Parrish signs with the Stars.

Former SCSU star and Minnesota Wild Player Mark Parrish has agreed to a 1 year deal with the Dallas Stars. Its nice to see Parrish catch on with another club after being waived by the Minnesota Wild.

The Stars have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free agent winger Mark Parrish and will have him in tomorrow for a physical. If he passes the physical, the Stars will sign him and have him on the practice ice Wednesday, according to Stars co-GM Les Jackson.

The deal makes a lot of sense on a lot of different levels.

The contract is for $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the minor league level.

The Stars, even in their tight cap space situation, can afford that.

Parrish is a right-handed right wing, which the team needs, and a natural shooter, which the team needs. He would fit on a line with either Brad Richards or Mike Modano.

A few things from Blues blogger Andy Strickland

Here is an interesting thing that I found from Blues Blogger Andy Strickland. While interesting that would be an expensive duo, your probably talking in the 15-20 million dollar range. I guess maybe the Wild need to make some space on their roster and clear some cap space.

Rink Rats!!!
Sources close to Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik tell me the two plan to make themselves a package deal come July first. The two are the best of friends and are hopeful they'll be playing together after this season.

A major reason Hossa elected to turn down millions of dollars from Pittsburgh and take the one year offer from Detroit is to not only put himself in position to win a Cup, but to become a UFA at the same time Gaborik enters the open market.

Stay tuned on this one.....

T.J. Oshie gets an MRI. This disturbs me, I finally get to watch T.J. Oshie play the other night and gets hurt. Ugh...

Blues rookie T.J. Oshie was scheduled to have an MRI today on his injured ankle. The results will obviously give the Blues a clearer indication of how long they expect to be without him.

Gandalf on Big Joe Finely.

Gandalf The Red from Sixty Minutes. No Alibis. No Regrets. has an interesting take on my favorite Fighting Sioux defenseman, big Joe Finley. Just for the record big Joe is out with a concussion, which I hope he gets over soon. You do have to love Gandalf's attempt at humor. I still want to see the letter that Joe drafted last season for the Wisconsin mascot.

Last week's poll winner Joe Finley, top goon in the WCHA, didn't play this past weekend for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux due to injury, or at least that is what they want you to believe.

I think its more than a coincidence that Joe Finley had a week off and couldn't return to the lineup w/ an "undisclosed injury" when the opponent just happened to be the Wisconsin Badgers. I would venture that Joe Finley didn't play last weekend because of Patrick Johnson.

Its well documented that Joe Finley was owned by Patrick Johnson last season, likely on several occasions. Patrick said so himself at one point that he told the top goon that he was going to own him. What reason would I have not to believe Patrick? He's the son of legends in Wisconsin Hockey history and reminds us before each home game that "It's a great day for hockey!"

Poll Monday

I can't remember the last time I have seen so many polls, hockey and political over the course of one month. Thank God the election is over tomorrow, or should we say that voting is over tomorrow, we could be counting votes (dimpled chads, hanging chads) till January.

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
1 Colorado College (41) 5-0-3 986 1
2 Boston College ( 5) 5-1-0 932 2
3 Boston University ( 4) 5-1-0 908 3
4 Minnesota 4-0-2 829 5
5 New Hampshire 4-1-2 772 6
6 Denver 4-2-1 755 4
7 Michigan 6-2-0 676 8
8 Miami 4-2-2 599 7
9 Princeton 1-0-0 548 10
10 Northeastern 5-1-2 529 9
11 Michigan State 4-2-2 468 11
12 Notre Dame 4-3-0 457 13
13 Minnesota State 3-2-1 316 12
14 Air Force 8-0-0 291 17
15 Clarkson 1-1-2 249 15
16 Vermont 3-2-1 216 14
17 Cornell 0-0-0 187 16
18 Harvard 1-0-0 156 20
19 Massachusetts 4-1-1 146 NR
20 Minnesota-Duluth 4-1-2 104 NR

Interesting! I think there are way too many EZAC teams in the top 20, Cornell hasn't played a game yet and are ranked 17th. Give me a break. Also, UMD cracks the top 20. So if we look at this poll we to believe that Vermont is better than UMD. Yeah ok.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll

1 Colorado College 501 (28) 1 5-0-3
2 Boston College 469 (5) 2 5-1-0
3 Boston University 442 (1) 3 5-1-0
4 University of Minnesota 394 5 4-0-2
5 University of New Hampshire 361 7 4-1-2
6 University of Denver 354 4 4-2-1
7 University of Michigan 304 8 6-2-0
8 Miami (Ohio) University 242 6 4-2-2
9 Princeton University 205 10 1-0-0
10 Northeastern University 193 9 5-1-2
11 Michigan State University 162 12 4-2-2
12 University of Notre Dame 141 13 4-3-0
13 Minnesota State University 73 11 3-2-1
14 U.S. Air Force Academy 72 NR 8-0-0
15 Clarkson University 50 14 1-1-2

Inside College Hockey

1. Colorado College
2. Minnesota
3. Boston College
4. Boston University
5. New Hampshire
6. Denver
7. Princeton
8. Northeastern
9. Michigan
10. Michigan State
11. Miami
12. Notre Dame
13. Minnesota State
14. Air Force
15. Cornell
16. Minnesota Duluth
17. Vermont
18. Massachusetts
19. Clarkson
20. Alaska Anchorage

Monday morning hockey tid bits.

Brian Costello from the Hockey News has an interesting opinion on the recent Doug Weight hit on Brandon Sutter. It was clean, and I agree. You know what is funny you never heard people complain when Scott Stevens was laying people out, I don't remember a lot of people having an issue with his monster hits. While I am sure the league will look at these hits, they are part of the game.

Hitting and head shots two different things
There’s only one thing sadder in hockey than seeing a player such as Brandon Sutter lose consciousness and sustain a concussion after an on-ice hit. The change-the-game backlash and pleas to ban head shots are more harmful to the game.

It was a clean hit, plain and simple. There was no head-hunting involved, there was no penalty on the play and there’s no reason for revenge or game-altering rule changes demanded by some hockey critics.

Doug Weight of the New York Islanders was the last man back on the play Oct. 25. He and Carolina’s Sutter were rushing to the loose puck and a collision was inevitable. If Weight pulls up, he risks giving Sutter a breakaway and is certainly criticized by Islanders fans.

Former Gopher Ben Clymer's has a Blog post on playing hockey in Russia and the tragic death of Alexei Cherepanov.

After dinner I settled back into my room and turned on the TV to double check if I'd missed any channels that may have been on commercial the first time. I came across a news show on Cherepanov and the tragedy that had just happened.

It was in Russian, but still rather easy to follow as they interviewed his mother. I felt so bad for her; you could see how much pain she was in and how difficult it must have been for her to lose her son at such a young age.

After the show, I walked down to Igor Ulanov's room to hangout for a bit and found out he had watched the same show. He told me how Alexei's favorite player was Jaromir Jagr and that when he heard Jagr was coming to Omsk, Cherepanov told the Rangers he was going to stay another year in Russia to play with his idol.

According to Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski it sounds like the wheels are starting to come off in Dallas, as a Wild fan I can only say, "Oh darn".

But the Stars are a different situation, because neither of those other teams publicly aired their frustration like the Stars are during their struggles (3-5-1 in their last nine games).

It's one thing to hear a grumble here or there; it's another thing for a conference finalist to have a veteran star like Mike Modano call out his teammates for "one of the most embarrassing things I've seen." Or for goaltender Marty Turco to both blame his teammates for his struggles while questioning their faith in him. Or for the team's two-headed general managers' office to threaten emphatic changes if the situation doesn't resolve itself on the ice and in the locker room.

Sunday night Linkorama

*Last night I got home from the Sioux and Badgers game and wanted to catch the end of the Minnesota Wild and the Phoenix Coyotes When I realized that the game was on NHL Center Ice the game and a few others were not on. Please tell me what the hell I am paying for?

*Former Gophers goalie Jeff "long island tea" Frazee was called up by the New Jersey Devils after all world goalie Martin Brodeur hurt his elbow. Frazee's call up was a matter of convenience as Frazee was the closest to NJ.

Goaltender Jeff Frazee has been recalled from Trenton of the ECHL on an emergency basis and is practicing with the Devils today. "He was the closest," Lamoriello said.

*Wild Defenseman Brent Burns was hurt during pre game warm ups during the Wild and Coyotes game. The Wild are getting thin as Nolen, Gaborik and Burns are hurt. According to Mike Russo Burns should be ready to go on Tuesday night.

*Former Gopher Thomas Vanek is on fire and scoring a lot of goals.

The Sabres' $50 million man has been on the money from the first drop of the puck. He's scoring even-strength goals (five). He's scoring short-handed (two). He's scoring on the power play (four). He's scoring game-winners (two), including Saturday's just 1:12 into the game.

*Former Fighting Sioux Star Drew Stafford is 12th on the Sabres in scoring through 11 games.

Things get crazy in Boston.

Check out this hit by Andrew Ference on Dallas tough guy Steve Ott that led to the fight between Ference and super punk Sean Avery. I really wish I would have DVRed this game so I could re-watch this game more closely. That fact is that it slipped my mind because I was preoccupied with the Sioux and Badges game Saturday night.

It would be an understatement to say that there was a lot of stuff going on during this game. It is good to see the Bruins take exception with Ott and Avery's antics.

Here is a link to all of the action from last night's game.

Even former UMD Bulldog Matt Niskanen and Shane Hnidy got after it.

My question to the Stars fans is when did the Dallas Stars become such a band of cheap shot artists?

Here is why I am excited...

Thanks to badgersioux for adding this video, Tim Hennessy the voice of the Fighting Sioux radio on the call of the goal. There were some positives from last night's game this was one of them. Jason Gregoire has one hell of a shot and scored two pretty goals during this weekend's series.

My Prediction is that the Trupp, Gregoire (add one forward) line is going to turn some heads this season.

2008-2009 Inter-Conference Records

Here are the inter conference records so far this season. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out as the season goes along.

Conference vs. 'Big 4'
AHA 3-21-1 (.140)
CCHA 7-13-3 (.370)
CHA 4-13-2 (.263)
ECAC 2-7-2 (.273)
HEA 16-5-2 (.739)
WCHA 7-7-3 (.500)

Scores from Saturday night.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Atlantic Hockey
Holy Cross 2 at RIT 5
Canisius 4 at American Int'l 1
Army 3 at Sacred Heart 3 ot
Bentley 2 at Air Force 8

CCHA
Ohio State 1 at Michigan 6
Notre Dame 4 at Northern Michigan 2
Alaska 0 at Miami 5
Michigan State 2 at Western Michigan 2 ot: MSU wins shootout
Lake Superior 3 at Ferris State 4
Nebraska-Omaha 5 at Bowling Green 3

Analysis: Another shootout in the CCHA, I wounder if Walt Kyle is warming up the idea yet? Michigan regains winning form after being pounded by BU.

CHA
Alabama-Huntsville 2 at Robert Morris 3

Who hates Huntsville we hate Huntsville.

Hockey East
New Hampshire 2 at Northeastern 2 ot
Boston University 7 at Vermont 2
Massachusetts 5 at Providence 1

Analysis: Boston University scores 7 goals two games in a row. Leading the Terriers up front Chris Higgins had a goal and three assists and Colin Wilson had two goals as well as the Terriers roll big against Vermont. Hockey East leading Northeastern gets one point on the weekend with a loss and a tie against UNH. UNH keeps playing strong hockey as well.

WCHA
Wisconsin 5 at North Dakota 2
St. Cloud State 1 vs. Minnesota-Duluth 5
Minnesota 6 vs. Minnesota State 3
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Michigan Tech 1

Analysis: UAA splits with the MTU Huskies. Wisconsin and UND split their weekend series, like Boosh said, "you can't expect the Badgers to lose forever". Minnesota takes three points against the MSU-M Mavericks. Mike Zacharias was awesome in net on Friday night, but gives up three goals in the third period of Saturday's game. Here is a hint don't play anymore games against the rodents in the Xcel Engery Center.
<----Edit---->
My fellow partner in crime Donn aka Sioux7 incorrectly picked the Bulldogs to beat the SCSU Huskies after first totally snubbing them, hence, causing Donna from RWD to be upset with us. The reason I haven't commented on the game is FSN failed to cover the Bulldogs and the Huskies which would have allowed us to see the UMD bulldogs play.

Non-Conference
Niagara 1 at Maine 4
Connecticut 1 at Quinnipiac 4

Analysis: Maine takes two games from CHA foe Niagara as the Black Bears get to .500 on the season.

Showcase
Yale 6 at Brown 3

Analysis: The EZAC finally gets into action after starting 2 weeks behind the other big three conferences.

BADgers 5 Fighting Sioux 2.

If there is a weak link right now I would say it is the defense, the blue liners have got to be better if UND is going to be successful this season. There is nothing like leaving your goalie out high and dry, it is a recipe for disaster. The game started out pretty good UND, the Fighting Sioux were able to gain a 2-0 lead before giving up 5 unanswered goals. I think that is unacceptable, and can not happen again. A couple of these goals were of the soft varitey. Just for the Record Chay Genoway was on the ice for 4 of the 5 goals scored against the Sioux in the third period. One Thing I know is that the Sioux need to get Big Joe Finley back in the line up soon.

If I fault Hakstol for anything I wish he would have brought in Brad Eidsness in early last year like DU did with Marc Cheverie. It just seems that Brad is a few weeks behind and it is going to be a few more weeks before he is up to speed. That being said I hope that Hakstol doesn't think he has to come back with Walksi, Eidness is the future of the Fighting Sioux and I think Hakstol just need to go with him until he figures it out. It makes no sense playing a goalie that hasn't proven in three seasons that he is capable of playing at the division one level.

The Fighting Sioux will be fine it is just going to take a few more weeks to get everyone on the same sheet of music, that is what happens when you have a high number of players coming and going each season. I thought UND played pretty well on the weekend and just had a few bad moments in the third period of Saturday's game that kept them from getting the sweep.

While a sweep would have been the best result a split is not that bad, coming into this series Wisconsin had won the last four games against the Sioux in the Ralph Englestad Arena so in the grand scheme of things a split isn't all that bad.
Goals Scoring/Penalties Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WIS-1 Podge Turnbull (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 5:59
WIS-2 Brendan Smith (2-Roughing) 11:49
WIS-3 Brendan Smith (2-High-Sticking) (Served by Craig Johnson) NDK 0x2 11:49
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) 11:49
WIS-4 Tom Gorowsky (2-Roughing) 18:20
NDK-2 Corey Fienhage (2-Roughing) 18:20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-3 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) WIS 0x1 3:49
WIS-5 Blake Geoffrion (2-Tripping) NDK 0x3 4:34
NDK-4 Jake Marto (2-Interference) WIS 0x2 13:40
NDK 1 - 0 5x6 SH Ryan Duncan (2) (Chris VandeVelde) 14:23
NDK (+): 16,29,6,5,G31 WIS (-): 2,21,24,9,19,G35
WIS-6 Andy Bohmbach (2-Hooking) NDK 0x4 15:53
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Jason Gregoire (2) (Evan Trupp, Matt Frattin) 17:59
NDK (+): 17,19,21,25,3,G31 WIS (-): 17,16,27,12,11,G35
NDK-5 Zach Jones (2-Slashing) WIS 0x3 18:23
NDK-6 Chay Genoway (2-Holding) WIS 1x4 19:45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WIS 1 - 2 6x5 PP Derek Stepan (2) (Jamie McBain, John Mitchell) 0:56
WIS: 21,2,24,7,9,G35 NDK: 20,25,6,11,G31
NDK-7 Corey Fienhage (2-Interference) WIS 2x5 1:34
WIS 2 - 2 6x5 PP Blake Geoffrion (2) (Jake Gardiner, Derek Stepan) 1:48
WIS: 5,19,21,2,9,G35 NDK: 29,16,6,5,G31
WIS 3 - 2 6x6 GW LL Tom Gorowsky (1) (Jamie McBain, Sean Dolan) 2:17
WIS (+): 15,2,16,24,7,G35 NDK (-): 5,10,11,20,25,G31
WIS 4 - 2 6x6 Tom Gorowsky (2) (unassisted) 13:42
WIS (+): 15,24,2,16,7,G35 NDK (-): 18,29,16,24,5,G31
WIS-7 Ryan McDonagh (2-Interference) NDK 0x5 16:22
WIS 5 - 2 5x6 SH EN Blake Geoffrion (3) (unassisted) 17:41
WIS (+): 5,20,10,27,G35 NDK (-): 14,5,10,26,29,16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

Bickel vs Lessard

Holy cow, former Gopher hack Stu Bickel has really found his niche in the AHL, racking up penalty minutes. I think Bickel is in the right organization for that role being a member of the Ducks. They play a brand of hockey that would make the Broad Street Bullies proud and it is very entertaining to watch.

In this case I think Stu Bickel reacted the way he should have, Bickel responded appropriately to a very questionable hit by Francis Lessard, who was also suspended by the AHL for his elbow on Bickel.

The Bickel Line

Bickel through 9 games with the Iowa Chops has played in 9 games scoring 0-0-0 -1 (+/-) with 32 minutes in penalties.

Check out this podcast.

I think this is one of these podcasts from Paul Allen's show that is a must listen for KFAN rubes. During the first hour of this past Monday's show Paul Allen talks about the transition for KFAN during the 0900-1200 time slot. Seems, Paul Allen is looking for a hockey rube to talk college hockey. Interested people should inquire about the position.

(Listen to the Transition Montage here)

A couple of things from last night's game.

According to BADgers beat writer Todd D. Milewski Joe Finley is out again for tonight's game. That is going to be bad news for the Corey Fienhage haters. I heard a lot of fans complaining in the stands about Corey Fienhage last night. I think people need to get some perspective; lets not forget that the kid is straight out of high school. Honesty, we should be happy to have him here, he could have been a dirty Gopher or Badger. Cory will get it right, give him a break.

North Dakota defenseman Joe Finley, who missed last weekend's series with an injury, is out of the lineup again tonight

Seems that the Badger coaches are doing a lot of complaining about the officiating so far this season. Come on Mike we all know the officials in this league suck and all WCHA teams have to deal with the same officials. Hum, I thought the Sioux fans, players and coaches were a bunch of halos. (from the same article)

DID YOU NOTICE?
The Badgers complained to the officials after the game that North Dakota had six skaters and a goalie on the ice for about 15 seconds of the final minute.

According to Brad this is the BADgers worst start since 1975-1976, damn that breaks my heart.

In looking at the stats there was only 13 penalties called during last nights game. That seems to be an improvement after one non conference game with WCHA officals had 22 penalties called.

Penalties-minutes — UND 5-10, UW 8-16

Power plays — UND 1-7, UW 1-4

Better dead than red: UND 3 BADgers 2

Sioux kept the Wisconsin BADgers winless and they improved to 2-3-0 and 2-1-0 in the WCHA standing for the season. First off; I will be the first to admit that this has been a rough start to begin the season; 1-3 is not an impressive record by any shape of the imagination. That being said, “I think there are a lot of things to smile about after watching this game”.

While the Sioux are not very big up front the Fighting Sioux are quick, skilled, and a very fast team that was all over the Wisconsin BADgers tonight. The Badger players should hug their goalie Shane Connelly because he saved their ass tonight, this game could have been 6-2. I thought it was appropriate for Shane Connelly to be named the number one star of the game by the Fighting Sioux radio broadcast team.

Too early to jump ship just yet…

I have got to say this: for the Sioux fans that were ready to jump off the bandwagon after two weeks or commit hairy-kairy with a very sharp object, please step back from the ledge and put down the sharp object, the Fighting Sioux are going to be fine. I don’t’ care what Jess Meyers has to say I do not see this team finishing in 7th place in the WCHA.

On the Goal tending front, Brad Eidsness played very well and earned himself another start for tomorrow’s game, if I hear Aaron Walski name announced as the starting goaltender tomorrow night I am booing. Brad Eidness improved to 2-1 with a 3.33 goals against average and a .880 save percentage and is getting better with every game.

One question I do have is why is David Toews not playing tonight? I have a tough time believing he isn't one of the top 12 forwards on the Fighting Sioux.

Goals Scoring/Penalties Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Corey Fienhage (2-Roughing) WIS 0x1 6:39
WIS-1 Eric Springer (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 10:47
WIS-2 Sean Dolan (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 13:42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WIS 1 - 0 6x6 Derek Stepan (1) (Patrick Johnson) 1:54
WIS (+): 21,10,12,4,19,G35 NDK (-): 21,20,4,22,3,G31
WIS-3 Brendan Smith (2-Holding) NDK 0x3 3:12
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Brad Miller (2) (Chay Genoway) 6:53
NDK (+): 14,5,17,24,8,G31 WIS (-): 7,8,15,2,24,G35
WIS-4 Podge Turnbull (2-Roughing) NDK 0x4 13:47
NDK-2 Ben Blood (2-Holding) WIS 0x2 16:41
WIS-5 Blake Geoffrion (2-Roughing) 20:00
NDK-3 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 20:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-4 Derrick LaPoint (2-High-Sticking) WIS 1x3 1:05
WIS 2 - 1 6x5 PP Brendan Smith (3) (Michael Davies, Jamie McBain) 2:00
NDK 2 - 2 6x6 Andrew Kozek (2) (Darcy Zajac) 3:54 NDK (+): 10,11,6,25,20,G31 WIS (-): 5,17,21,15,11,G35
WIS-6 Brendan Smith (2-Interference) NDK 0x5 8:03
NDK-5 Ryan Martens (2-Hooking) WIS 1x4 10:59
WIS-7 Patrick Johnson (2-Tripping) NDK 1x6 13:49
NDK 3 - 2 6x5 PP GW LL Jason Gregoire (1) (Evan Trupp) 14:45 NDK: 17,19,26,14,25,G31 WIS: 17,16,27,12,G35
WIS-8 Blake Geoffrion (2-Slashing) NDK 1x7 16:16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wisconsin Goaltending 1st 2nd 3rd Total Minutes GA
Shane Connelly 17 11 8 36 50:57 2
EMPTY NET 0 0:02 0
Shane Connelly (L, 0-4-1) 0 0 6 6 8:45 1
EMPTY NET 0 0:16 0

North Dakota Goaltending 1st 2nd 3rd Total Minutes GA
Brad Eidsness (W, 2-1-0) 11 4 5 20 60:00 2

Bulletin board Material...

Hey Fighting Sioux defensemen Michael Davis thinks you guys are a bunch of softies. Please someone hit this guy in the mouth this weekend...

From the Badger Beat: We've got to keep it simple," Davies said. "Get (the puck) in. Throw pucks at the net. Get pucks behind their (defensemen), especially North Dakota. Their (defensemen) don't like to be hit. Their (defensemen) don't like to turn."

Former Sioux star Zach Parise on streak...

Here is a really nice story on former Sioux star Zach Parise and the success he is having with the Devils this season.

NY Post--- It remains the highest pick the Devils owned since 1996, and unlike 10th pick Lance Ward that year, they hit paydirt with this one, selecting Parise.

Parise led the Devils with 32 and 31 goals the past two seasons, and he's threatening to make those figures look like preludes. Parise is among the league-leaders with seven goals in the Devils' nine games, and the five-game goal streak he'll bring into tomorrow's game against Atlanta in Newark is the longest in the league this year.

Now 24, Parise kept that streak running by forcing overtime for New Jersey's charity point in Wednesday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Leafs. It was clutch in more ways than one. It probably averted a punishment practice of stops-and-starts yesterday, after the Devils pedaled stationary bikes following that loss.

Parise is an example of Devils' development. They could have tried him during their 2004 playoff loss to the Flyers, but kept him idle as a 19-year-old. He played for their farm team during the lockout and broke in slowly as a rookie in 2005-06, going only 14-16-30.

It was nothing like Mike Bossy, before his first IslandersNew York Islanders camp, walking into Gallagher's Steakhouse in Manhattan, proclaiming that he could score 50 as a rookie, before doing it.

Eaves not happy with the officating.

This was posted over on Siouxsports.com and this is interesting, because I told someone last weekend that it was almost like the refs were almost over calling penalties to the point of being silly, you know to make a point. It was almost like the league office is saying ok you S.O.B we will show you. You want penalties and the games called tighter we will call them tighter. I think while Eaves is sounding kind of whinny here I do think Mike has a point, there were a few call last week that were down right brutal. I remember watching the play and saying, you have got to be kidding me.

I also think Eaves is trying to get the advantage in this weeks series with the Fighting Sioux with a little gamesmanship.

I guess the fans are also not happy with the officiating this season so far.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- It was no secret that there were going to be more penalties called in college hockey this season, what with the emphasis on punishing crimes that previously went without a whistle.

Wisconsin Badgers coach Mike Eaves was one of those who said the game would be better if players didn't have to fight through holding and interference -- a change the NHL had already successfully made, albeit with growing pains.

Eaves didn't know the pains at his level would be quite like this.

As the Badgers open a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at North Dakota Friday, they are no different than any other college hockey team -- trying to adjust to the new way that things are being done.

But Eaves is concerned that referees, in an effort to push the NCAA rules emphasis, have gone a little overboard.

He sent WCHA supervisor of officials Greg Shepherd a series of video clips from last weekend's series against Minnesota to illustrate his concerns about the officiating.

A few things.

USCHO writer Theresa Spisak/WCHA Correspondent predicts a split in this weekends series between the Sioux and the BADgers.

Wisconsin @ No. 18 North Dakota
The hat says: UW sweep.
I say: This series is tricky. The Badgers have won four straight at the Engelstad, but they're also missing a few players due to injury including Ben Street. The Sioux may have finally figured out how to win (something UW hasn't done yet). Gotta say split. UW Friday and UND Saturday.

From the same article: After playing one game last year and sitting out because of a knee injury Ryan Stoa is turning some heads. I am sure it won't be long before Sioux fans will see Ryan Stoa standing in front of the Sioux goal.

You had to be impressed by the way Ryan Stoa made his presence felt in last weekend’s series at Wisconsin. The junior captain started the Gophers’ rally from a 2-0 deficit on Friday with a second-period goal, then made a critical defensive play to keep the deficit at one in the third, setting up the late tying goal by freshman defenseman Sam Lofquist.

On Saturday, he scored twice, the first just six seconds after the opening face off.

Sioux caption Ryan Duncan says that there is nothing wrong with putting the puck on net. I guess I have to agree with that philosophy because you are going to miss 100% of the shots you never take.

Ryan Duncan apparently subscribes to the theory that a shot on goal is never a bad play. In North Dakota’s split at Minnesota State earlier this month, Duncan fired 10 shots on goal on Friday and didn’t score in the 5-1 Fighting Sioux loss. One night later he sent 15 shots at Mavericks goaltender Mike Zacharias and got one of them to go in (his first of the season) in North Dakota’s 4-3 come-from-behind win. In their 1-3-0 start, the Sioux have played 240 minutes of hockey and have held the lead for 2:25.

INCH on the shootout.

I recommend listening to the podcast from INCH this week they discuss the much maligned shootout. I had the pleasure of listening to this pod cast last night while I was out walking my dog and I have to admit that the discussion was interesting and hit a lot of the issues that have been discussed in the last year.

Personally I like the shootout and I think "the shootout" is eventually going to be the way to settle hockey games, just my humble opinion.