid, continued through the “I just make this shit up as I go along”, to the horrendous non-call on Paukovich when he broke Robbie Bina’s neck and finally topping it off with the brutally bad game he called on Sat night in the Sioux vs the Gophers game, where, by allowing “junk” to continually happen and build up, it almost resulted in a melee during handshakes.

Jon Campion -should not be allowed to ref a Minnesota game. His stats continually give conspiracy theorists an amazing amount of ammo to say that he is on the Gopher payroll.

With just these 4, the league is severely limited as to who can ref which game and it would become an incredible juggling act. I am sure there are other people that could add additional refs to the list.

After the officiating (which I could go on about for days), my next gripe is about Bruce McLeod and Greg Shepherd personally. They have in my opinion, gotten to the point where they care more about maintaining the status quo and just coasting along, not paying attention to what is happening in this league, rather than in moving the league forward and improving it. Their actions sometime seem to indicate that they don’t have any integrity personally and appear not to care about the integrity of what I and many others feel is the best college hockey league in the country When the Randy Schmidt debacles (yes that is plural) were going down they were nowhere to be found. There wasn’t a single reporter or interested party that could get a hold of either one of them. Seems strange to me in this era of instant communication via cell phone and internet. Their response when they finally did respond was “OOOPS, SORRRRRY”. Completely unacceptable. They were however “available” and more than willing to make comments and issue statements when a coach has behaved inappropriately. I get very frustrated and have a hard time with this double standard.

There is absolutely no accountability for anyone (McLeod, Sheppard and the refs), and because of that, the situation has gotten to the point where there is such a lack of respect for any official or any call that’s made that the first reaction by pretty much all fan bases to any call that is unpopular is “the official is out to get us”. I realize that in the scheme of things, whining about hockey individuals is pretty minute, but they are paid to do a job and if they are not doing that job, they should be held responsible just like any other person.

As much as the situation with McLeod and Sheppard frustrates me, it frustrates me just as much that nothing seems to get done about it. I have a hard time believing that the coaches in this league are OK with the status quo. If they are OK with it, shame on them, if they are not, where is the uproar? I certainly hope that the meetings this summer will bring some fireworks and some well deserved pink slips starting at the top.

Brock Trotter to the Habs.

Denver Post Hockey Blogger Mike Chambers is reporting that Trotter is going to sign with the Montreal Candians and it will be announced tomorrow... Ouch big loss for the Denver Pioneers.

The Montreal Canadiens on Friday are expected to announce the signing of forward Brock Trotter, who was leading DU in goals (13) assists (18) and points (31) before leaving the team last week, a Canadiens spoksman confirmed Thursday.

Trotter, a third-year sophomore, is scheduled to join Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Pioneers still haven’t revealed if Trotter was dismissed or left on his own.

“Brock is a good kid,” DU senior defenseman and team captain Andrew Thomas said. “We always bring in character kids. We’ll bring in a character kid over a skilled kid any day of the week. That’s what our coaching staff always emphasizes, that’s why we’re here. It was never a case of his personality or any of that.”

Wisconsin Badger Kyle Turris on Sportcenter

Badger super frosh Kyle Turris scores a nice goal with a Gopher player drapped all over him like a prom date. The league office oblivious to the current state of the officiating in this once great league can't figure out why scoring is down this season, if there was a little less obstruction you would see more great plays like this. Lucky for the Turris he is a million dollar talent and could stick handle in a phone booth.

Come on Peltier show us your "halo"...

Here is a perfect example of Classic Gopher Homerism

On Monday, coach Don Lucia talked to his players about Saturday’s penalty- and fight-filled game. He called the time he spent on the subject “good learning and teaching moments.”

At the end of overtime, Darcy Zajac of the Fighting Sioux cross-checked R.J. Anderson in the back. That prompted Tony Lucia, the coach’s son, to go after Zajac and he eventually wrestled him to the ice. As expected, the crowd cheered.

Both Tony Lucia and Zajac were given game disqualifications, meaning they will miss their team’s next game. For Tony Lucia, that means Friday’s game at Denver.

“I don’t condone fighting,” Don Lucia said when asked about the incident. “But at the same time sometimes you have to come to your teammates’ defense. I don’t ever want to be part of a a program or team that starts anything but sometimes you have to stand up for your teammates on the rink.”

Is that what your son did? “Yes, I think so,” dad replied.

“There was a situation earlier in the game where Derek [Peltier] was involved that we had a bunch of teammates standing and watching two, three guys on [Peltier]. You just can’t — you have to come to a teammate’s aid.”

Peltier said he and his teammates did not start Saturday’s trouble. “We were not really trying to get involved,” he said. “We got dragged into the situation a little bit. But you’ve got to stick up for your players. You don’t want to get pushed around, especialy in your own barn. So I think we were just sticking up for ourselves and sticking up for our teammates.”

Peltier said he would like to see North Dakota again in the playoffs. “That would be awesome,” he said. “We owe them a little bit.”

First off this is the biggest piece of bravo sierra I have read in a long time. Talk about wearing maroon and gold goggles. Let’s break it down again; Peltier hits Trupp with what I would call a questionable hit, then the little halo falls on top of Trupp and starts cross checking him/punching him, of course Trupp is going to defend himself. Notice that the Sioux players come to the aid of the own while the Gophers stand around. That says a lot about the character of their team.
As far as the Sioux meeting the Goofs again, bring it on. I am sure most of us would love to see a Bickel vs. Finley dance at center ice.

Finley's Hockey's Future player profile

Big Joe's Hockey's Future
Joe Finley
Prospect Grade: 6.0 D (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: DJ Powers

History

The Edina, MN native wrapped up the 2004-05 season with 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) in 55 appearances. Two of his three goals came on the power play. Finley also led the Stampede in penalty minutes with 181. He was a member of Team World in the 2005 USHL Prospects/All-Star game back in February.

2005-06: As a freshman with the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux he quickly established himself as one of the team’s most reliable defenders. Finley appeared in 43 games for UND, but registered just three assists. He did, however, finish the season at +18 defensively and racked up 96 penalty minutes along the way. In the month of December, Finley fractured his arm during a game and even played a few more shifts before finally coming out of the contest. He then went on to miss only two games after the injury.

2006-07: Finley is not going to be a defenseman who puts up points. With one goal and six assists in 38 games, his job is to control the game defensively. His incredible size and aggressiveness have given him the ability to take control of a game from a defensive standpoint.

Talent Analysis

In addition to his enormous frame, Finley has tremendous focus and work ethic. He has steadily improved his overall game (in particular his puck handling and skating) leading into college. Finley is a surprisingly good skater for a 6’7 player. He is very agile, and has a heavy shot, although he rarely gets to use it.

Future

Right now in his development, Finley is still pretty raw and the Caps are likely to allow him to play out his collegiate eligibility before bringing him into the system. He could eventually become one of the most fearsome defenders in the league one day. But for now, Finley is still several years from being an NHL player, and will likely develop in Hershey for a season or two once he does turn pro.

Goon's World Perspective

I can only hope that the "Future" comes true. I would love to see big Joe Finley in a Fighting Sioux jersey for one more year. For the Finley haters it would have another year of listening to them complain about how big a goon Finley is. I only wish he was a Bruin or a Wild Player. League mascot's beware. He, he, he...

Trotter update

Mike Chambers The Denver Post blogger updates the Trotter situation. This thing is really getting weird. One can only wonder what is going on, I just hope it works out for this kid.

Following up on a rumor, I spoke with USHL president Gino Gasparini tonight, and he denied recently seeing DU sophomore Brock Trotter in Lincoln, Neb. Trotter played junior-A for the Lincoln Stars, and the rumor is he’s returning to the Stars and steering his career from there.

Gasparini, however, did say he “heard” Trotter was in Lincoln from “a third or fourth party.”

Going back to junior-A has some merit, but only if the Stars or another team has room to handle one of four “over-age” players, which Trotter is. He turned 21 on Jan. 16. I learned that the Stars have four over-age guys, and the team is doing well and not likely to cut a kid to make room for Trotter.

However, DU’s delay in announcing what is going on with Trotter might have something to do with negociating his release. Gasparini and I aren’t sure about this, but releasing him from his scholarship might allow him to transfer to a Division I school and become eligible one year (next January) from his scholarship “termination.” Trotter last played for DU on Jan. 19 against Bemidji State, then the Pioneers had a week off. I didn’t attend practices during their off week, so maybe Trotter actually left the team as early as Jan. 21 or so.

But what if DU doesn’t grant Trotter his release? Then … a) the kid might be coming back to DU; b) he transfers but sits out next season, burning his junior year (he took a redshirt/hardship in 2005-06 because of injury five games into the season, but depending on how the NCAA views his hardship year, he might get another year); c) He moves on to a professional career.

Anyway, much of the above is speculation by Gasparini and me, so be kind with your comments if we’re off the mark on some things.

What's going on in Denver?

According to Denver Post blogger Mike Chambers Brock Trotter is still part of the DU Pioneers. So it would appear at least for the moment that the reports of Trotter being gone were premature.

DU’s leading scorer Brock Trotter is not at practice today and coach George Gwozdecky still has no announcement on his status.

“He won’t be at practice today, hasn’t been at practice all week,” Gwozdecky said Wednesday. “I really thought we would have something by Tuesday, but I’m more positive that we’ll have something by tomorrow or Friday.”

Trotter, who has 13 goals and 31 points, missed last weekend’s series at Minnesota State for undisclosed reasons. He also led the Pios in scoring last season as a redshirt freshman.

Asked if Trotter is still on the team, Gwozdecky said: “He’s still listed on our roster, so yeah, he’s still part of the team.”

He added: “I can’t give you any more than that. It’s confidential. It’s very . . . that’s all I got.”

Asked if there is a scenerio that he could play this weekend, Gwozdecky said: “Can’t tell you that. I don’t know.”

DU captain Andrew Thomas is (or was) living with Trotter. Asked if Trotter still lives at the place in Denver, Thomas deferred me to speak to the SID. In other words, he couldn’t answer the question.

Gwozdecky said DU fans should just be “patient, because we all have to be patient. It’s a day-to-day situation . . . One of the things I told you back (sic) last Friday was there’s privacy issues involved, and to respect that privacy. And that’s the best way that I can state it right now.”

--------------UPDATE--------------
Per the UND coaches show tonight the Voice of the Sioux Tim Hennessy says that Trotter is in Lincoln trying to get on with the Stars. Tim said on the Broadcast that USHL commissioner Gino Gasparini is his source.

The Latest 4X4 from INCH

This is interesting

INCH in their weekly 4X4 has UND in the WORCESTER Northeast Regional as a number one seed.

1.) North Dakota: After last weekend's firestorm in Minneapolis, a week off to regroup would probably do the Sioux some good.

2.) Michigan State: We gave MSU's chances at a 1 the short sell last time. If they play like they did against UNO Friday, it won't happen.

3.) Providence: The Friars still have series with UNH and BC on the docket, so a low 2 seed certainly isn't out of the question.

4.) Quinnipiac: Our rationale: We think the Q is the least flawed of all the candidates for our last at-large spot.

First off if the NCAA gives UND a regional that looks like this you can punch the Fighting Sioux's ticket to Denver, however, it won't happen. The NCAA is not going to place B.C. in Albany when there is a regional 50 Miles away in Worchester MA.

Joe Finley Fight card @ Hockey Fights

When I was searching the Hockeyfights.com data base I came across Joe Finley's card and during the 2004-2005 season Finley was in 11 fights, that is impressive in my opinion. Sweet.

The results are in...

The results from the latest poll question are in.

Question: Gopher defenseman Stu Bickle is a?

A.)Hard nosed player (61-14%)
B.)Hack (174-42%)
C.)A player you want on your team (73-17%)
D.) Goon (80-19%)
E.) The next Matt Demarchi (45-11%)

What kind of game do they think hockey is?

Check out this comment I found over on CHN

UND are a bunch of thugs this season led by Hastol, Finley, Genoway and others. They have repeatedly behaved as thugs in mutliple games this season. Did you see what UND did in the first minute of the game vs St. Cloud this year. Duncan should have been thrown out of that game as well. Then they go ahead and recruit more thugs like Hextall and others. Too bad...they used to be a great program to watch. Hastol should be out.______, Waterloo, Iowa

This one is just too good to not comment on. This is hockey which is a contact sport and it is not for the faint of heart. I would use the analogy that it is better to be the hammer than the nail and the Fighting Sioux for most part this season have been the Hammer. I am beginning to think UND should wear this new found reputation as a badge of honor, one thing people can’t accuse them of being is soft hockey team.

Let’s rewind to last spring; didn't the Duck win the Stanley Cup by basically beating their opposition into submission? That style of play works for me and many other Sioux fans. The Ducks won the Stanley Cup by being one of the most physical, penalized team in hockey. The Fighting Sioux are beginning to play the same way.

In looking at this ridiculous comment; where do I start? My first response is; you’ve got to be kidding me? You’re not serious right? Where do they dig up these people? What rock did he crawl out from under? My next question would be; what type of players does this fan and others in the league want UND to Recruit? As a rule the Fighting Sioux does not recruit a bunch of pretty boys that are afraid to hit because it might crease their jerseys. Wait till the opposition sees Ben Blood next season, I am sure we will hear a bunch of crying about him as well, he might make Finley look like a choir boy. Also, I am pretty sure that Joe Finley was recruited by the Gophers and other WCHA teams. These are the same fans that say that Finley is a hack/goon and then try to tell you that Stu Bickel is not. I like many Sioux fans would take Finley over Stu Bickel any day. Also, players like Brett Hextall keep opposition players honest and their head on a swivel. I think Hextall will be a nice replacement for Rylan Kaip. I can hear the crying now.

Fire Hakstol! Yep; UND should immediately fire Dave Hakstol as coach of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. It is obvious that Hakstol has no idea what he is doing. Everyone knows that Dave Hakstol can’t coach a lick. How many trips to the Frozen Four has Dave Hakstol led? I believe the Fighting Sioux are up to (3) three. Of course all three were an utter fluke. I would be willing to be that Hakstol’s firing is not going to happen. Let’s look at the Fighting Sioux a little closer: UND 17-8-2 good for 2nd place in the WCHA with a conference record of 14-7-2, 5th in the PWR rankings.

This weeks series breakdowns (Sioux 7)

After last weekends action here are the current WCHA standings:

****Team***********Games*win-loss-tie
1 Colorado College****20**15-4-1---31pts
2 North Dakota********22**14-7-1---29pts
3 Denver************18**12-6-0---24pts
4 Wisconsin**********20**8-9-3----19pts
4 Minnesota-Duluth****20**7-8-5----19pts
6 Minnesota State*****20**7-9-4----18pts
7 Minnesota*********20**6-10-4---16pts
8 Michigan Tech*******18**6-9-3----15pts
9 St. Cloud State******18**6-10-2---14pts
10 Alaska-Anchorage***20**3-12-5---11pts

As you can see there is a log jam in the middle of the pack with only 5-points separating 4th place from 9th place. Most teams are down to their last 4 regular season series (28-league games), so there are not that many points left out there on the table.

It looks as if CC and UND will be at home for the first round of the playoffs, and DU, if they can get a few wins in there last couple of series. It looks like the only team that will be on the road for the first round in UAA, they cannot leapfrog all those teams, if they run the schedule they will max out at 19pts, which both 4th place teams have currently.

The two BIG match-ups this week are, UM @ DU, and UW @ MTU.

Both UM and DU are on the slippery slope. DU's last conference win (which in questionable) was Jan 11 against UW, before that it was UAA on Dec 15. UM's last conference win was Jan 19 against UMD, before that it was UND on Dec 8. I, however, I'm sticking with my crystal ball, that has been saying teams that get beat by UND this year (2008 only) have done really well the next weekend series. So with that I'm saying that the Gophers will beat the Pioneers this weekend and tie them, UM 3-pts.

Wisconsin and Michigan Tech...hmmm...

WU has a 2-5-3 record on the road overall, not to impressive as a road team, and MTU has a home record of 5-5-1, okay but not the greatest. Earlier this season these two teams split a pair of games in Madison. But there is more riding on this series, MTU needs to get points to move up the standings, and UW wants to hold onto a top 5 spot. I think MTU with two game in hand will want it more, so here's to the Huskies this week, sweeping the Badgers.

CC is hosting SCSU this weekend.

Earlier this season, these two split in St. Cloud. MTU found the chinks in CC armor and I say these Huskies will find the holes too. CC is perfect at home this season, but like all streaks, they come to an end, just ask the New England Patriots. It will be a split at the springs this weekend. I can hear all the doggies howling already, listen.....goooooooooal.

Last but not least is UAA traveling to MSU-M for a pair of tilts this weekend.

The purple pasture people have been on a stampede since getting swept by UND 3-weeks ago, the Mavs have won 4 games in a row, scoring 4.5 goals/game, and only allowing a mere 2.25 goals/game. Alaska finally may have started to right their ship by getting 3 points last weekend. Unfortunately they are running into the red hot purple bovine barn, I see the wolves getting trampled this weekend, but limp home with one point, while the Mavs get 3-pts.

Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota are on bye weeks, and will be back in action next weekend.

This weeks picks: Misc Ramblings/Rants

FRIDAY:
Wisconsin at Michigan Tech
Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota State
St. Cloud State at Colorado College
Minnesota at Denver

SATURDAY:
Wisconsin at Michigan Tech
Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota State
St. Cloud State at Colorado College
Minnesota at Denver

Last week 5-5
For the Season 90-64

This week's analysis

This week MTU Huskies and Wisconsin Badgers will split. I just don’t see either team getting very far ahead of the other team. Both teams are very defensive minded.
Thanks to MTU getting only 1 point last weekend I now owe Sioux_7 two beers, it was another weekend where I predicted a sweep and the prediction ended up being very wrong. Kind a like Paula Weston’s rants every week. Ha, I suppose I can always jinx someone else’s team this weekend.

Minnesota will not beat DU this weekend as the Gophers go 0-4 on the season against the DU Pioneers, mark it down that you heard it here first. :) I predict during the post series hand shake a purse fight will break out between Don Lucia and George Gwozdecky.

C.C. is hot right now after running EZAC patsy Clarkson out of the building; I bet we don't see Clarkson as a first round bid this season. I predict that C.C. sweeps this weekend, no disrespect to the Huskies who are my second favorite team in the WCHA, but this is the year of the Tiger. I am sure Win-Twins will be happy with my prediction. I am sure that Heather is still smarting from the Santana trade as well as I am. I don't think the Twins got enough for Santana.

MSU-M and UAA, no way the Seawolves get any points this weekend in Mankato, the Mavericks are smoking hot right now. :)

Here is UND Fighting Sioux Hater Kevin McFeely aka McFooley's latest rant.


Here is the part I think is comical:

The University of North Dakota has exerted copious amounts of energy issuing written apologies for its hockey team in the past year. So much so that “Fight On Sioux,” the school’s fight song, was in danger of being replaced by the twangy Brenda Lee classic, “I’m Sorry.”

Robbie Bina, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews apologized via press release for their roles in last February’s Judy’s Tavern affair. Joe Finley – all 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds of him – had to write an apology after hacking Wisconsin mascot Bucky Badger across the shins with a stick last November. And just this weekend, Sioux coach Dave Hakstol circulated a written apology after being caught on television flipping the middle digit of his right hand at official Don Adams during UND’s heated contest at Minnesota on Saturday.

Contrary to popular legend, the toughest job at UND is not athletic director. It is media relations director. Typing all that contrition can leave a guy with a nasty case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Hakstol’s YouTube moment elicited the expected frightening responses from cyberspace. A popular Sioux fan Web site and a chat room set up on The Forum’s site had numerous responses trumpeting two testosterone-fueled defenses: 1) Adams deserved to be the recipient of the obscene gesture and 2) this was a hockey game, not some supposedly less macho activity like figure skating or golf, so a one-fingered salute was a proper way for Hakstol to vent his frustration.

UND’s administration clearly did not prescribe to this juvenile way of thinking. Hakstol was suspended for two games Monday by co-acting athletic directors Betty Ralston and Steve Brekke. Hakstol will miss UND’s series against Denver Feb. 15-16 in Grand Forks.

Gee I wonder which fan web site Mike McFooley is refering to? It can't be the ever popular siouxsports.com. As we know from last season Mike McFooley has been know to lurk from time to time on that fan webpage. You would think a big city sports writer like Mike McFooley would look to more credible site for information, than a fan web page for your information (of course I say this tongue in cheek). Why don't you stick to covering your own teams down in Fargo, ND? I am sure that Mid Major Summit league that NDSU plays in is way more exciting than the little old WCHA. I am sure if I dig hard enough I will find Bison athletes in the bars and the police blotter as well.

This is over the top

When I watched this the fist time I thought it was a little over the top. I watch FSN a lot with the Wild and they do all kinds of stuff like this. This clip is a real head scratcher, I wonder how they came up with this one. I kind of actually wonder if the guy in the Sioux jersey woke up with any bruises the next day?

WCHA official Randy Schmidt done for the Year.

INCH is reporting that Randy Schmidt has been suspended for the rest of the season. This is really good news for the league, now I wonder if we can get the league to suspend Adam as well?

WCHA Suspends Referee Indefinitely
WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod confirmed to INCH that referee Randy Schmidt has been suspended by the league. McLeod said no formal announcement would be made and the terms of the suspension were indefinite, but Schmidt is not expected to work any more games during the 2007-08 season.

McLeod added that whether or not Schmidt will work as a WCHA referee next season or ever again has not been decided. The decision was made by McLeod in consult with WCHA supervisor of officials Greg Shepherd after the league twice issued apologies for errors made by Schmidt this season.

Most recently, the WCHA issued a statement saying an apparent goal by Wisconsin in the final second of the Badgers’ game at Denver Jan. 11 should have counted. The play, which would have tied the game at 3-3 and forced overtime, was initially ruled a goal by Schmidt, then after a review he incorrectly ruled that time had expired before the puck crossed the goal line, giving Denver a 3-2 win.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Schmidt met privately with Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves to apologize for the error the next day. Schmidt, who works as a police officer in North Dakota full-time, has been a WCHA official for 14 years.

Coach Hakstol suspended for two games.

First none of us should be surprised, not a big shock here. Second the Unversity of North Dakota had to take the high road in this case, they had no choice. All of us knew the punishment was coming. Now I think we can all move on Hakstol admitted me made a mistake, Dave wrote a letter addressing this, the coach regrets his mistake, human beings make mistakes.

UND hockey coach Hakstol suspended for two games
Herald Staff Report
Published Monday, February 04, 2008
UND co-acting athletic directors Betty Ralston and Steve Brekke announced today that UND head men’s hockey coach Dave Hakstol has been suspended for its next two games for his actions during a men’s hockey game Saturday at the University of Minnesota.


Ralston said the disciplinary action was determined by the University of North Dakota and was made independent of any decision or action by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

“We hold all University of North Dakota coaches and student-athletes to the highest standards of sportsmanship, conduct and ethical behavior,” Ralston said. “We expect our coaches to keep themselves and their teams in control at all times. Profane language and poor behavior on the part of our coaches and student-athletes is unacceptable.”