Former Sioux hockey player Kaip get married.

Nice piece on Rylan Kaip. Rylan Kaip got married this summer. I have to admit that I enjoyed Kaip's four years at UND. That being said, it sounds like Kaip made an impression in Traverse City Michigan at the rookie camp. I also agree with the assessment, Kaip is a player that plays with heart.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Speaking of settling down, there also happens to be another former collegian who was recently married in his hometown of Wilcox, Saskatchewan -- forward Rylan Kaip of the Atlanta Thrashers.

Kaip, who was selected by Atlanta in the ninth round of the 2003 draft, served as captain at the University of North Dakota last season when the Fighting Sioux reached the NCAA Frozen Four a fourth straight season. In 143 career college games, he had 15 goals, 38 points and 230 penalty minutes. Kaip joined former teammate and Traverse City prospect T.J. Oshie, the 24th pick in the '05 Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, as the only Sioux players to sign professional contracts last summer.

"(Kaip) is another late-round pick who can skate and shoot," said Dan Marr, Atlanta's director of scouting and player development. "He's not the finesse player or the guy you lean on for offense, but Rylan possesses all the necessary intangibles that a guy brings to the table. He plays with heart, courage, is a responsible player and natural leader. He's played in winning organizations and winning traditions and we like a player who can bring that to the table; players who will go against anyone."

"I'm just trying to play one game at a time and play my hardest," Kaip said. "I don't want to leave Traverse saying I could have played better heading in training camp. I enjoy playing with an edge and while I'm no heavyweight, I've always been competitive and looked after the defensive zone. I enjoy giving our team a spark when needed."

Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell would suggest to every collegiate player to remain in college if undecided

Former Gopher Erik Johnson out with knee injury.

Former one and done Gopher hockey player Eric Johnson will miss some time with a knee injury.

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson will miss the first three days of training camp because of a knee injury.

Team president John Davidson said Thursday that Johnson hurt his right knee in a non-hockey-related incident.

Johnson will be re-evaluated over the weekend and his status will be updated before Tuesday's preseason game with the Dallas Stars.

Johnson was the Blues' first overall pick in 2006.

Chicago Blackhawks Q&A with John Buccigross (Toews)

I saw this over on the Bleacher Report, there are a few mentions of former Sioux Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien and Adam Burish. It is a good read check it out.

Wagner: Do you think Jonathan Toews should be wearing the "C" for the Blackhawks?

Buccigross: Without question. He's a born leader for a franchise that is beginning anew.

Wagner: Do you believe that the Blackhawks will make the playoffs this season?

Buccigross: I picked them last year and they should be better this year. I'm not sure if I am going to pick them yet or not. We'll have to wait and see when my ESPN.Com season previews come out.

Wagner: Do you think Dustin Byfuglien will be an effect power forward in the NHL?

Buccigross: I think Dustin Byfuglien could be as good as Ryan Malone. Compare their stats this year.

Wagner: Is Adam Burish the next Sean Avery-type of player?

Buccigross: He should strive for bigger things.

Wagner: Just for fun, who would you rather have dinner with, Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews?

Buccigross: Whoever pays

Former C.C. Star Jack Hillen impressing Islanders...

This is one player that I was always impressed with and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he was playing in the NHL. I think we can expect to see Hillen in an Islanders jersey soon. It doesn't hurt if the head coach likes your style of play.

Hillen's hockey smarts could land a job with Isles
BY GREG LOGAN | September 18, 2008
No. 1 draft pick Josh Bailey might have been the center of attention for the Islanders' rookie camp this week, but the rookie with the best chance to make the NHL roster or at least position himself for an early callup from Bridgeport is defenseman Jack Hillen. His play in the back-to-back set against the Rangers at the end of last season and his sharpness this week prove Hillen has the maturity and smarts to get ahead quickly.

General manager Garth Snow said signing Hillen after a four-year career at Colorado College is like getting a "late first-round pick." New coach Scott Gordon liked what he saw on tape of Hillen against the Rangers, and said he has been a quick study in camp.

As a mobile, puck-moving defenseman with an ability to join the rush, Hillen's playing style fits beautifully with what Gordon wants to do. The Islanders have seven defensemen with one-way deals at the NHL level, but while Hillen might benefit from seasoning against older players at Bridgeport, Gordon said the opportunity is there to make the Islanders for anyone who shows he belongs.

"He can skate, and he's already shown to me that he's got a really good head for the game," Gordon said. "I think for him to come in last year as a college player and be able to play as well as he did in those two games says a lot about his head for the game."

Blake ready to redeem himself.

Here is a nice article on former Sioux star Jason Blake. Blake had a tough season last year in Toronto and is one guy that could use some good karma this season. When I found out that Blake was going to Toronto I felt that it was a bad place to play the fans in Toronto have no patience what so ever. That fact that he played all 82 games while fighting cancer speaks higly of his toughness.

Leafs' Blake looks for redemption
Kevin McGran -- Sports Reporter
Put simply, Jason Blake said the season he had last year – on and off the ice – was "a disaster."

The only good thing about it is that it's now behind him.

Blake was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer a few days into the 2007-08 season, then – perhaps distracted by thoughts of his own mortality – went on to the most disappointing season of his career.

"Last year was a disaster for me on the ice and personally," said Blake. "I was brought in to do something and it didn't happen. It was a tough year from start to finish. You close the book on that year.

"The good thing in sports is there's another year."

That year is really around the corner, with training camp opening Sept. 19. Practising yesterday with about 20 players in informal Leaf workouts at Lakeshore Lions arena, Blake says he's focused on hockey, not cancer.
(read the rest of the article here)

Does Wheeler have a chance at making the B's?

If you read what Blake has to say it appears he thinks so. The article is right he will be one of the bigger Bruins up front if he makes the team. If he makes the team.

Looking forward, Blake Wheeler has shot
By Stephen Harris
WILMINGTON - Take a look at the list of Bruins [team stats] forwards returning from last year, and it seems obvious there will be several incumbents who are not with the team when the season starts.

That logjam of talent up front - at least 16 players with worthy claims for NHL jobs - certainly doesn’t bode well for the chances of any rookie to stick around.

Yet if you drop by Ristuccia Arena the next few days, check out a kid who probably has as good a shot as any, a youngster who, at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, will be hard to miss - ex-Minnesota Gophers power forward Blake Wheeler.

Based on the pedigree of NHL draft selection, the 22-year-old Wheeler is the thoroughbred of the B’s freshman class, having been picked fifth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004 as a Minnesota high school player.

Four years later, Wheeler declined a contract offer from the Coyotes, became a free agent and signed with the Bruins in July, reportedly getting a two-year deal for $875,000 per season.

“It was the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent at age 21 and choose where you have a chance to play, what team and what city,” said Wheeler’s agent, Matt Keator, who acknowledged his client would have made slightly more money with the Coyotes.

“But it’s not about money in your first contract,” he said. “It’s more about opportunity and having the chance to choose where you play.”

Wheeler looks at the B’s and liked the fact that, under general manager Peter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien, many young players have been given prominent roles.

Wheeler will try hard over the coming days and weeks to prove to the brass he’s ready for such a role. This is a very interesting prospect, who skates well for his size, has good finishing skill and shows some willingness to toss his weight around. The Bruins are not real big up front, and Wheeler’s extra-large body would come in handy.

“That’s a big thing I always try to bring to the table, that I’m always working hard and always trying to compete,” Wheeler said. “Using my size the best way is something that hasn’t always been a natural thing for me.

Former UAF Nanooks winger Kyle Greentree ok after hit

Goon's world is relieved to know that Kyle is OK after being hit from behind by Geoff Paukovich.

A Scary Moment For Kyle Greentree
Posted by adn_aces --- Former UAF Nanooks winger Kyle Greentree survived a scary moment relatively unscathed over the weekend, when he escaped a hit from behind into the boards with nothing more severe than a compressed neck.

Greentree, skating for the Calgary Flames in the Oil Country Rookie Tournament in Alberta, was driven head-first into the boards by Edmonton's Geoff Paukovich. Greentree was taken off on a stretcher and spent a couple of hours in the hospital before being released.

Frazer McLaren vs Stu Bickel

It would appear that former Gopher Stu Bickel is going hide behind his coaches and is going to play the role of tough guy. Check out this video of Stu Bickel getting into a pretty good fight with Sharks prospect Frazer McLaren.

Ducks Rookies Lose 4-2 to Sharks in Scrimmage
By Steve Carroll --- Anaheim Ducks Radio Play-by-Play Voice
The scrimmage was highlighted by numerous fights between the teams. Jason Bailey of the Ducks and Frazer McLaren of the Sharks went at it late in the first period.

In the second period, it was Stu Bickel from Anaheim and McLaren of the Sharks going at it in one of the better scraps. Big Josh Brittain, third round pick of the Ducks this past summer traded punches with Mike Moore of San Jose, also in the second period.

In the third, the Ducks Charlie Kronschnabel, who played his hockey in Reading of the (ECHL) last season exchanged punches with Brett Westgarth of the Sharks.

Wild Practice open to the Public.

I may have to check this out on Sunday morning it sounds like a lot of fun. I actually wish there was another pre season game at the REA but isn't going to happen this season.

Wild opens Sept. 21 training camp day to public Minnesota Wild
SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that the team will hold an open training camp day free to the general public on Sunday, Sept. 21 from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.

Fans can enter the Ralph Engelstad Arena main entrance beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21 to watch the Wild practice during their second day of training camp.

The team selected Ralph Engelstad Arena as its location to open training camp this season as a result of the Xcel Energy Center hosting the Republican National Convention, September 1-4, and the move out from the arena following the event. Minnesota will open training camp presented by Wells Fargo on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Ralph Engelstad Arena at 10:00 a.m.

Media are welcome to cover the Wild’s training camp at Ralph Engelstad Arena and are asked to enter through the Ralph Engelstad Arena main office. Players will be available for interviews following each practice session and Head Coach Jacques Lemaire will address the media following the last practice session each day. For more information on Wild training camp please contact the Minnesota Wild’s Aaron Sickman at (651) 602-6009 or Ryan Stanzel at (651) 602-5736.

More on Gabby.

Is anyone getting nervous yet? I know I am. I am thinking the Wild are not going to sign Gabby and the Wild are going to be a more unexciting team to watch because of it. Maybe Doug Risebrough should start getting his resume ready if he loses Gabby he is going to be run out of town. Mark my work.

Nothing new on Marian Gaborik. As I wrote in Saturday’s paper, they both have their positions they’re sticking to right now.

– Gaborik wants to be paid as if he were a free agent.

– The Wild believes paying Gaborik north of $8.5 mill is more than reasonable. It allows him long-term security and allows the team the flexibility to help get Gaborik a supporting cast, which he wants.

The Wild wants to pay him in line with the extensions being given out now. And most guys who sign extensions sign for less than they’d get as a UFA.

Remember though, Vincent Lecavalier’s AAV might be $7.727, but that’s bogus because of the last three years of his deal bringing down the average dramatically. He’s essentially making $10 mill in the seven years after this season. Eric Staal’s average is $8.25 mill. Stastically, he’s more accomplished than Gaborik, and he led the league in playoff scoring the year Carolina won the Cup.

Tom Lynn says Staal’s contract ”is another contract relevant to these negotiations.” But the big difference? Staal was to be a restricted free agent, not unrestricted, which is a huge difference in the mind of Gaborik’s camp.

No doubt negotiations are at a delicate juncture. I’ve gotten a lot of emails that have said, “just trade him,” “he’s not Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin, even Staal, so how do you pay him X. … ”

It’s not as simple as that though. Every team is in a different situation, and from a pure scorer standpoint, Gaborik is the Wild’s only bona fide sniper and noone else is on the horizon. Just imagine life without him.

Dany Heatley for Marian Hossa trades don’t happen everyday in the NHL. Stars aligned a few years back and Atlanta and Ottawa was able to make a star for star trade.

That likely won’t happen here if Gaborik is dealt. Sure, the Wild could likely get a strong package of players/picks back, but you’re not going to get fair value back — at least for the short-term.

Gaborik will have his choice to play most anyplace he wants next season, and he knows that. To get him to forgo that opportunity, the Wild will have to pay him, and probably overpay him. Go to NHLnumbers.com. Most teams can afford to pay Gaborik $9-10 million on a long-term deal next summer.
(Read the rest of the article here)

Michigan fans are going to love this.

If this were the case why were the Canadians in such a hurry to sign Max Pacioretty if he isn't going to stick with the big club? This story will really make Michigan fans happy when they read this. This is all the more reason to stay in school a couple of more years.

Canadien's Pacioretty eyes NHL job
MONTREAL - There's no room for young guns like Max Pacioretty and Ben Maxwell on the Montreal Canadiens roster going into training camp, so if they want a spot on the NHL club, they'll have to make one.

So says coach Guy Carbonneau, a former Chicoutimi junior star who bulled his way onto the Canadiens roster and made Dan Daoust redundant in the early 1980s to launch his 19-year NHL playing career.

"You've got to steal a job from someone," Carbonneau said Monday as the Canadiens' four-day rookie camp opened at the Bell Centre. "That's what I did.

"It's a jungle."

The off-season acquisitions of veterans Robert Lang, Alex Tanguay and Georges Laraque gave Montreal what looks like a complete 23-man roster going into the 2008-09 season.

Slovakia - Bulgaria 82-0

This has to be one of the craziest stories I have ever read. When I played football I was on a few teams that got waxed pretty bad this is something that hard to beat a 82-0 drubbing.

Now I hear they finally have an actual video of this historic drubbing. Check out the score board at the beginning of this clip.

Check out this box score for this game. You kind of wonder if there is a mercy rule or not. The shots on goal were 134-0 in favor of Slovakia, wow...

Former University of Alaska Fairbanks star victim of Paukovich hit

First off I hold no ill will for Geoff Paukovich, however, Geoff is going to have to clean up his act before Paukovich puts someone in a wheel chair permanently. Blatant Hits from behind are not part of you job, I don't care what you say hits from behind are a gutless act and shouldn't be tolerated. If you're mad at an oppostion player drop the mits and fight them, you don't drive them face first into the boards. That is a bush league move...

Flame taken away on stretcher after Paukovich hit
Joanne Ireland, The Edmonton Journal
© The Edmonton Journal 2008
Geoff Paukovich vowed he was doing nothing more than his job.

Trouble was, it was just three years ago that the Edmonton Oilers winger had been on the delivering end of another hit that sent another player off on a stretcher.

On Sunday, four minutes into the third period of a rookie tournament tilt between the Oilers and Calgary Flames, Paukovich, reacting to a hit, drilled Kyle Greentree. He drove the Flames winger into the end boards with enough force to drop Greentree to the ice.

He remained there for the longest time, then eventually left on a stretcher. Paukovich was sent to the locker-room.

"I was just trying to be physical down low, which is what I have to do to be successful. I have to make guys not want to play in our defensive zone," began Paukovich. "I haven't seen the hit, I just know things happened really fast.

"All I can say is I hope he's OK. That's the biggest thing. There was no intent. Like I said, I was just trying to play physical."

During the 2005 NCAA playoffs, Paukovich, then with the Denver Pioneers, tried to put North Dakota's Rob Bina through the boards, a decision that left Bina with a fractured vertebrae. He required surgery to fuse the break in his neck and missed a season.

Bina not only returned to play for the Fighting Sioux, he ended up signing with the Oilers this off-season. Earlier this week, he said he had put the incident behind him, which was a sentiment he echoed again Sunday. That's not to say he wasn't bothered by the scene. He just didn't see it changing his attitude towards his new teammate.

"That was three years ago. That was a different situation. I know Rob and I have both put it behind us," said Paukovich.

The Flames, meanwhile, were not revealing any information about the status of Greentree other than to say he had been moved to a hospital.

"It wasn't vicious," said Oilers rookies coach Jeff Truitt. "He wasn't in a wide area off the boards or anything like that ... (Geoff) has to play physical and finish off hits. It's part of his game.

"That's just what he has to do."

Wild must sign or trade Gaborik

I saw this story over on Truth & Rumors. Make no mistake about it the Minnesota Wild are down to crunch time; there is no sugar coating it. The Wild must either sign Gabby or trade him for a worth while replacement, they can't let him go to free agency.

I do wonder if the fact that Hossa is only signed for one year with the Detroit Redwings is having some affect where Gaborik goes or what he wants to do?

It does make me wonder what the heck Gaborik is thinking? Gabby must know that the Wild aren't going to let him wait until next summer to see what he can get on the open market. I would also like to see where Hossa wants to go in the offseason.

The Wild are in negotiations to retain their marquee player, Marian Gaborik, but if they can't sign him, will they trade him before he can become a free agent next summer? As the lengthy negotiations continue, the only deadline -- and it's a soft one -- seems to be general manager Doug Risebrough's desire to have a deal done before the season starts Oct. 11 against the Boston Bruins at the Xcel Energy Center. And yet the specter of a world without Gaborik, the leading scorer in franchise history and its last original member, haunts Wild Nation. On the team's Web site, there were 65 pages dedicated to the topic as of Saturday afternoon, and for good reason. If Gaborik waits for free agency, he virtually could have his pick among 30 NHL teams that would pay him as much or more than the Wild are offering.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Eric Staal's contract and what it means to Marian Gaborik

Check out the numbers and it would appear that Gaborik is going to be worth a minimum of 8 million a year in my opinion. If you think Gabby isn't worth 8 million a year look at the numbers; Gabby is comparable to Staal in stats.

Staal's deal lends context to Gaborik negotiations ...
Eric Staal became the fourth member of the $8 million club today when the Carolina center signed a seven-year contract extension worth $57.75 million for a yearly average of $8.25 million.

This is of particular interest to Wild fans because the team is trying to sign Marian Gaborik to an extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next July, and the track records of Gaborik and Staal are similar.

Gaborik is set to make $7.5 million this season, and it’s believed the Wild have offered him a deal that averages roughly $1 million more.

Other players making that much are Pittsburgh’s Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ($8.7 million a season) and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin ($9.5 million). Two of the players have won the Hart Trophy, and Malkin finished second in balloting last season.

Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn met with Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, face to face for the first time in Los Angeles this week but no deal has been reached. Lynn declined to comment on the meeting Thursday, and Salcer could not be reached for comment.

But back to Staal, 23, who led the Hurricanes with 100 points when Carolina won the 2006 Stanley Cup. Here is a look at the numbers of Staal and Gaborik, 26, over the past four seasons:

Player GP*-G-A Pts.
Staal 327-124-159 = 283
Gaborik 255-128-108 = 246

*328 possible

BSU fans time to vote Richard Lehmann, if you want keep division one hockey...

I urge Bemidji residents and Bemidji State University Hockey fans to vote for Mayor Richard Lehmann in November if you want to keep Division one hockey in Northern Minnesota. BSU needs the events center to stay competative and will not have a chance of getting in the WCHA without it.

Events center positions central in Bemidji mayoral showdown
Molly Miron, Bemidji Pioneer
Published Friday, September 12, 2008
BEMIDJI — For incumbent Mayor Richard Lehmann, Bemidji must build an events center to remain a progressive community and a “full-service regional center.”

For Ward V Councilor Nancy Erickson, Lehmann’s opponent for the Nov. 4 mayoral general election, halting the events center is top priority.

The two received the most votes in Tuesday’s primary election among six candidates. In the unofficial final tally, Lehmann garnered 616 votes (39.5 percent), and Erickson received 601 votes (38.5 percent). Nobody else received more than 13 percent.

“To grow, we need to have the events center as a positive addition to the community,” Lehmann said in a pre-forum interview last month. He said that when he travels, people ask him when the project will be ready for them to visit. The events center will attract businesses that will take advantage of the expanded opportunities the events center will bring, he said.

He said he also believes Bemidji State University needs the events center to maintain the hockey program, a major draw for people to the city. BSU, a frequent UND non-conference opponent, has made efforts to become a Division I hockey program like the Fighting Sioux, which plays in the WCHA.

This is why you don't want to vote for Nancy Erickson for mayor in the fall:

Erickson on the evennts center; "It's a hockey rink -- that's what it is, a hockey rink, and you're asking the taxpayer here to foot the bill.

"It exceeded my risk tolerance for the taxpayers.

"We're the smallest regional center in the state and one of the poorest being asked to carry the debt on one of the largest projects in the state.

"I'm looking for people to change this vote."

Erickson pointed out that the original concept for the 2006 half-cent sales tax extension was for a $35 million events center. When the reports came back that it couldn't be built for that amount, the City Council put a $50 million cap on the project. When the estimate overran, $50 million, Erickson said she withdrew her support. She also said the risk of annual maintenance and operation estimated at $436,000 is also too big an expense.

It is obvious this woman is not all that informed on this issue, but lets not let the facts get in the way. The proposed event center isn't just a hockey arena, it would be short sighted on the cities part if that was true. Like most cities that have event centers they serve many purposes for the good of the community. If your city has an event center you can have concerts, they are a great place to have a trade shows as well as conventions.

These events also bring needed tax dollars to the city and revenue to area business. What do you think a big series against UND or SCUS would do for the weekend business numbers? Seriously folks do not let this woman get the keys to Bemidji city hall, it is obvious she isn't the right for the job... Let me guess she is not a business or economics professor right?

NHL looking to expand to Europe?

I am not so sure this is a very good idea. Wow, I can't imagine how tough the travel would be? I also think they are right are the Euros going to be able to support the NHL like they do in the USA and Canada?

European expansion on the horizon, Daly says
WILLIAM HOUSTON|From Friday's Globe and Mail

The NHL is aiming to have teams based in Europe within the next 10 years, the league's deputy commissioner said yesterday.

“As time goes on, you'll see us making increasing movement into Europe,” Bill Daly said in an interview. “Certainly, it's a possibility that within 10 years time we will be playing games there.”

Asked whether he viewed European expansion within 10 years as a good possibility, he said: “I hope so. But again, I think it's a long way between here and there. And I think all the pieces have to continue to line up in order for that to happen.

“So, certainly, we would hope that would be the case. But I can't say with any degree of certainty at this point.”

A move to Europe by the NHL has been talked about for years. Toronto-based hockey agent Anton Thun and others have been proponents. But at the NHL level, Daly's statements are by far the strongest made by an executive in favour of European expansion.

“It's a priority for us,” he said. “It is focused on as one of our primary growth opportunities.”

Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford is not against expansion to Europe as long as the cities in question can support teams financially. But first, though, he would like to see the NHL put a couple of more teams in Canada – in Winnipeg and Southern Ontario.

“[European] cities do a good job for international hockey tournaments, but can those cities afford NHL prices for 42 regular-season games plus playoffs?” Rutherford said. “I don't know the answer, but if they can, then at some point there will be expansion in Europe.
(read the rest of the story here)

WJC looks at Buffalo, NY...

A lot of the same arguments could be made for Grand Forks, North Dakota. Traffic is light, lots of hotels in town. There are also plenty of people that will be willing to voluteer. Also, isn't that hard flying here or Fargo either. If I am not mistaken the WJC that was held in Grand Forks, ND was the best attended WJC ever in the USA.

World junior hockey championships give WNY a close look
By John Vogl - News Sports
Traffic is light. The restaurants are great. The hotel space is adequate. There are plenty of volunteers.

Oh yeah, the hockey facilities and atmosphere are top notch, too.

All in all, the folks from USA Hockey departed Western New York on Thursday very impressed with the area’s bid for the 2011 world junior championships.

As announced last month, Buffalo is among three finalists to host one of amateur hockey’s premier events in December 2010 and January 2011. Members of the USA Hockey committee are in the process of visiting the three cities — Buffalo, Minneapolis and Grand Forks, N. D. — and they toured Western New York on Wednesday and Thursday.

They left feeling certain the area can accommodate an influx of visitors from all over the globe.

“It’s an international event, so we really want to put on our best face when it comes to managing and running this type of tournament so that we have the opportunities in the future for more of them,” said Mike Bertsch, assistant executive director of marketing and communications for USA Hockey.

Bertsch said his organization plans to make its decision by the first part of October. The event, which is a 10-nation tournament featuring the best players under age 20, is estimated to bring $6 million into the host community.

While all aspects of an area must be suitable to host the world juniors, hockey facilities are among the most important. The committee thoroughly inspected HSBC Arena and Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena, and they easily passed the tests.

“Dwyer Arena is an excellent facility, and it can do an excellent job as being the second site for this tournament,” said Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations. “From a team standpoint, it comes down to how functional the facilities are, and both facilities would do an excellent job fulfilling the standards the teams need.”

Though the committee members were impressed with Western New York on its own, they quickly concurred that having hockey-crazed Canada — and in particular, Toronto — right up the road was a boost for Buffalo’s bid.

“It’s very important,” Johannson said. “We want this to be a USA Hockey event, but we certainly understand our neighbors to the north are passionate hockey fans and a big part of the fabric in this Buffalo and Toronto area. We’re well aware of the significance they would play in this championship.”

Buffalo’s involvement in USA

Hockey and its ability to host large events made it a finalist. The area has hosted the NCAA Frozen Four and several national tournaments in recent years, and good reviews led America’s hockey body to look here for its marquee tournament. The event runs for 11 days, so having a solid core of volunteers is important.

“Obviously, we all know the great fan base that they have here in Buffalo,” Johannson said. “Not only the Sabres, but it’s a very strong USA Hockey youth hockey area.”

The Sabres are leading the bid process. Minority owner Larry Quinn has stressed to the committee that Buffalo would fully embrace the event, even though it’s played during the NHL season and at the beginning of the NFL playoffs.
(Read the rest of the story here)

A few things...

The QMJHL will not ban fighting this season but will come down hard on brawls. I think this is a smart move by the league.

Quebec junior hockey league won't ban fighting
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League won't ban fighting outright for the 2008-09 season that commences Thursday but will aim to crack down on brawling, the league president announced Wednesday.

The league will enforce 31 recommendations for stiffer penalties for brawling that were put forth by a committee hired this spring to examine hockey violence.

"We won't accept anything that's not part of the game of hockey," QMJHL president Gilles Courteau said at a news conference. "We're working to change the culture of the game. We don't want to see any more bad situations in hockey.

"The committee looked at all situations, including the fighting aspect. We're not here to focus on the fighting aspect only. We've put rules in place to be more severe for situations that could happen following a fight."

The committee was formed in May on the urging of Quebec Sports Minister Michelle Courchesne following an incident involving Quebec Remparts goaltender Jonathan Roy, son of former NHL netminder and then Remparts coach Patrick Roy.

Eric Staal is the latest NHL star to get a fat contract. I guess the Canes wanted to get Staal locked up before he became eligible for free agency. Maybe the Wild General Manager should take note.

Hurricanes re-sign Eric Staal for 7 years...
The Carolina Hurricanes announced Thursday they have signed centre Eric Staal to a seven-year, $57.75-million US contract extension.

Staal, 23, will earn $8.25 million per season in a deal that begins with the 2009-10 NHL campaign and extends through 2015-16.

"This is a great day for hockey in the Carolinas, to know that our franchise player will be with us for at least another eight seasons," said Jim Rutherford, Carolina's president and general manager.

Speaking of contracts, look at this list of lengthy contracts; look at some of these contracts, we have star players locked up for a long time to their current teams.

A look at some lengthy post-lockout contracts signed by NHL players In the wake of Eric Staal's seven-year contract extension with Carolina, here's a look at some other lengthy deals in recent years:
Rick DiPietro, N.Y. Islanders, 15 years, $67.5 million
Alex Ovechkin, Washington, 13 years, $124 million
Mike Richards, Philadelphia, 12 years, $69 million
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay, 11 years, $85 million
Brian Campbell, Chicago, 8 years, $56.8 million
Daniel Briere, Philadelphia, 8 years, $52 million
Eric Staal, Carolina, 7 years, $57.75 million
Scott Gomez, N.Y. Rangers, 7 years, $51.5 million
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo, 7 years, $50 million
Jason Spezza, Ottawa, 7 years, $49 million
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit, 7 years, $46.9 million
Patrik Elias, New Jersey, 7 years, $42 million
Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay, 7 years, $31.5 million
Dany Heatley, Ottawa, 6 years, $45 million
Dan Boyle, San Jose, 6 years, $40 million
(See the rest of the list here)

Fighting Sioux hockey roster is up...

Fighting Sioux Hockey - 2008-09 Roster
2 Finley, Joe D 6-7 245 Sr. Edina, Minn. (Sioux Falls-USHL)
3 LaPoint, Derrick D 6-3 187 So. Eau Claire, Wis. (Green Bay-USHL)
4 Fienhage, Corey D 6-3 214 Fr. Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview High School)
5 Genoway, Chay D 5-9 172 Jr. Morden, Manitoba (Vernon-BCHL)
6 Jones, Zach D 5-11 200 Sr. Lisle, Ill. (U.S. National Under-18)
8 Martens, Ryan F 6-0 207 Sr. Selkirk, Manitoba (Quesnel-BCHL)
9 Lamoureux, Mario F 5-9 185 Fr. Grand Forks, N.D. (Tri-City-USHL)
10 Kozek, Andrew F 5-11 200 Sr. Sicamous, British Columbia (Surrey-BCHL)
11 Zajac, Darcy F 6-1 195 Jr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
14 Miller, Brad F 5-10 174 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga. (Green Bay-USHL)
15 Davidson, Brent F 6-4 212 So. Morden, Manitoba (Neepawa-MJHL)
16 Duncan, Ryan F 5-6 165 Sr. Calgary, Alberta (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
17 Gregoire, Jason F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lincoln-USHL)
18 Toews, David F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Shattuck-St. Mary's)
19 Trupp, Evan F 5-9 170 So. Anchorage, Alaska (Penticton-BCHL)
20 Watkins, Matt F 5-10 187 Sr. Aylesbury, Saskatchewan (Vernon-BCHL)
21 Frattin, Matt F 6-0 200 So. Edmonton, Alberta (Fort Saskatchewan-AJHL)
22 Malone, Brad F 6-2 205 So. Miramichi, New Brunswick (Sioux Falls-USHL)
24 Blood, Ben D 6-4 212 Fr. Plymouth, Minn. (Indiana-USHL)
25 Marto, Jake D 5-11 170 So. Grand Forks, N.D. (Omaha-USHL)
26 Hextall, Brett F 5-11 188 Fr. Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Penticton-BCHL)
29 VandeVelde, Chris F 6-2 206 Jr. Moorhead, Minn. (Lincoln-USHL)
30 Walski, Aaron G 5-11 176 Sr. Fargo, N.D. (Bismarck-NAHL)
31 Eidsness, Brad G 6-0 173 Fr. Chestermere, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL)
35 Harrington, Graeme G 5-11 186 Fr. Glenside, Saskatchewan (Dryden-SJHL)

©2008 - University of North Dakota