Rangers talking smack before game one.

Picture from the New York Post

While I do not have a dog in this fight, now that all of my favorite NHL teams have been ceremoniously eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, that doesn't mean that I am not interested in the games. The series that intrigues me the most is the one between the Pittsburg Penguins and the New York Rangers. Sounds like Jagr not to be out done by team punk Sean Avery has put a shot across the Pens bow. One could say that the rhetoric is heating up before game one.

Jagr says that : Sidney not in Mario's league if that isn't bulletin board material I don't know what is?

"With all due respect for [Sidney] Crosby and [Evgeni] Malkin, I don't think they are Mario Lemieux," said Jagr, preparing to go to Pittsburgh, his first NHL home, for tomorrow's night second-round opener between the Rangers New York Rangers and Penguins.

"I say that with all due respect because the game has changed.

"The gap between the best and worst players on a team [today] is very small. The gap between Mario and the rest of the guys when I was in Pittsburgh was so huge he was able to score 20 points in one series. I don't think those kids are able to do it. If I am wrong I am going to apologize and [say], 'Great job.'

I don't know about you, but I think Sid the Kid is a pretty good hockey player and Malkin isn't too bad himself. If the Rangers don't check the Malkin Crosby line they will be buried by the speedier Penguins. I have picked them to win the Stanley Cup.

I guess that Sioux fans aren't the only one that complain about the refs. Brendan Shanahan is basically calling the refs out before the series start and calling Sidney Crosby a diver... I guess what ever it takes to get the upper hand?

When the Rangers played their March 30-31 home-and-home against the Penguins, Crosby contested essentially every penalty call either made against the Penguins or those he believed should have been made against the Blueshirts. There was widespread belief that No. 87 and his teammates dived repeatedly in matches that were officiated according to "Crosby Rules."

"I'd like to believe that bias doesn't exist," Shanahan said. "Some people might argue the league wants Crosby to advance, but others might argue that it would be a greater benefit to have a team from New York in the conference finals.

"But the refereeing is something we are not going to focus on. I'd hope we can keep that out of our room, entirely."

2008 United States Men’s National Ice Hockey Team Roster

Here is the roster for the 2008 team USA Men's National team roster. It is impressive from the perspective of a college hockey fan, even more impressive is that three are a lot of WCHA players on the USA team roster.

The Break down: (3) Fighting Sioux, three (3) Gophers and two (2) Badgers and one (1) Maverick on the USA team.

GOALTENDERS (3)
Craig Anderson, Park Ridge, Ill. Florida Panthers (NHL)
Robert Esche, Utica, N.Y. Ak Bars Kazan (Russia)
Tim Thomas, Flint, Mich. Boston Bruins (NHL) Univ of Vermont

DEFENSEMEN (7)
Keith Ballard, Baudette, Minn. Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) UMN
Tom Gilbert, Minneapolis, Minn. Edmonton Oilers (NHL)UW
Tim Gleason, Clawson, Mich. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Matt Greene, Grand Ledge, Mich. Edmonton Oilers (NHL) UND
Paul Martin, Minneapolis, Minn. New Jersey Devils (NHL) UMN
Mark Stuart, Rochester, Minn. Boston Bruins (NHL) C.C.
James Wisniewski, Canton, Mich. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

FORWARDS (13)
David Backes, Minneapolis, Minn. St. Louis Blues (NHL) MSU-M
David Booth, Detroit, Mich. Florida Panthers (NHL) MSU
Dustin Brown, Ithaca, N.Y. L.A. Kings (NHL)
Adam Burish, Madison, Wis. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) UW
Jeff Halpern, Potomac, Md. Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) Princeton
Patrick Kane, Buffalo, N.Y. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Phil Kessel, Madison, Wis. Boston Bruins (NHL) UMN
Peter Mueller, Bloomington, Minn. Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Patrick O’Sullivan, Winston-Salem, N.C. L.A. Kings (NHL)
Zach Parise, Minneapolis, Minn. New Jersey Devils (NHL) UND
Jason Pominville, Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Drew Stafford, Milwaukee, Wis. Buffalo Sabres (NHL) UND
Lee Stempniak, West Seneca, N.Y. St. Louis Blues (NHL) Dartmouth

Sean Avery to work at Vogue.

It appears that Rangers tuff guy Sean Avery is going to work at Vogue this summer. I wonder if this will come up on the ice in the next series. If I was Pens tough guy Georges Laraque I might mention it.

Avery’s more conventional provocation techniques, such as trash-talking, wife-slagging, face-rubbing, slew-footing, slashing, diving, and flopping, may irritate his adversaries even more on account of his unconventional off-ice persona. Not for Avery the typical prairie-boy self-effacement of the hockey man. He has said that he finds sports, and athletes, boring, and that he’d like to be an editor of a fashion magazine. (He’s planning to do a summer internship at Vogue.) Unlike most hockey players, he sees nothing wrong with the fact that he likes to “smell nice occasionally.”

He has said that he prizes his black patent-leather Yves Saint Laurent high-tops, “a lovely cashmere throw from a friend who works at Calvin Klein,” and his Philippe Starck machine-gun-shaped lamp (“It lets you know there’s a man living in the house”). For a while, he wore black nail polish on one hand—“my fighting hand.” He told one magazine, “Sometimes I’ll wear a scarf to the game and my teammates have no idea what to do.” He is a conspicuous dater of starlets, such as Elisha Cuthbert, and was recently linked, by rumor, to Mary-Kate Olsen, and, in error, to the alleged Manhattan madam Kristin Davis. He’s sort of a puckhead’s Dennis Rodman, except that there’s more fox in his crazy. He does research on his opponents and tailors his intra-whistle banter accordingly. Avery is a skilled player, agitations aside, but not so skilled that it would explain how much better the Rangers do with him than without him. The discrepancy testifies to the genius of the idiot.

The goal in question.

I haven't seen much written on Sammi Kapanen goal but I believe that the second Flyer goal in game 7 was a result of goalie interference and should not have been a goal, there also should have been a 2 minute penalty as well...

This was a discription through the eyes of a Philly fan of the goal in question that gave Philly the lead in the game.

With the score tied 1-1 after one, both teams raced up and down the ice in a wildly entertaining second period, each scoring once.

The Flyers took their first lead of the game just about midway through regulation. Patrick Thoresen and Shaone Morrisonn both went for a puck in front of Cristobal Huet, and Morrisonn ended up knocking his goaltender out of the crease. Meanwhile, Sami Kapanen slapped in a loose puck for his second goal of the playoffs, much to the chagrin of the sold out Washington crowd.

Apparently the NHL officials thought it was a good goal.

Kapanen's goal was effectively an empty-netter and surely will be a topic of discussion.

Right before a loose puck made its way to Kapanen, Philadelphia's Patrick Thoresen gave Shaone Morrisonn a shove, and the Washington defenseman plowed into Huet, knocking the goalie off his skates. The NHL posted an explanation on the Web, saying Thoresen legally body checked Morrisonn and no Philadelphia player made contact with Huet.

Parise father and son share hatred of Rangers

Here is a story that I thought was interesting; both the Parise men hate the New York Rangers; yep so do I. Don't despair Ranger haters the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to dispatch them in next round of the Eastern Conference semis.

J.P. Parise was already a seasoned NHL veteran when he stepped onto the Madison Square Garden ice for the first time as an Islander, midway through the 1974-75 season.

"One guy leaned over the glass ... I mean, what he said to me, you can't print that stuff," he said. "From then on, I got much more satisfaction beating those guys than anybody else."

The animosity has softened 33 years later. Parise, now 66, is content to watch his son hear the name-calling and stir up his own hatred of the Rangers. Zach Parise, in fact, said just that after the Devils finally got on the board with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 3 on Sunday.

"We always disliked the Rangers ... but we have to start hating them more," Zach Perhaps that wasn't too difficult for J.P.'s youngest son. Zach had his two front teeth knocked out by Christian Backman's stick in Game 2 on Friday, April 11 - 33 years to the day since J.P. put the Islanders on the map by scoring 11 seconds into overtime in Madison Square Garden to give the Isles their first playoff win in their third year of existence.

Not exactly the stirring way to commemorate his dad's biggest moment of this tri-state rivalry. But the Parise father and son, it's worth pointing out, haven't lost to the Rangers in the playoffs. J.P. was dealt away from the Isles to Cleveland in the 1977-78 season, a year before the on-the-rise Islanders were beaten in the semifinals by the upstart Rangers.
Parise said. (Read the rest of the article here).

Zach Parise added to team USA

Former Fighting Sioux star Zach Parise and current New Jersey Devils player Zach Parise was added to team USA.

When the U.S. competes in the upcoming International Ice Hockey World Championships in Halifax and Quebec City next month, the roster will have a decidedly Minnesotan-flavour to it.

According to the Star Tribune, former Fighting Sioux Zach Parise and former Minnesota Golden Gopher Paul Martin, both of the New Jersey Devils and both natives of the state of Minnesota, have been added to the national team roster.

They will join other Minnesotans and former WCHA players; Tom Gilbert (Wisconsin Badges/Edmonton Oilers); Keith Ballard (Minnesota Golden Gophers/Phoenix Coyotes); David Backes (MSU-M Mavericks/St. Louis Blues); and Peter Mueller (Phoenix Coyotes).

The IIHF World Championship runs from May 2-18.

Former Sioux Jonathan Toews is finalist for the Calder.

Former Fighting Sioux star Jonathan Toews has been selected as a finalist for the Calder trophy. Towes played with UND from 2005-2007 playing in 76 games scoring 40 goals and 45 assists for 85 points.

NEW YORK -- They were 1-2-3 in the NHL's rookie scoring race and they are the final three contenders for the Calder Trophy.

Forwards Patrick Kane, Nicklas Backstrom and Jonathan Toews were announced as the finalists for the rookie award Wednesday, the cream of the crop in a season where many fresh faces made a strong case for themselves.

Kane led all NHL rookies with 72 points (21-51) in 82 games, the 19-year-old native of Buffalo, N.Y., making a smooth transition from the junior ranks to the pros after being taken first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in last June's NHL entry draft.

His Blackhawks linemate Toews will join him June 12 in Toronto for the NHL awards show, the Winnipeg native finishing third in rookie scoring with 54 points (24-30) despite being limited to 64 games because of a knee injury. Chicago's third overall pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft turns 20 next Tuesday.

Backstrom, taken one pick behind Toews in 2006, was second in NHL rookie scoring with 69 points (14-55) in 82 games with the Washington Capitals. The 20-year-old Swede was second among rookie forwards with a plus-13 rating, reflective of his all-around game. Backstrom could give the Caps two Calder Trophy winners in three seasons after Alex Ovechkin took home the award in 2005-06.

The last Blackhawk to win the Calder was goaltender and Former Fighting Sioux Ed Belfour in 1990-91.

Rioting in the streets in Montreal

This is what happened after the Montreal Canadians beat the Bruins in game seven, they had a riot in the streets of Montreal. It almost reminds me of when the Minnesota Golden Gophers won the NCAA title in 2003. I never understood the logic after your team wins a series or a championship you rush out into the street and burn and break things. Talk about selfish.

Marty Brodeur refuses to shake Sean Avery's hand

Kostroun/AP


There has been an on going feud between Rangers Buffoon Sean Avery and future hall of fame goalie Martin Brodeur. It may have started back in Feburary with Avery taking a blatant run at Martin Brodeur and it seems to have only gotten worse with the face guarding incident during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Lets talk about class; Sean Avery although a decent hockey player is a punk and doesn't know when to shut his big mouth and isn't worthy of sniffing Brodeur's dirty jock strap. Martin Brodeur on the other hand is a world class goalie and a future hall of fame goalie that has won multiple Stanley Cups and post season awards. Martin Brodeur is a guy you would build a championship hockey team around. In contrast to Brodeur Sean Avery is a loud mouth punk that holds the media in disdain and is disrespectful to his fellow competitors. Avery is also quickly becoming that guy that no one wants to be associated with.

Marty Brodeur: No shake for Sean Avery
BY KRISTIE ACKERT
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Martin Brodeur didn't shake Sean Avery's hand after the Rangers-Devils series ended.
The bitter feud between Rangers instigator Sean Avery and Devils goalie Martin Brodeur continued to the bitter end of their teams' playoff series. The two skated by each other in the post-series handshake line without shaking hands after the Rangers ousted the Devils, 5-3, at the Rock Friday night.

"I shook everyone's hand, everyone but one," Brodeur said without mentioning Avery by name. "I don't care how he feels about it."

Avery, who forced the NHL to add a rule to deal with his Game 3 faceguarding technique to screen Brodeur, used the handshake slight as a chance to fire another verbal barb at Brodeur.

"Everyone talks about how much class I don't have," said Avery. "I guess he forgot to shake my hand." Avery added: "Of course, I was going to shake his hand."

The feud goes way back. Avery has called Brodeur a whiner and takes verbal and physical shots at him during games every chance he gets. But he scored three goals in the series and had two assists. He also was called for three goalie interference penalties. "It was not an easy series, that's for sure," Brodeur said. "They did a great job of getting to me, getting in front of me and making my life tough out there." "I think to some degree, as the series went on, he looked tired mentally," Devils coach Brent Sutter said of Brodeur.

More Avery.

Check out this comment this is a classic example of what not to say after you win a series.

Meanwhile, members of that ‘talentless lineup’ have at least a championship ring on their fingers. Also, Mr. Avery, calling a three-time Stanley Cup winning goalie in Martin Brodeur, “Fatso” on national television, does not sit well with many of his fans and his peers. Respect off the ice, is something Marty has earned. Calling him ’fatso’ does not garner you the respect that you yearn. Although you deny it, we all know you want it. Who would not?

Is Gerbe going to sign?

LetsGoSabres.com is reporting that Nathan Gerbe is expected to forgo his senior season by signing a professional contract this Spring.

Bergeron not cleared to play, yet.

In case you forgot about him Patrice Bergeron was the Bruins star player that was chopped into the boards by Flyer's thug Randy Jones on October 27th, 2007 and was suspended a grand total of 2 games. Patrice Bergeron has yet to play since that brutal hit but is getting very close to rejoining the Bruins line up. If the Bruins can dispose of the Habs tonight look for Patrice to rejoin the line up.

Bergeron 'looks doubtful' for Game 7
Bruins coach Claude Julien said he wouldn't hesitate to use Patrice Bergeron against the Canadiens tonight in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

But it remains unlikely that Bergeron will see action against the Canadiens.

"It's a doctor's decision and he still hasn't had the okay," Julien said prior to the Bruins' departure for Montreal. Bergeron was one of six players who took to the ice yesterday and he accompanied the team to Montreal. But the 22-year-old star, who has missed most of the season because of a concussion, said the doctors still haven't cleared him to play.

"I saw the doctor this weekend and he said 'no'," Bergeron said. "I'll talk to him again on the phone but it looks doubtful."

More Denver Post stuff...

Minnesota's Stephane Veilleux, shown fighting Colorado's gentlemanly forward Ian Laperriere during Tuesday night's 5-1 Avalanche victory, is another example of goons gone Wild. (John Leyba, The Denver Post )

Whats going on at the Denver Post?

In retrospect; I think the Denver Post must just be a in your face newspaper, that likes getting under the skin of opposing fans. Maybe it is something we just are not used to here in the upper midwest. I suppose it probably sells newspapers and get people talking about their paper. Personally, I have never seen anything like it. First we had the "Dasher Troll" George Gwozdecky whining about the Fighting Sioux. Then we get Denver Post Skippy Mark Kiszla posting objectionable stuff about the Minnesota Wild. Check out his latest, it is an interesting read it's the email he probably got as a result of his ugly Betty article, some of them are pretty funny. Just for the record hockey is a physical game and fights do happen sometimes. All teams in the NHL do goon it up from time to time, it is just part of the game. Really; college is no different.

Parting shot
And today's parting shot does not have to be stronger than a breeze to knock down Avalanche star Peter Forsberg, if you believe this whining from a Wild and crazy fan.

"Do the Avs have their own version of the Oscars? They must . . . and the top award goes to the best dive. It must be why Forsberg came back: to win one of those awards. But he should be careful, though. Ryan Smyth is trying hard to get some votes."

Mike, St. Paul, Minn.

A DieHard offer.

"Being a Minnesota native, someone who grew up playing hockey and a fan of the Wild, I am writing to personally apologize for my team beating up your Avs. Like so many soccer moms, I really wish both teams could win. That way, everyone would be happy. I woke up this morning to sunny blue skies, with temps in the 50s. And, by the way, my car started up just fine, so I'm not sure what your 'Land of 10,000 dead batteries' slam was referring to. Toughen up, dude."

Ugly Betty, Minnetonka, Minn.

Bruins take les Habs to game 7.

Wow! What a hockey game! In my opinion this was one of the best games that I had watched all season long. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that I have watched a lot of hockey this year.

In the last year and a half Habs have owned the Boston winning something like 12 games in a row until the Bruins beat the Habs in game 3. Actually, the Boston Bruins had not beaten the Canadians since Saturday March 3rd, 2007, tonight they evened the series with the Montreal Canadians. I would have loved to have been in the TD North Garden tonight.

*The Bruins, who lost all 20 previous best-of-seven series in which they trailed 3-1, will try to complete their bid to eliminate the top-seeded Canadiens in Montreal on Monday night.

*The Canadiens will play a Game 7 for the 19th time but first after leading 3-1.

Phil Kessel makes good after being benched for games 2-4. Kessel has been on fire since he re-joined the Bruins line up.

Phil Kessel is making Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien look like a genius. After being a healthy scratch for three games, Kessel has scored three goals in his last two games, including two on Saturday night as the Canadiens couldn't seem to handle anything the Bruins threw at them as Boston scored four goals in the third period. It marked the second straight game that the Habs have given up four goals in the third period against the Bruins.

Check out Phil Kessels game tying goal it is nothing short of amazing.

Julien on Kessel getting back in the line up.

If your a Bruins fan and you haven't seen a lot of games where the Bruins took the game to the Habs you might want to check out the embedded video of game five. Wow, that was simply amazing. It has to be one of my favorite nightlights of the 2007-2008 Boston Bruins hockey season. The Bruins took it to the Canadians rookie goaltender Price.


Bruins coach on Phil Kessel getting himself back in the line up after he had been a healthy scratch in games 2, 3 and 4. Ironically Kessel scored the Bruins first goal in game five in Montreal.

Counting on Kessel - With only five goals in the first four games, the Bruins needed a trigger-puller Thursday, leading to Phil Kessel making his return after being scratched the last three games. Julien scratched Jeremy Reich, the fourth-line winger and penalty killer, and put Kessel on the second line alongside Milan Lucic and Marc Savard.

But Julien made sure he put Kessel in the right situations. For several key faceoffs in the neutral and defensive zones, Julien replaced Kessel with Petteri Nokelainen, a more responsible two-way player. In the second period, when Canadiens defenseman Roman Hamrlik was nabbed for holding, Kessel was set up at his preferred space along the left boards, and the rookie didn't hesitate to snap a rebound of his shot between Carey Price's pads for the tying goal.

While some players might have been lost after a three-game benching, Kessel didn't dwell on the disappointment, instead using it as motivation.

"I think it's pretty obvious that we saw Phil Kessel determined to get back in the lineup and make a difference," Julien said. "I think everybody who's seen him play this year would say that was one of his best games. He was strong on the boards, strong on the puck, all those things that we've been working with him to get better at. He's shown us that he's capable of doing it. It couldn't happen at a better time than [Thursday] night. Was I pleased with his game? Absolutely. Do we need more of that? We certainly do."

Kiszla is at it again.

In case you haven't seen it Dener Post's resident moron is at it again. Thanks to Gopherz for posting it.

Goon Veilleux crosses the line
Now that Minnesota has pushed the tone of this NHL playoff series against Colorado from Wild and dangerous to the edge of insanity, what is commissioner Gary Bettman going to do about it before more reckless damage is done to a wonderful sport already dismissed by too many Americans as a bad excuse for a bar brawl?

Well, the commish could start by ordering a suspension for Minnesota winger Stephane Veilleux, who apparently views the NHL's penal code as a chance to write his name in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Should the league take punitive action against Veilleux?

"Definitely," Avs veteran Ian Laperriere said Wednesday, on the eve of Game 5.

Mr. Misconduct needs to be suspended. If the NHL had any sense of justice, Veilleux would be banned from participating tonight against the Avs, with the tense best-of-seven series tied at two victories apiece.

A goon-gone-wild act by Veilleux included a dangerous blindside shot on Avs star Paul Stastny late Tuesday in a 5-1 Colorado victory that saw the Wild overdose on testosterone and embarrass any Minnesotan in the great state of hockey who truly loves the sport.

Although Laperriere respects the unwritten rule of sending a we're-not-going-take-it message in the closing minutes of a lopsided playoff loss, he believes Veilleux definitely crossed the line by leaving his feet to deliver a nasty hit to the back of a defenseless Stastny.

"The league has been talking blows to the head and how we want to get rid of that. (Veilleux) jumped in the air and went right between the numbers," Laperriere said. "There's a fine line between being physical and trying to hurt someone."

Although shaken, Stastny was able to skate away from the cowardly assault by Veilleux in the third period. Should that leave a combatant who was obviously looking to cause mayhem off the hook with the league office?

"In my mind, don't wait for a guy to break his neck to do something about it. But they pay me to play, they don't pay me to hand out suspensions," said Laperriere, no angel himself, with a nose permanently bent in the shape of a 25-mph curve that proves what a tough road he has taken in 14 NHL seasons.

I like who Kiszla keeps coming back with quotes from Ian Laperriere. Just for the record Ian Laperriere is a gutless hack and a goon that has spent the series against the Wild running the skilled players of the Minnesota Wild and is nothing more than a toothless goon. Former North Stars coach and current Wild scout Glen Sonmor was right when he wondered why somebody on the Wild didn't go after the Avalanche's Cody McLeod and Ian Laperriere and ring their necks.

The Veilleux checking from behind on Av's player Paul Stasny was a questionable hit and you could call it dirty, however, the action did not warrant anything more than a 5 minute penatly in my opinon. Just for the record Veilleux is not a goon and is a good hockey player and also a decent defensive forward.

College Hockey Notebook

I would have expected better from Adam Wodon. First off let correct the names; come on now it's Joe, Finley, Taylor Chorney and Andrew Kozek. Spelling errors aside it looks pretty good, I will take 7th in the pre-season poll.

7. North Dakota -- The Sioux stand to lose a lot. T.J. Oshie hasn't signed yet, but the St. Louis Blues first-rounder is poised to leave after his junior year. The same can be said for Joe Finely and Taylor Chorine, juniors who will likely turn pro. There are other potential risks to leave, such as former Hobey winner Ryan Duncan (a free agent) and junior Andrew Kopek. The Sioux will also lose goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, who was phenomenal all year until allowing six goals in the NCAA semis. Assuming enough players come back and with another good recruiting class, the Sioux will be right there. They will likely be playing with a freshman goalie, but two of the last four NCAA champs have been freshmen.

Western College Hockey: It's Not Easy Being Anchorage

A post by Chris about an article part time Grand Forks Hearald sports writer Virg Foss wrote back in March has stirred up at hornets net over on Western College hockey. In a March 15 issue of the Grand Forks Herald Virg Foss said this:

Living in that kind of perpetual darkness must be like playing on the cellar dwelling Alaska Anchorage hockey team. ...wishes there was a way to kick Alaska Anchorage out of the WCHA and replace the Seawolves with Bemidji State

The article is interesting in itself but the comments are the most entertaining part the blog post. If you haven't seen the aritcle it suggest you stroll on over and take a look, this is a going to be a train wreck.

Dan Meyer from This is the WCHA had an interesting take on this issue. Dan is suggesting that the WCHA cut itself into two divisions and east and a west.

I have seen this suggested a few times before and there are many problems with the concept. First; the strength of schedule in the two divisions would have some serious disparity; the west division would have a significantly easier schedule than the east. Second; Air Force is not going to be in the WCHA, they could not compete on a regular basis in the WCHA (my humble opinion). Also; I was told by someone in the CHA know that Air Force left the CHA to be in AHA so they could compete in the same league as Army. Also, the natural rivals of the present WCHA would not be preserved. The travel cost of the Western Division would also outweigh the costs of the Eastern Division travel. Lastly, you would also have to increase the WCHA schedule from 28 to 32 games to accommodate the extra two teams.

East Division
Michigan Tech
Minnesota
Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota State
St. Cloud State
Wisconsin

West Division
Air Force
Alaska-Anchorage
Bemidji State
Colorado College
Denver
North Dakota

Looking at the 2008-2009 schedule.

I have been a regular listener and critic of the INCH pod casts because of their blatant bias and love for the eastern and CCHA schools. On a recent pod cast Joe Gladziszewski Jeff Howe and Mike Eidelbes went so far as to say that the WCHA schools do not travel and they play all if not most of their non-conference games inside their own building because they throw big money at the visiting teams to show up and that is the reason the WCHA strength of schedule is so inflated.

In looking at the 2008-2009 Fighting Sioux non conference schedule it appears that claim is false and if UND does well during their nonconference schedule they will have a strong strength of schedule again.

Oct. 10-11 — Ice Breaker Invitational at Boston University. (BU, UMass, Michigan State)Boston, Mass
Nov. 28-29 — EZAC CORNELL, Grand Forks, ND
Dec. 5-6 — at EZAC Harvard (Cambridge Mass)
Dec. 26-27 — at Great Lakes Invitational (Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech)
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit Michigan
Jan. 2-3 — at Bemidji State/BEMIDJI STATE

Wow; out of 10 nonconferene game the Fighting Sioux will only play 3 of those games at home and they will make the trip to the Boston area twice.

2008-2009 Fighting Sioux hockey schedule...

Today the 2008-2009 UND Fighting Sioux hockey schedule (tentative) was announced. I will get the count down going soon.

Oct. 5 — MANITOBA (exhibition)

Oct. 10-11 — Ice Breaker Invitational at Boston Univ. (BU, UMass, Michigan State)

Oct. 17-18 — at MSU-Mankato

Oct. 31-Nov. 1 — WISCONSIN

Nov. 7-8 — at Colorado College

Nov. 14-15 — ANCHORAGE

Nov. 21-22 — at Minnesota-Duluth

Nov. 28-29 — CORNELL

Dec. 5-6 — at Harvard

Dec. 12-13 — ST. CLOUD STATE

Dec. 19 — U.S. UNDER-18 (exhibition)

Dec. 26-27 — at Great Lakes Invitational (Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech)

Jan. 2-3 — at Bemidji State/BEMIDJI STATE

Jan. 9-10 — MINNESOTA

Jan. 16-17 — at Michigan Tech

Jan. 23-24 — DENVER

Jan. 30-31 — at St. Cloud State

Feb. 13-14 — MSU-MANKATO

Feb. 20-21 — at Anchorage

Feb. 27-28 — COLORADO COLLEGE

March 6-7 — at Wisconsin

March 13-15 — First round WCHA playoffs

March 19-21 — WCHA Final Five (St. Paul)

March 27-29 — NCAA Regionals (Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, Mich., Bridgeport, Conn., Manchester, N.H.)

April 9-11 — NCAA Frozen Four (Washington, D.C.)

Toews Goal Voted Highlight of the Year

It has been announced on the Chicago Black Hawks team page that former Fighting Sioux star Jonathan Toew's fantastic, jaw dropping goal against the Avalanche was ranked as the number one highlight of the year.

The fans have spoken... Jonathan Toew’s amazing goal vs. the Avalanche at the United Center on Oct. 19 has been selected the highlight of the year in voting on chicagoblackhawks.com!