One positive of the OBAMA victory.

Washington Compost picture
The last time the Fighting Sioux won an NCAA titles there was a Democratic president in the White House. In fact when the Sioux won their 6th and 7th NCAA title while William Jefferson Clinton was president of the United States of America.

The Republican party has been less kind to the Fighting Sioux, who went 0-5 with George W. Bush in the White House; 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Duncan goal and Hextall penatly.

Watch this sweet goal by Duncan, at the end of the play you will see the check by Hextall that landed in the stands for the rest of the night. Typical call WCHA official Don "I make shit up as I go" Adam. Folks, there is no way in hell that was worthy of a five minute major. Especially, after all of the Checking From Behind calls that went uncalled by Don "I make shit up as I go" Adam on the Sioux players.
Props to BaderSioux for the video.

Hextall goal, check out the check that he finishes.

Jason Gregoire Goal wow, is that a sweet goal.

Tigers 7 Sioux 4

I have seen the naysayers pontificating about UND being a below average team that will be lucky to above .500 at the end of the season. Apparently these people forget that UND hasn't played well the last 4 seasons before December, but the Fighting Sioux have kicked it in during the second half of each of the last four hockey seasons and went to the Frozen Four. I am not saying this is going to happen this season, but it could. Championships are won in March in April and your team doesn’t get an award for finishing above .500 before January.

In the next week or two I expect to see yet another ridiculous "Fire Hakstol" or "UND is going down the tubes" thread to reemerge over on Sioux Sports or UCSHO. I will not participate in this silliness.

Positives from this weekend.

1.) UND is the first team to beat the C.C. Tigers. Take that INCH.
2.) UND score more goals and gained more points from the Tigers this weekend than
3.) the DU Pioneers did last weekend.
4.) Brad Eidsness is getting better with each game.
5.) Jason Gregoire scored his third goal of the season.
6.) David Toews got his first point as a Fighting Sioux player (assist)
7.) Brett Hextall had two goals and an assist on the weekend.


Goals Scoring/Penalties Time

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CC-1 Andreas Vlassopoulos (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 4:41
NDK-1 Chris VandeVelde (2-Hooking) CC 1x1 8:03
CC 1 - 0 6x5 PP Nate Prosser (2) (Bill Sweatt, Brian Connelly) 9:34
CC: 15,21,22,19,11,G30 NDK: 19,6,3,17,G31
CC-2 Nate Prosser (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 1x2 11:00
NDK-2 Jason Gregoire (2-Roughing) 12:14
CC-3 Brian Connelly (2-Roughing) 12:14
NDK 1 - 1 6x5 PP Brett Hextall (2) (Brad Miller) 12:36
NDK: 26,14,16,25,29,G31 CC: 26,4,14,10,G30
CC-4 Nick Dineen (2-Checking from Behind) NDK 1x3 14:27
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 Ryan Duncan (3) (Chris VandeVelde, Brett Hextall) 17:49
NDK (+): 16,29,26,3,6,G31 CC (-): 11,25,5,26,15,G30
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (5-Checking from Behind) (Served by Brent Davidson) CC 3x4 17:49
NDK-4 Brett Hextall (10-Game Misconduct) 17:49
CC 2 - 2 6x5 PP Eric Walsky (4) (Bill Sweatt, Chad Rau) 19:00
CC: 22,14,21,10,24,G30 NDK: 29,6,25,16,G31

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

CC 3 - 2 6x5 PP Scott McCulloch (3) (Brian Connelly, Andreas Vlassopoulos) 1:36
CC: 11,28,26,15,19,G30 NDK: 19,17,6,3,G31
NDK 3 - 3 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (3) (Ryan Duncan, Matt Frattin) 3:23
NDK (+): 29,16,21,14,24,G31 CC (-): 4,10,21,14,22,G30
CC-5 Bill Sweatt (2-Holding) NDK 1x4 6:54
CC-6 Andreas Vlassopoulos (2-Hooking) NDK 1x5 7:22
CC-7 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Ryan Lowery) NDK 2x6 9:20
CC-8 Bill Sweatt (2-Tripping) NDK 2x7 9:20
NDK 4 - 3 6x4 PP Jason Gregoire (3) (David Toews, Brad Miller) 10:46
NDK: 17,18,14,3,16,G31 CC: 14,11,4,G30
CC 4 - 4 6x6 Eric Walsky (5) (Scott McCulloch, Nick Dineen) 13:36
CC (+): 26,22,20,15,11,G30 NDK (-): 29,6,16,21,25,G31
CC 5 - 4 6x6 HT GW LL Eric Walsky (6) (unassisted) 14:04
CC (+): 22,21,4,14,10,G30 NDK (-): 16,4,3,29,21,G31
CC-9 Arthur Bidwill (2-High-Sticking) NDK 2x8 16:33
NDK-5 Chris VandeVelde (2-Hooking) CC 3x5 18:13

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

CC-10 Brian Connelly (2-Hooking) NDK 2x9 0:32
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-Holding) CC 3x6 3:25
CC 6 - 4 6x6 Eric Walsky (7) (Chad Rau) 8:51
CC (+): 22,14,21,4,10,G30 NDK (-): 10,8,4,15,3,G31
CC 7 - 4 6x6 Stephen Schultz (3) (unassisted) 14:57
CC (+): 10,15,28,23,19,G30 NDK (-): 11,29,16,25,18,G31
CC-11 Gabe Guentzel (2-Tripping) NDK 2x10 14:57
NDK-7 David Toews (2-Tripping) CC 3x7 19:18

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

League realignment?

It looks like realignment is coming to Division one hockey according to DU hockey blogger Mike Chambers. I don't doubt Mike Chambers because of his reputation and Mike has been pretty accurate in the past. Seriously, you have to be accurate if you are going to be employed very long as a journalist. It doesn’t do Chambers any good to release information that is inaccurate and false. Think about it, Chambers is from Denver, Colorado, the league office at Denver University.

In the past I have said that realignment will come to the WCHA, there is a lot of people that said it wouldn’t’ happen. I have also said that the NCAA could come down at any time and tell the established leagues (CCHA, WCHA, Hockey East, ECAC AHA) that if they don't absorb these CHA teams that the NCAA could start pulling at large bids.

Personally if this realignment does happen it’s good for me because that means I can spend two more weekends a winter drinking beer with my buddies from Bemidji. Also, now we can go from a final five to final six. It works in the CCHA so it can work in the WCHA as well.

College hockey conference realignment
by Mike Chambers on November 8, 2008

Conference expansion is on its way, folks. Because of the looming demise of College Hockey America, don’t be surprised if the WCHA and the AHA go from 10 to 12 teams, with Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha joining the WCHA and Robert Morris and Niagara going to the AHA.

This isn’t just opinon. I can’t divulge my sources, but this is what is being discussed by conference commissioners. And it makes sense.

The CHA currently has Robert Morris, Alabama-Huntsville, Niagara and Bemidji State. It’s a joke, because the four-team conference gets an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. That’s going to change. Robert Morris and Niagara have applied for entrance to the AHA. If they are accepted, the AHA will go from 10 to 12 teams.

What we need next is for Nebraska-Omaha to apply to the WCHA, and get accepted along with Bemidji State, which previously has applied. UNO, which currently plays in the CCHA, will be replaced by Alabama-Huntsville.

UNO is a natural fit for the WCHA, with strong state rivalries with Colorado and Minnesota. Alabama-Huntsville isn’t a fit for anyone, but … if UAH goes to the CCHA, we would have five conferences with a near equal amount of teams.

The WCHA, CCHA, AHA and ECAC would have 12 teams, and Hockey East 10. Under this plan, there would be five automatic bids to the 16-team national tournament for winning conference titles.

Bemidji Election Update:

You will be happy to know that Richard Lehmann defeated challenger Nancy Erickson, the current Ward 5 representative, by roughly 900 votes as he gathered 3,512 votes to her 2,625 (57 percent to 43 percent). So now we know the Bemidji events center will go a head as planned. Now lets get the damn thing built, enough with the stalling and grand standing by politicians with personal agendas. Thank God the pro-event center people won.

Line ups for tonight's game.

Here is the line up for tonights game from Brad Elliott Schlossman's Fighting Sioux hockey blog. There are a few changes from last nights game winning line up; Davidson is now playing on the fourth line and Mario Lamoureux is out of the line up, Matt Frattin is in. Chay Genoway is out of the line up tonight due to a questionable checking from behind play last night and Corey Fienhage has been flown in to play tonight game in Chay's place. Zach Jones has not score a goal in 130 straight games, the longest streak in the WCHA.

UND's lines

16 Ryan Duncan--29 Chris VandeVelde--26 Brett Hextall
10 Andrew Kozek--11 Darcy Zajac--20 Matt Watkins
17 Jason Gregoire--19 Evan Trupp--21 Matt Frattin
15 Brent Davidson--8 Ryan Martens--18 David Toews

6 Zach Jones--25 Jake Marto
3 Derrick LaPoint--4 Corey Fienhage
24 Ben Blood--14 Brad Miller

31 Brad Eidsness
30 Aaron Walski

Colorado College's lines

21 Bill Sweatt--14 Chad Rau--22 Eric Walsky
23 Tim Hall--19 Andreas Vlassopoulos--28 Stephen Schultz
26 Scott McCulloch--20 Nick Dineen--25 Mike Testwuide
5 Addison DeBoer--9 Brian McMillin--16 David Civitarese

11 Brian Connelly--15 Nate Prosser
10 Gabe Guentzel--4 Jake Gannon
24 Ryan Lowery--27 Arthur Bidwill

30 Richard Bachman
31 Drew O'Connell
1 Tyler O'Brien

Scores from 11-07-2008.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Atlantic Hockey
Army 3 at American Int'l 4
Mercyhurst 4 at Holy Cross 3 ot
Connecticut 0 at Bentley 1

Analysis
Yawn... Holy Cross has fallen since their win against Minnesota.

CCHA
Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Western Michigan 2 ot: UNO wins shootout
Bowling Green 0 at Lake Superior 2
Ferris State 2 at Miami 2 ot: Miami wins shootout
Michigan 1 at Alaska 4
Michigan State 0 at Ohio State 3

Analysis
Last night I watched the Ferris State and Miami game and I happened to notice that the fans were really into the shootout. Or should we say, I didn't see a ground swell of fans leaving their seat. Ohio State another big win over a ranked team. That is not a misprint, Michigan lost to the Alaska 4-1. Ouch!

CHA
Bemidji State 2 at Alabama-Huntsville 4

Analysis
Ouch, the Beavers have one win on the season against SCSU.

ECAC
Yale 2 at St. Lawrence 3 ot
Dartmouth 5 at Union 2
Cornell 1 at Princeton 0
Brown 1 at Clarkson 3
Harvard 2 at Rensselaer 3
Colgate 1 at Quinnipiac 0

Analysis
Media darling Princeton loses to Cornell in a 1-0 game. Sioux fans will get to see Cornell on November 28th and 29. Clarkson remains hot.

Hockey East
Vermont 2 at Providence 2 ot
Boston University 6 at Mass.-Lowell 4

Analysis
Boston University remains on a roll and will be the number one team in the country on Monday.

WCHA
North Dakota 3 at Colorado College 1
Minnesota-Duluth 1 at Denver 5
Minnesota State 5 at Alaska-Anchorage 3
Michigan Tech 2 at Wisconsin 3

Analysis
Sioux7 really blew his MTU and Wisconsin pick. I do wonder if he bought a lottery ticket or not? Denver brings the Bull Dogs back to earth beating them 5-1. Yikes! This score does shock me a bit. What heck happened to all WCHA goalie Alex Stalock? According to the box score Stalock was pulled after giving up 5 goals on 29 shots. Sounds like the UMD back up Hjelle (what nationality is that name?) did a pretty good job. Minnesota State beats UAA, I am sure LGM's will give us her analysis of the game soon, if she was able to stay up that late.

Non-Conference
RIT 2 at Niagara 6
Robert Morris 0 at St. Cloud State 4
Notre Dame 4 at Boston College 1
New Hampshire 2 at Minnesota 2 ot

Analysis
I watched some of the Notre Dame and B.C. game, the third period of the Minnesota and UNH game and I was surprised by Notre Dame and impressed with UNH.

Linkorama from the UND and C.C. game

Here are a few things from last nights game. First off, the Sioux win is a result of a good hockey team that started slow and is finally finding its identity, not because of a C.C. let down from the DU series. That has to be one of the most condescending things I read today.

UNDER REVIEW talks about the good and the bad from last nights game.

Sioux Yeah Yeah! Calls the win Huge. I agree that it was a big time win.

According to Brad Elliott Schlossman the Sioux are really beat up on the blue line.

This is the WCHA on the win last night.

North Dakota 3, Colorado College 1
The Fighting Sioux got three goals from three different players as they defeated Colorado College 3-1 in Colorado Springs. Darcy Zajac scored the game's first goal 10minutes in and UND led 1-0 after one. The Sioux extended their lead to 3-0 after two on goals by Brent Davidson and Brett Hextall. Bill Sweatt broke up the shutout with CC's only goal with under two minutes to play. Brad Eidsness made 29 saves in the win for North Dakota. Richard Bachman stopped 26 shots for CC.

Orwick's Huge Win in the Mountains.

Uncaged on their first loss of the season. The Tigers are having trouble scoring goals this season. With the players they have returned and with the new rules you think the Tigers would thrive under that system.

Eye of the Tigers described UND's goals as "dirty". Dirty Goals win games in my opinion. Nice to see the Sioux with some grit.

Here is what Adam Wodon from College Hockey News has to say on the UND win last night.

Here is what SabresProspects.com had to say on two of UND's players.

In NCAA play, Brad Eidsness made 29 saves as visiting North Dakota defeated #1 Colorado College, 3-1. Eidsness, who moved to 3-2 on the year, made many great saves to earn the W and should be back between the pipes when the two clubs play it back on Saturday. Freshman defenseman Corey Fienhage did not travel with the club for the weekend set.

Sioux 3 Tigers 1.

The Fighting Sioux played their most complete game of the season and scored two goals in a 14 second span to beat the formerly top ranked Colorado College Tigers. Well, that is assuming that the pollsters knock them out of top spot. I think BU will be the number one team in the country come Monday afternoon.

The Sioux out played the Tigers all night long and made timely smart defensive plays when they were needed. Both teams combined were an awful 0-12 on the power play.

Leading the Fighting Sioux were Brent Davidson and Brett Hextall who scored their first goals of the their college careers. Rookie goalie Brad Eidsness improved to 3-2-0 on the season. Eidness also lowered his goals against average to 3.0033 and raised his save percentage .896 percent.

Some Positive

Brad Eidsness keeps improving with every game and has a 3-1 record in his last 4 games.

The Sioux defense only game up one goal against the top ranked team in the country while scoring three goals on the all American goalie Richard Bachman.

Goals Scoring/Penalties Time

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CC-1 Nate Prosser (2-Slashing) NDK 0x1 5:05
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 LL Darcy Zajac (1) (Matt Watkins, Andrew Kozek) 9:53
NDK (+): 11,20,10,14,24,G31 CC (-): 26,10,17,5,24,G30
CC-2 Matt Overman (2-Tripping) NDK 0x2 12:56
NDK-1 Andrew Kozek (2-Hooking) CC 0x1 16:52

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

CC-3 Kris Fredheim (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 1:19
NDK-2 Chris VandeVelde (2-Holding the Stick) CC 0x2 3:32
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 GW Brent Davidson (1) (Ryan Martens) 8:14
NDK (+): 15,8,29,24,14,G31 CC (-): 11,26,15,9,5,G30
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Brett Hextall (1) (Ryan Duncan, Chris VandeVelde) 8:28
NDK (+): 26,16,29,25,6,G31 CC (-): 7,19,26,23,4,G30
NDK-3 Ryan Duncan (2-Interference) CC 0x3 11:12
NDK-4 Ryan Duncan (2-Tripping) CC 0x4 16:01
CC-4 Stephen Schultz (2-Charging) NDK 0x4 16:26

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

NDK-5 Andrew Kozek (2-Interference) CC 0x5 1:14
NDK-6 Jake Marto (2-Tripping) CC 0x6 3:10
NDK-7 Brett Hextall (2-Hooking) CC 0x7 5:43
NDK-8 Darcy Zajac (2-Tripping) CC 0x8 6:19
NDK-9 Darcy Zajac (2-Holding) 17:18
CC-5 Brian McMillin (2-Interference) 17:18
Timeout - Colorado College 17:18
CC 1 - 3 5x5 Bill Sweatt (3) (Tyler Johnson, Brian Connelly) 18:33
CC (+): 17,11,10,21,G30 NDK (-): 20,10,19,3,G31

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

The lines for tonights game.

According to Brad here are the lines for tonight's game. Looks like there are some messages being sent already. Finley traveled with the team but isn't playing tonight. Here are the guys that didn't travel, Corey Fienhage, Brad Malone and Graeme Harrington. You kind of wonder if Fienhage, Frattin and Malone are the ones that are being sent a message. I would also like to see what Harrington can do in a game.

UND's lines

16 Ryan Duncan--29 Chris VandeVelde--26 Brett Hextall
10 Andrew Kozek--11 Darcy Zajac--20 Matt Watkins
15 Brent Davidson--9 Mario Lamoureux--8 Ryan Martens
17 Jason Gregoire--19 Evan Trupp--18 David Toews

3 Derrick LaPoint--5 Chay Genoway
6 Zach Jones--25 Jake Marto
24 Ben Blood--14 Brad Miller

31 Brad Eidsness
30 Aaron Walski

SCRATCHES - Matt Frattin, Big Joe Finley, (Brad Malone and Corey Fienhage didnt make trip)

Colorado College's lines

21 Bill Sweatt--14 Chad Rau--22 Eric Walsky
23 Tim Hall--19 Andreas Vlassopoulos--28 Stephen Schultz
26 Scott McCulloch--17 Tyler Johnson--5 Addison DeBoer
18 Matt Overman--9 Brian McMillin--20 Nick Dineen

11 Brian Connelly--15 Nate Prosser
7 Kris Fredheim--4 Jake Gannon
10 Gabe Guentzel--24 Ryan Lowery

30 Richard Bachman
31 Drew O'Connell
1 Tyler O'Brien

Sioux and Tigers, Lets stop the Tiger roar.

The Sioux travel to Colorado Springs to play the top ranked Colorado College Tigers. The Sioux have had a tough start and are 2-4-0, (2-2-0 WCHA) and face the top ranked team in the country 5-0-3, (4-0-1 WCHA).

The Tigers are 5-0-0 at home so far this season and were almost unbeatable at the world Arena last season the Tigers went 18-3-0. On the road the Tigers have yet to win and are 0-0-3.

Since the 2005-2006 season the Sioux are 5-4 against the Tigers.

I don't want to make any grand predictions for this weekend's series. Personally, I don't want to spread any of my bad karma around this weekend. I personally believe this series could go two ways; 1.) The series could get really ugly and the Sioux could be on the receiving end of two lopsided games. 2.) The Sioux could step it up, bottom down the hatch and gain a split. It this happen the Sioux will gain some needed confidence. I don't see the Sioux sweeping the Tigers this weekend.

Defensively, the Fighting Sioux need to play better on defense if they want to gain a split. The Fighting Sioux defense can not get caught up ice if they want to win. Last weekend Chay Genoway was a minus 4 in the third period. That can not happen if they want to be successful this weekend.

For the Season the Tigers aren't going to go 40-0-3 on the season so the Tigers better not get over confident or the opportunistic Sioux could sting the. Also, I have been a major jinx as of late.


Check out this week's Match up.

Linkorama

Brad Elliott Schlossman Grand Forks Herald --- The task is tall this weekend for the Sioux (2-4 overall, 2-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association).

They have to go to World Arena, where Colorado College was 18-3 last season and 5-0 so far this year. And they have to play a Tigers team that boasts the WCHA’s No. 2 goal scorer in Rau, the league’s top defense (1.5 goals allowed per game), top penalty kill (96.8 percent), top special teams units (plus-six) and top goaltender in Richard Bachman (1.24 goals-against average, .960 save percentage).

Uncaged Colorad College Hockey.

The Tigers' opponent this week is the once mighty North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The Sioux are currently 2-4 (2-2WCHA) and are coming off a 5-2 loss to Wisconsin. Judging from the lack of posts on Goon's Sioux site, it's been a bad year already. I can't remember the last time the Sioux weren't in the top 10, let alone unranked! Doesn't mean it won't be a tough series, but the Tigers need to sweep North Dakota for points and because, at least in terms of current records, the Sioux are apparently a "should win" series. The biggest key is to get some points and avoid injuries...oh yea and score!

Wheeler with the hat as the Bruins roll...

I listened to this game on my XM radio on my trip back from Duluth yesterday and I have to say that I am shocked on Blake Wheeler's play so far, because he wasn't all that dominating of a player in the WCHA. As a Bruins fan I was skeptical of his signing by the Bruins. That being said he is like second on the Bruins in goals.

Are rankings based on last year's play?

I have seen a few comments where some college fans think that last years play doesn't have a hand in this season's early rankings. Respectfully, I believe that train of thought is flawed.

The argument: I do believe that last season's NCAA regional’s game between the Princeton Tigers and the Fighting Sioux is having an affect on Princeton’s ranking so far this season. During the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal game the Tigers out shot the Fighting Sioux 39-18, yet still lost the game 5-1. Also, the Princeton Tigers did not lose that many impact players during the off season. Combining these two known facts in my opinion is affecting the early season rankings. If this isn't the case why is Princeton ranked as the #8 team in the country? The Tigers haven't played and beat anyone of significance. To say the Tigers are one of the best teams in the country is ridiculous. The Tigers might not even be the best team in their league. One could make the argument for the Clarkson based on actual play against a top opponent.

To further my argument I will use UAA as an example. UAA has been picked to finish 10th in most early season WCHA polls/rankings and now is sitting at 5-2-1 (2-1-1 WCHA) and not one hockey pundit picked them to finish higher than 9th. To say that this ranking isn't based on last years play is silly. We sure as hell didn't roll the dice or spine the wheel to predict their finish in the WCHA standings.

Princeton

How they finished: Princeton had a strong run to the finish, capped by its second ECAC tournament championship. That meant, obviously, its second NCAA tournament appearance as well. The Tigers ran into some bad luck early, hung with North Dakota for a while, but ultimately fell. That did nothing, however, to take away from Princeton's accomplishment, finally coming back from the depths and returning to the type of competitive level it enjoyed in the latter half of Don Cahoon's run as coach in the late '90s.

Changes: The Tigers only lost 25 points from the forwards that graduated, 13 of those from Rhodes Scholar winner Landis Stankievech.

Strengths: The Tigers return most everyone, including the entire top line intact, of Hobey finalist Lee Jubinville, Brett Wilson and Cam MacIntyre. The latter made the big leap last year from 13 to 31 points. The defense is experienced with Tyler Fedun, Cam Ritchie and Jody Pederson. And goalie Zane Kalemba, who emerged last season as a true No. 1, is back and is only a junior.

Fan's upset with the officating in the WCHA.

Badgers beat writer Todd D. Milewski has an interesting article on the state of officiating in the WCHA so far this season. The fans are the ones that are complaining about the officiating in the WCHA. Personally, you can mark me down as one of the fans that are happy about the way the games are being called. No, seriously, I think the officials have done an decent job officiating so far this season. I think the officiating is better than it has been and the players are starting to make the adjustments to the tightened enforcement. I watch about 100-150 NHL games every season and the WCHA games are close to being reffed in the same manner.

It sounds like fans aren’t real happy with the way games are being called in the WCHA so far this season under the rules emphasis designed to crack down on obstruction of the puck carrier.

At least, that’s the way it has come into commissioner Bruce McLeod’s office. He told Kevin Pates of the Duluth News Tribune that for every e-mail saluting the changes, there are 10 condemning them. Last week, he told Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald that complaints are coming from fans far more than they’re coming from coaches.

It’s understandable. The game wasn’t meant to be a series of 5-on-3s and 4-on-3s, taking away from the natural flow of full-strength play.

But college hockey had to do this, and it had to do it now. Here are two reasons:

** The NHL wants it. Like it or not, the college game is connected to the pro game. That’s the only way a lot of elite players are ever going to come to college in the first place — if it gives them an opportunity to get closer to being a pro-level player.

Check out this statement by Bruce McCleod. Hum...

The things we’ve heard most have been, ‘You’re making hockey a special teams game’ and ‘It’s still a physical game and you’re trying to take that away,’ ” said McLeod this week. “The NCAA is adamant about enforcing the rules and we don’t think it will be a big issue after a period of adjustment.”

Air Force Team of the Week.

Hum, I saw this article on College Hockey News While an 8-0-0 start is nothing to sneeze at, look who they have beat. Not a schedule that strikes fear in anyone. The only team on that schedule that is considered a decent team is Bemidji State, and they are having a down season.

What do you think?

Weekend Matchs (Sioux 7)

Lets recap last weeks games before we move on to this weekends games. UND and UW split in Grand Forks, UAA and MTU split in Houghton, CC took 3pts from DU, UM took 3pts from MSUM, and UMD beat SCSU once.

Now on to this weeks match ups (league records in parentheses)

#13 MSUM (1-2-1) at UAA (2-1-1)
Both of these teams have been playing well in this young season. UAA got a road win last weekend (UAA won 2 WCHA road games last year) so they are showing signs of avoiding the basement this year. Mankato has been also showing signs of a team on the rise, unfortunately for them their record doesn't reflect it, yet. It is a long trip to Anchorage which seems to affect teams. I'm going the safe route here splitsville here we come. (I'm sure LGM won't get to upset with this prediction)


MTU (1-3-0) at UW (1-4-1)
OH BOY, this a very important series for both these teams, especially if their is a sweep. A 1-5 or a 1-6-1 record is large pit to try and dig out of before March. After watching UW play last weekend, I was impressed with the Connelly's play in net, but that was their bright spot. I haven't seen MTU play yet this year but from what I've read they still have their goalie as well. This series is most likely going to be low scoring affairs. I'm betting the farm, okay maybe just my snowbank, on the MTU sweep of UW. (MeanEGirl, this ones for you)


#20 UMD (1-1-1) at #6 DU (2-1-1)
Wow, how bout them Dawgs! They crushed SCSU, boy did I overlook UMD. However, DU is obviously a much better team than SCSU to this point in the season. DU has been scoring lots of goals this season as well as UMD. This has the makings of a great series to watch, these games could be some shout outs, yea haw! Last year they split at Denver and then DU swept them in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Years to a repeat of last years regular season, 2-pts each, sharing is fun :)



UND (2-2-0) at #1 CC (3-0-1)
It has been awhile since UND has not been ranked, but they are now. CC has lived up their billing so far this season, and is UND using their last few years MO? So-so the first half and then turn it on after the New Year? I see this being a good skating series with a few less penalties then this seasons norm. I'm going to call it a split.


NON-Conference


#5 New Hampshire at #4 Minnesota
According the poll rankings this should be a heckuva series, #4 and #5 going head to head. This series should also give the pollsters an idea of how the WCHA and HE match up this year. I'm thinking a split in this series is appropriate.


Robert Morris at St. Cloud St.
These games might just be what the doctor ordered for SCSU. "Take a cupcake once a day for two days and call me on Sunday," said the good doctor. I think the cupcakes will help out the Huskies, as we all know, dogs like cake. I'm going to say these dogs devour the cupcakes in a couple of big gulps. SCSU sweeps.

USA WJC games to be on NHL Network.

Sean Leahy from Going Five Hole has confirmed that all USA WJC team games will be on the NHL Network. This is really good news for WJC fans, usually we don't get to see very many of the WJC games. In the past there has been a void of television coverage in the USA of the WJC. Canada unlike the USA usually gets all of their games on TSN. The 2006 WJC games from Vancouver were on FSN here in North Dakota and Minnesota.

I (Sean Leahy) confirmed with with Dave Fischel, Director of Media and Public Relations with USA Hockey that this December, NHL Network will broadcast every Team USA game from the World Junior Championships in Ottawa.

Injuries pile up in New Jersey

If you have a fantasy hockey team full of New Jersey Devils players you might want to consider the free agent pool.
Check out this list of players that are hurt for the Devils.
Current players on the shelf are; Martin Brodeur (elbow) Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (orbital bone crack), Brian Rolston (high ankle sprain), Bobby Holik (broken right pinkie) and Andy Greene (broken right hand).

Scott Clemmenson called up to back up Steven Weeks in New Jersey.

Going Five Hole: NCAA round up

Here is the latest NCAA round up.

Goon’s Match up of the weekend:

Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the Hockey East Power University of New Hampshire Wildcats. The Wild Cats from New Hampshire travel west to face another WCHA team for a second year in a row. Last year, the Wildcats made the trip to North Dakota for a two game series. The Gophers are led up front by junior forward Ryan Stoa 6-4-10 and super freshman Jordan Schroeder 2-6-8. Both players have been nothing short of phenomenal early on. The Wildcats are led by sophomore James van Riemsdyk who is 4-3-7 in seven games so far this season.

In goal, the Gophers are led by sophomore Alex Kangas who has 4-0-2 record and goals against average 2.11, with a save percentage of .922. The Wildcats are led by junior goaltender Brian Foster who has a 4-1-1 record. His, goals against average 1.49 with a gaudy save percentage of .951. Goals could be hard to come by this weekend, proving to be a low scoring weekend for hockey. The game can be seen on Fox Sports Net.
Prediction: Tie Friday and UNH wins 3-2 on Saturday.

Goon’s top 10 College hockey teams

1.)Boston College
2.)Colorado College
3.)Boston University
4.)Minnesota
5.)New Hampshire
6.)Denver
7.)Northeastern
8.)Michigan
9.)Michigan State
10.)Miami

Devils Goalie out for 3-4 months.

I just saw this over on the illegal curve. Yikes, this is bad news for the New Jersey Devils. It is no mystery that Martin Brodeur is the face and bedrock of the New Jersey Devil's franchise. It will be interesting to see how Steven Weeks does over the next 3-4 months.

TSN-- Martin Brodeur's assault on the record book will be put on hold as the Devils' goalkeeper will undergo surgery to repair torn bicep tendons and will be out of the lineup for up to four months.

''This Thursday morning, Martin Brodeur will undergo surgery to repair the distal bicep in the left elbow," Devils president, CEO and general manager Lou Lamriello said in a statement.

''We will not have any further comment or update until after the surgery is complete.''

College Hockey on the NHL Network

Last Friday night kicked off college hockey being on the NHL network. The Fighting Sioux will be on two more times.

NHL Network's 2008-09 U.S. College Hockey broadcast schedule is as follows:


November

Friday, Nov. 7 Ferris State @ Miami (Ohio) 7:30 PM ET (US only)
Friday, Nov. 14 Alaska Anchorage @ North Dakota 8:30 PM ET (US only)
Friday, Nov. 21 Michigan @ Miami (Ohio) 7:30 PM ET
Friday, Nov. 28 Cornell @ North Dakota 8:30 PM ET (US only)

December

Friday, Dec. 5 St. Lawrence @ Colgate 7:00 PM ET
Friday, Dec. 12 Notre Dame @ Bowling Green 7:00 PM ET
Friday, Dec. 19 Clarkson @ Bowling Green 7:00 PM ET

January

Friday, Jan. 9 Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State 8:00 PM ET
Friday, Jan. 16 Cornell @ Union 7:30 PM ET (US only)
Friday, Jan. 23 Brown @ Colgate 7:30 PM ET
Friday, Jan. 30 Bowling Green @ Miami (Ohio) 7:30 PM ET (US only)

February

Friday, Feb. 6 Denver @ Minnesota Duluth 8:00 PM ET (US only)
Friday, Feb. 13 Yale @ Union 7:30 PM ET
Friday, Feb. 20 Denver @ Wisconsin 8:00 PM ET
Friday, Feb. 27 Ohio State @ Miami (Ohio) 7:30 PM ET

March

Friday, Mar. 20 ECAC Hockey Semifinal #1 4:00 PM ET
Friday, Mar. 20 ECAC Hockey Semifinal #2 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 21 ECAC Hockey Final 7:00 PM ET**