Are you ready for some outdoor hockey?

The outdoor classic is coming January 1st. I will watch the game but I am not all that excited for it. I think it is a gimmick. I would imagine the NHL is hoping for some good weather and not a repeat of last season were it snowed almost 2 1/2 inches during the game and they had to stop the game numerous time to clear the snow.

Under Review. (Former WCHA Player)

I was watching this game and it was one of the most exciting games I watched all season. On the Crosby goal I had the benifit of watching Crosby's goal numerous times and the people in the booth made the right call. While it appears the stick IS close to the cross bar I think the goal should have counted. What do you guys think?

During the same game last night former Golden Gopher Alex Goligoski's scored two goals in last night's game. (Goal 1) and (Goal2) Goligoski is 6th on the Penguins in scoring and 6g-12a-18 points in 32 games this season.

Danny Kristo makes the hot list.

Getty Images

Fighting Sioux recruit and WJC player Danny Kristo makes the The Hockey News hot list this week. I have to admit that I am really excited about seeing this kid play for team USA as well as seeing him in a Fighting Sioux next season.

5. Danny Kristo, RW – Omaha Lancers (USHL): Team USA is boasting Kristo could be the fastest player in the whole tournament this year and you know what that means; now he’ll have to go out and prove it. The University of North Dakota commit is a point-per-game player with the Lancers to date. Drafted 56th overall by Montreal in 2008.

Here is the schedule for the USA WJC games.
NHL Network Coverage of 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship


Date Match-Up Time (EST)
Fri., Dec. 26 Germany-United States 3:30 p.m.
Canada-Czech Republic 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28 Kazakhstan-Canada 3:30 p.m.
United States-Czech Republic 7:30 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 29 Germany-Canada 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 30 United States-Kazakhstan 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 31 Canada-United States 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 2 Quarterfinals 3:30/7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 3 Semifinals 3:30/7:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 5 Bronze/Gold Medal Games 3:30/7:30 p.m.

Sioux coaches show 12-17-2008.

Check it out by (clicking right here). If you have itunes you can listen to the coaches show on your iPod (by clicking here).

I know it is from it is a little late and this is the coaches show from last week but I finally just listened to this pod cast yesterday. There are some interesting points of interest. It was interesting to hear Dane Jackson's point of view on a few issues.

*18:00 minutes into the podcast Dane address a callers question about the reffing in the WCHA and that legal hits are being called. Dane said that the coaches will tell the guys to back it off during a game if they coaches a certain ref is going to make calls. The UND coaches staff tries to recruit a more balanced line up, skilled players, hard nosed. They tried to look ahead to the future.

*26:30 Dane couldn't believe that when he got back to the WCHA how much obstruction was let go. Tim Hennesy said that the WCHA was the last league to catch on and call the games more tighter.

*30:54 TH asks Dane about Notre Dame getting a new arena are they concerned? Dane says that we don't go head to head with recruits with Notre Dame. Early Recruiting has changed the way things are done now. They talk about recruiting kids at such a young age.

*33:30 You can't take em all (recruits) Tim and Dane discuss the subject of over recruitment. Now programs are projecting as opposed to evaluating talent.

GLI Press release.

Here is the press release for the GLI from CCHA.COM. Noticed the television schedule.
GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL
Michigan vs. Michigan Tech (Saturday, 3:05 p.m.)
Michigan State vs. North Dakota (Saturday, 6:35 p.m.)
Third-Place Game (Sunday, 3:05 p.m.)
Championship Game (Sunday, 6:35 p.m. FSN)

*The Wolverines, playing without forward Aaron Palushaj and Matt Rust who are with the U.S. at the World Junior Championships, head to Detroit as the defending Great Lakes Invitational champions after defeating Providence and Michigan Tech a year ago.

*Michigan Senior goaltender Billy Sauer earned the GLI’s John MacInnes Trophy as the Most Valuable Player last year. Sauer did not allow a goal in over 144 minutes of action.

*Michigan’s dozen GLI titles are the most by any team, however, before winning the 2007 GLI the Wolverines had not won the tournament since 1996. Michigan’s overall record at the GLI is 45-30-1.

*The Wolverines are 25-13-0 in semifinal contests and 12-13 in championship games.

*Against Michigan Tech, U-M is 19-10-0 all-time, including a 11-4-0 mark in semifinal games.

*U-M is 1-1-0 at the GLI against North Dakota.

*Michigan and Michigan State are an even 7-7-1 in the GLI, including a 5-5-0 ledger in championship games.

*Wolverine junior defenseman Steve Kampfer is expected to return to the Michigan lineup for the first time since Oct. 11 – the second game of the regular season.

*Michigan State and North Dakota’s Saturday meeting at the 44th annual GLI will
serve as the 100th meeting between the teams. UND holds a 61-36-2 advantage in the series.

*The Sioux hold a 6-3-0 record against MSU in neutral-site contests. The squads also met in the title game of the 2005-06 Lefty McFadden Invitational, with MSU prevailing, 3-0, for its first shutout of the Sioux in 47 years. Prior to that win, MSU had dropped 11 straight contests with North Dakota. The teams have met five times in the NCAA Tournament - including twice in the national title game, with North Dakota prevailing in both 1959 and 1987.

Check out Sidney Crosby the goon.

If I was the guy being wailed in the nut sack I am not going to be happy one bit I would have turned around and popped him one.

Yikes! Lets have some class Sid. I think that Crosby deserves some kind of punishment from the league office on this uncalled for cheap shot. Of course Gary BUTT-HEAD will never punish the league pretty boy and will look the other way folks nothing to see here. If I was Boris Valabik I get some pay back next time the two teams play.

Two former Sioux make the Sun Poll. (Former Sioux)

Props to Kyle from the illegal curve. In perusing the poll results I found that there are two former Fighting Sioux hockey players on the lists.

The 8th Annual Sun Media Hockey Poll

#6 MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER ...

1. Marc Savard, Boston ... 6

2. Mikko Koivu, Minnesota ... 5

3. Tim Thomas, Boston ... 4

4. Patrick Sharp, Chicago ... 3

4. Zach Parise, New Jersey ... 3

Others receiving votes ... David Bolland, Brett Clark, Ales Hemsky, Jiri Hudler, Alex Steen, Kris Draper, Teemu Selanne, Shane Doan, Mike Richards, Johan Franzen, Daymond Langkow, Mike Fisher, Alexander Semin, Anton Volchenkov, Mikhail Grabovski, Dustin Brown, Olli Jokinen, Robyn Regehr, Mark Giordano, Brad Boyes, Andrei Markov, Chris Phillips, Pavel Datsyuk, Jay Bouwmeester, Willie Mitchell, Brenden Morrow, Marco Sturm, Niklas Hagman, Mike Green, Brent Burns

#10 BEST HOCKEY HAIR (i.e. mullet) ...

1. Mike Commodore, Columbus ... 10

2. George Parros, Anaheim ... 8

3. Ryan Smyth, Colorado ... 7

4. Barry Melrose, ex-coach ... 3

4. Sheldon Souray, Edmonton ... 3

Others receiving votes ... Scott Hartnell, Daniel Carcillo, Tom Gilbert, Scott Hannan, Zack Stortini, Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Modano, Marc Crawford, Dustin Boyd, Jeremy Roenick, Georges Laraque, David Booth, Olli Jokinen, Mikhail Grabovski, Roberto Luongo, Kerry Fraser, Mikael Tellqvist, Nik Antropov

#5 MOST OVERRATED PLAYER ...

1. Sean Avery, in limbo ... 9

2. Dion Phaneuf, Calgary ... 8

3. Wade Redden, New York Rangers ... 4

4. Jeff Finger, Toronto ... 3

4. Dustin Penner, Edmonton ... 3

4. Jason Spezza, Ottawa ... 3

Others receiving votes ... Joe Thornton, Mats Sundin, Marian Gaborik, Marty Turco, Brian Campbell, Bryan McCabe, Luke Schenn, Saku Koivu, Alexei Kovalev, Martin St. Louis, Olli Jokinen, Marc Savard, Ron Hainsey, Brad Richards, Chris Pronger, Matt Stajan, Jay Bouwmeester, Bobby Holik, Mike Commodore

A look at the numbers nationally (Sioux Hockey)

I was checking out the numbers and how UND measures up against the other 57 teams in division one hockey. Most of the numbers don't look too bad for the Sioux other than two of our defensemen are leading scorers for this team.

->Here is the web page with the NCAA stats.

Points Per Game: (over all)
32 Brad Miller North Dakota SR D/F 16 4-14-18 1.12
42 Chay Genoway North Dakota JR D 17 2-16-18 1.06
71 Ryan Martens North Dakota SR F 15 7- 7-14 0.93

Points Per Game (Defensemen):
3 Brad Miller North Dakota SR D/F 16 4-14-18 1.12
4 Chay Genoway North Dakota JR D 17 2-16-18 1.06

GAA
49 Brad Eidsness (BUF) North Dakota FR 926:05 42 2.72
56 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State SR 1081:56 53 2.94
59 Jon Olthuis Alaska Anchorage JR 519:24 27 3.12
-----------------
Save Percentage:
43 Brad Eidsness (BUF) North Dakota FR 420 42 .909
44 Alec Richards Yale SR 127 13 .907
45 John Muse Boston College SO 409 42 .907
49 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State SR 511 53 .906

Scoring offense:
2 Denver 19 74 3.89
4 St. Cloud State 18 65 3.61
10 North Dakota 18 60 3.33
10 Wisconsin 18 60 3.33
17 Minnesota State 18 57 3.17
18 Minnesota 16 50 3.12
23 Minnesota Duluth 18 55 3.06
30 Alaska Anchorage 16 46 2.88
33 Colorado College 22 59 2.68
58 Michigan Tech 20 27 1.35

Scoring Defense
12 Denver 19 41 2.16
16 Minnesota Duluth 18 40 2.22
18 Minnesota 16 37 2.31
19 Colorado College 22 51 2.32
29 St. Cloud State 18 48 2.67
33 Wisconsin 18 52 2.89
36 Alaska Anchorage 16 48 3.00
36 Michigan Tech 20 60 3.00
36 Minnesota State 18 54 3.00
41 North Dakota 18 55 3.06

Penalty Minutes:
2 Wisconsin 18 409 22.7
6 Alaska Anchorage 16 328 20.5
7 Minnesota State 18 359 19.9
12 Minnesota Duluth 18 343 19.1
18 Minnesota 16 281 17.6
19 North Dakota 18 316 17.6
24 St. Cloud State 18 310 17.2
26 Denver 19 322 16.9
37 Colorado College 22 341 15.5
48 Michigan Tech 20 278 13.9

Power Play:
4 Minnesota 21/ 92 2 22.8
5 Minnesota Duluth 27/123 2 22.0
10 North Dakota 26/132 5 19.7
13 Wisconsin 23/122 5 18.9
16 St. Cloud State 21/117 2 17.9
17 Minnesota State 20/112 2 17.9
27 Denver 21/134 1 15.7
31 Alaska Anchorage 14/ 91 1 15.4
38 Colorado College 21/150 5 14.0
56 Michigan Tech 11/126 3 8.7

Penalty Kill:
2 Minnesota 90/ 96 3 93.8
12 Wisconsin 118/131 3 90.1
14 Colorado College 118/132 2 89.4
16 Denver 98/111 4 88.3
37 North Dakota 85/103 3 82.5
39 Minnesota State 110/134 3 82.1
45 Minnesota Duluth 87/108 3 80.6
46 St. Cloud State 78/ 97 2 80.4
49 Alaska Anchorage 95/120 2 79.2
53 Michigan Tech 83/107 2 77.6

According to the rumors GLI not on TV except championship game.

According to a rumor/post on USCHO the Great Lakes Invitational isn't going to be on Fox Detroit except for the Championship game. Some where between the two is the truth. According to Hockey live all four games are supposed to be on. The championship game is supposed to be on FCS Atlantic.

Word is that Fox Sports Detroit has canceled the Saturday coverage of the games, not even covered on FSN plus. As a result, the only TV game will be the Sunday championship on FSN Detroit (663).

Trouble In The Nation's Capital

Following a listless 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 16, a chorus of boos could be heard throughout Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

It seems the fans of the Senators have finally come to the realization that their beloved team are in a world of hurt and they let their voices do the talking.

It should not surprise them.

Following a five game loss to the Anaheim Ducks in the 2007 Stanley Cup finals, the Sens opened the following season like a bullet from a gun.

Riding the anger of their Cup loss they opened the season 15-2, an NHL record.

From that point on something went horribly wrong.

Following a 3-0 loss to Toronto on Nov. 17 the Senators’ engine coughed and sputtered to the finish line. With the various ways to gather points in a hockey game, they still were an abysmal nine games below .500 when the season ended in mid-April.

They limped into the play-offs with four wins in their last ten and finished tied with Boston for eighth, two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The play-offs are supposed to be a new season where the slate is washed clean and wins and losses don’t mean anything.

Prior to their opening round match-up against Pittsburgh, the talk emanating from the Senators dressing room was a study in the persuasive art of the cliché.

You know the kind of thought provoking stuff hockey players come up with.

“It’s a new season. Everybody is tied and we’ve just got to come together.”

So on and so forth.

Apparently they were not listening. A four-game sweep at the hands of the Stanley Cup finalists sent the Senators to the driving range before the snow left the ground.

This season things aren’t any better. The Sens are 12th in the East with a 12-14-5 record and they are the sports focal point in a town where government and politics rule the landscape.

Phone lines are jammed on the local sports radio station.

Irate callers play Gil Grissom by examining the cadaver that is the Ottawa Senators.

Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza have scored exactly 50 per cent of the Sens 72 goals.

They have no secondary scoring whatsoever.

Support players paid to score haven’t fulfilled that role. Chris Kelly (three goals), Antoine Vermette (three goals), Nick Foligno (four goals), Chris Neil (two goals) and Mike Fisher (three goals) are simply not doing their jobs.

Head coach Craig Hartsburg has tried many times to split the big three up and spread the offensive wealth around. More often than not Hartsburg ends up re-uniting them.

Last week Hartsburg said he was going to split them up permanently. This time for sure.

There seems to be a “why us?” type of resignation and a general malaise hanging around this team, like flies on a hot day.

Question: what needs to be done to shake this up?

Answer: there are more questions than answers.

There have been four head coaches since 2007 so firing the coach is not that easy. Murray fired John Paddock last Feb. and went behind the bench for the rest of the year. During the summer he signed Hartsburg to a three-year deal. With only seven months spent on his deal, Harstburg isn’t going any where.

To get something you must give something up. So, that leaves the big three as the only movable assets.

Rumour has Spezza on the trade block. Spezza is a dynamic offensive player but an $8 million (all figures U.S.) ticket and a no-trade clause that kicks in next season, the Toronto native is tough to move.

On the flipside, do the Senators take the chance he may blossom on another team?

Heatley is the highest paid player in the league at $10 million a year. He is on a sub par 30 plus goal pace but trading him gives the impression that the Senators are packing it in for the year.

Alfredsson has spent his entire career in Ottawa and just signed a four-year contract extension. He is on the wrong side of thirty and no team would take on that deal.

The most likely scenario would be to exercise a little patience.

Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk thinks it takes time for the players to adjust to a new situation.

“I truly believe we will wind up in the top four in the conference,” Melnyk told Chris Stevenson of Sun Media. “Watch this team. You are going to be very, very surprised. We have nine new players. We have a new coach. We have a new system.”

Melnyk is an upbeat kind of guy but this reeks of owners speak. After all, you can’t give the impression that you have thrown up the white flag before the calendar turns. That would be suicide on and off the ice.

Maybe the Sens need some time to get away.

They will get that chance starting Dec.23.

With the World Junior Hockey Championship invading Scotiabank Place over the Christmas season, the Senators begin an eight-game, 17 day road trip through the North East division and western Canada.

The Sens are 3-8-2 on the road and this road trip through eight cities may test the resolve of a patient owner.

Is there a rift emerging between high school hockey and the junior ranks?

Check out this article written by Derek Felska about a high school hockey coach having issues with their high school players leaving school early to play in the junior ranks. Personally I don't have a problem with this because they play such a limited number of games in the high school ranks. I can see how some coaches might get upset if they are counting on a kid to play for their team and decide they would like to play in the NAHL or the USHL.

High School hockey coach challenges the practices of NCAA Hockey Coaches
(read the whole story here)
Gorg asked Tony Sarsland what he thought of High School players leaving early to go play junior hockey instead of finishing out their high school career before they went onto play Division 1 college hockey. Sarsland said he questioned whether it was necessary, noting that in his 25+ years of coaching that only one player, Nate Prosser (currently playing for Colorado College) made it to the Division 1 ranks after opting out of high school hockey early. He also made mention of a hockey conference he went to where University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Head Coach Don Lucia who spoke about how frustrating it is to have players leave his team early to go to the pro's and felt the National Hockey League should perhaps do something to limit this. Sarsland mentioned how he raised his hand and thought it was very hypocritical of Lucia to complain in this situation considering how Division 1 college coaches encourage players to leave their high school programs to go play Jr. A hockey in the NAHL or USHL. While Sarsland said he had nothing but respect for Jr. A hockey, he feels that Minnesota High School hockey has plenty of opportunities for athletes to compete at a high level of competition, in addition to the Elite / Select teams high schoolers can participate in for additional games beyond their normal high school schedule

Seems that Gopher hockey coach Don Lucia is getting getting a lot of press (not all of it positive) as of late. Apparently Luica is trying to pull the scholarship offer of a player that was hurt while playing for his junior team. Recently, he had another player get hurt while playing football and wasn't all that happy about it but has since kind of back off of his initial comments.

Tony Sarsland, was also asked about another of his former players, standout defenseman Brandon Martell. Martell suffered a severe shoulder injury while playing Jr.A hockey after an excellent high school career at Elk River. Since the injury, Sarsland said Lucia had tried to get Martell to relinquish his scholarship which the Elk River coach says goes against what the Golden Gopher coach told his parents when he recruited him. Sarsland stated that Lucia said he would have a scholarship as long as he was able to cut it academically, and the High School coached noted that Martell had a GPA of 3.8 and felt it was a disservice to want to force a kid off of scholarship if he had done everything that had been asked of him. While this issue may be unrelated, but Martell did not play other sports. He did not take any unnecessary risks so why should he be criticized by Lucia the same way Budish was for his choice to play football. Sorry, you can't have it both ways Coach Lucia.

Carlo Colaiacovo is guttless hack.

Props to elise of 18568 Reasons Why for not having to looking for this video over on YouTube.

When I was watching this game last night, I became infuriated after watching that Punk Colaiacovo hitting a guy in head while he laid on top of him after he has laid you out with a clean check. That folks is a gutless move, total class. The Wild bench should have sent the Boogeyman out the challenge Colaiacovo. I have agree with the Wild announcers that should have been more than a 2 minute penalty. I actually think it should have been a "match penalty".

I am sick and tired of the gutless agitators skating around the ice taking liberties on opposition players. None of these guys want to fight they just want to lay people out the questionable hits and cheap shot.

Scores from 12-20-2008 (Linkorama)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Atlantic Hockey
Mercyhurst 2 at Canisius 2 ot

Analysis
This must have been an exciting game to watch. Yawn.

CCHA
Western Michigan 3 at Alaska 2 ot

Analysis
Nice to see the Broncos pick up the win. Also, a big win for the Broncos because Alaska is a pretty decent team this season.

Non-Conference
Michigan Tech 1 at Northern Michigan 0
Sacred Heart 0 at Colorado College 7
Clarkson 1 at Bowling Green 3

Analysis
The MTU Huskies (the real Huskies) are 2-0-1 in their last three games. Sounds like MTU also found a new starting goalie as well Josh Robinson 3-4-1 2.33 GAA and SV% .902 picked up both the wins in net for the MTU Huskies. You wonder if Rob Nolan has seen his last action in net for the Huskies? Probably not.

I remember someone resembling me say that: I would predict tonight you will probably see a 7-1 win by the Tigers. On paper this is a team that C.C. should run out of the building. True to form the C.C. Tigers paste AHA patsy Sacred Heart. Drew O'Connell picked up the win in net for the Tigers. Having big nights for the Tigers; Andreas Vlassopoulos 1-1-2, Bill Sweatt 1-1-2, Chad Rau 1-1-2, Kris Fredheim 1-2-3, Nick Dineen 0-2-2.

Linkorama

It appears that Lets Go DU Hockey blog was right on and had a good source when DG said that Tyler Bozak would be out for 3-4 months. That my friends is a big time loss for for the Pioneers, however, if any team can absorb the loss of its second leading scorer it is the Pioneer's because they are one of the deeper teams offensively in the WCHA. The DU press release says the Pioneers are going to shoot for getting Tyler rehabed and back for the playoffs.

DU sophomore forward Tyler Bozak (Regina, Saskatchewan) underwent successful knee surgery this morning at Boulder Surgical Center. Bozak had his meniscus repaired in his left knee in a 90-minute procedure performed by DU physician Eric McCarty.

According to DU head coach George Gwozdecky, Bozak will undergo a lengthy rehab and aim for a return in the postseason. Bozak tore his meniscus in a knee-on-knee collision with Andrew Sackrison during the second period of DU's 3-2 win over Minnesota State on Dec. 12. Bozak left the game and didn't return, and was not in the lineup for DU's 5-2 win on Dec. 13.

Props to Sprig on siouxsports.com it appears that there is a good chance that we might be able to watch the Fighting Sioux on FCS if the can beat Michigan State make the championship game.

MSU-M Kurt Davis for Hobey?

Every one's favorite MSU-M defenseman is actually getting notice nationally for his play on the ice. Now from what I have been told we can thank him for the Sioux win against MSU-M.

From INCH --- Kurt Davis spent the first half leading the nation in scoring by defensemen, recording a point in 16 of his team's 18 games, and putting together a school-record 14-game point streak.

Here is another blurb from every one's favorite hockey site INCH

On at least one occasion last season, we bemoaned in this space the dearth of viable Hobey candidates from the nation's defensive corps. In the end, no blue liners were among the 10 finalists for the honor. This year, however, there appears to be a few defensemen worth keeping an eye on, especially in Western locales. Among them: Minnesota's Cade Fairchild; Kurt Davis of Minnesota State, who shares the NCAA lead in points by a defenseman with 22; Nebraska-Omaha's Eddie Del Grosso, who leads the Mavs with 18 points in 17 games; and Wisconsin's Jamie McBain, the Badgers' leading scorer with 19 points in 18 games. We'll throw the Terriers' Matt Gilroy into the mix, too.

Even Elliot Olshansky from the Hobey Watch has gotten into the act. Only time will tell if he is indeed a legitimate candidate for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

Also on the blueline, Minnesota State’s Kurt Davis is on pace for 47 points, which isn’t too far away from Carle’s Hobey numbers, and certainly notable among defensemen. Of course, it can be hard to win the Hobey when your team doesn’t make the playoffs, and while that didn’t stop Carle, he’d already been part of two NCAA championship teams, which was a point in his favor. I think Minnesota State will have to at least make the NCAA tournament this year for Davis to get any serious Hobey consideration, but it may be a possibility.

In case we have forgotten.

This picture was taken by Garlynn. I have to admit that this is alway a nice site to see the salute to the fans at center ice. Go Sioux beat Michigan State.

Bozak out 3-4 months?

LetsGoDU Hockey is reporting that that Tyler Bozak might be out for 3-4 months following his knee surgury. This is based on an unconfirmed internet report. Ouch, if true that would be a big time loss for the Pioneers.

The Tyler Bozak Line: (18Games played 7 Goals - 14 assist = 21 Points)

Sioux 5 USA 2

While the game doesn't count in the standings, the Sioux didn't want to come out flat and lay an egg. The Sioux came out strong and played a complete game from the start to finish and won going away 5-2.

When you look at the schedule to begin the year most of us would say that this game should be an easy win, however, this was not a team to be taken lightly. This year's Under-18 team has beaten a couple of division one hockey teams of note; in September the under 18 team beat AA 4-3 and on the 16th of December the also beat MSU 4-2, who happens to be UND’s next opponent. If I slighted the Under 18 team by missing any of their wins I apologize. Also, by winning this game and not being embarrassed I think the Sioux can say mission accomplished. Now the Fighting Sioux can go into their short Christmas break on a winning note and set the tone for the second half of the season.


Big Joe's Return

Last night's game marked the return of Sioux defenseman Big Joe Finley. Finley had been out of the line up for 16 games with post concussion syndrome. Although Finley looked a little rusty at first his presence was felt almost immediately as he step out of the ice.

Jeremy Morin one of the players from the U-18 team got into Finley's face after an altercation in front of the net. After Morin had done this you could tell he realized that he want nothing to do with Big Joe. All Joe really had to do was just stand there. It was like Morin looked up saw this tree trunk of a defenseman standing there and said, "I don't want nothing to do with this." Later on in the game when Morin was following the puck he back off when he saw Finley had the puck. This is what Finley brings to the table. I am just happy to see Joe Finley back on the ice.

Goals Scoring/Penalties Time

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

NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Evan Trupp (Ryan Martens, Jake Marto) 6:10
NDK (+): 19,8,25,14,11,G31 U18 (-): 27,5,21,8,17,G33
NDK-1 Joe Finley (2-Hooking) U18 0x1 6:52
U18-1 Jerry D'Amigo (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 7:24
U18 1 - 1 6x6 Kevin Lynch (unassisted) 9:59
U18 (+): 14,22,5,11,19,G33 NDK (-): 20,2,11,8,4,G31
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 Brad Malone (Evan Trupp, Brett Hextall) 11:03
NDK (+): 22,19,26,3,5,G31 U18 (-): 22,17,23,4,3,G33
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Tripping) U18 0x2 12:57
U18 2 - 2 6x6 A.J. Treais (Ryan Bourque, Chris McCarthy) 16:19
U18 (+): 17,23,22,27,3,G33 NDK (-): 25,6,16,10,29,G31
U18-2 Ryan Bourque (2-Interference) NDK 0x2 19:28

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

NDK-3 Chris VandeVelde (2-Hooking) U18 0x3 3:38
U18-3 Brendan Rempel (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 7:25
U18-4 John Henrion (2-Boarding) 11:05
U18-5 John Henrion (2-Roughing) (Served by Sam Calabrese) 11:05
U18-6 John Ramage (2-Roughing) NDK 0x4 11:05
NDK-4 Zach Jones (2-Roughing) 11:05
NDK-5 Brad Miller (2-Roughing) 11:05
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) U18 0x4 14:16
NDK 3 - 2 5x6 SH GW LL Matt Watkins (Evan Trupp, Chay Genoway) 14:38
NDK (+): 20,19,5,3,G31 U18 (-): 12,23,27,19,22,G33
U18-7 Richie Crowley (2-Interference) NDK 0x5 19:59

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

U18-8 Ryan Bourque (2-Slashing) NDK 0x6 1:13
NDK-7 Brett Hextall (2-Interference) U18 0x5 2:26
NDK 4 - 2 6x6 Jason Gregoire (Matt Frattin, Darcy Zajac) 5:57
NDK (+): 17,21,11,2,5,G30 U18 (-): 23,11,17,27,2,G33
U18-9 Ryan Bourque (2-Roughing) 6:28
NDK-8 Joe Finley (2-Holding) 6:28
NDK-9 Corey Fienhage (2-Roughing) U18 0x6 6:28
NDK-10 Evan Trupp (2-Interference) U18 0x7 12:02
NDK 5 - 2 6x6 EN Andrew Kozek (Ryan Duncan) 19:10
NDK (+): 10,16,29,5,3,G30 U18 (-): 4,11,23,17,9,15

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

Scores from last night 12-19-2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

Atlantic Hockey
Canisius at Mercyhurst Postponed

CCHA
Western Michigan 3 at Alaska 6

Non-Conference
Northern Michigan 1 at Michigan Tech 2
Clarkson 1 at Bowling Green 4
Sacred Heart 2 at Colorado College 2 ot

Exhibition
US Under-18 Team 2 at North Dakota 5
Dartmouth 6 at AIK 1

Analysis
Very night light of hockey as we prepare for the Christmas Holiday. Nice to see the MTU Huskies (aka the real Huskies) get a win against their heated UP rival. I have to wonder if the C.C. Tigers are a paper Tiger, they are not very good on Friday nights they sport a record of 2(w)-3(l)-4(t). I would predict tonight you will probably see a 7-1 win by the Tigers. On paper this is a team that C.C. should run out of the building. Sacred Heart is not a good team. I want to hear how the AHA is catching up because they are not.

Here is what we were missing. (Joe Finley Montage)

Big Joe Finley has missed 16 games for the Fighting Sioux. In case anyone has forgotten what Big Joe brings to the team or you haven't seen him play very much or for what ever reason have just plain forgotten. This montage will remind Fighting Sioux fans is what we have been missing.

I have to admit that I am just giddy with the return of big Joe Finley, this couldn't come a day too quick. The fact remains that the Fighting Sioux need to have him back in the line up doing what he does best. Of course Bucky Badgers is probably shaking in his shoes at the prospects of Joe Finley's return.

Joe Finley lays out a Badgers player Jack Skille.

It is no mystery the Fighting Sioux really miss big Joe's slap shot from the point. Call of the goal by the Wooger and the Rug

Ah, those were the days. Finley with his favorite dance partner Blake Wheeler.
(All the action called again by the Rug and Wooger)

Mike Commodore vs Krys Barch

This is the Mike Commodore that have come to appreciate. At the end of this fight watch the hay maker that former Sioux great Commodore lands on Barch. On the Dallas Stars Even with Avery gone there still are enough villains on the Dallas team to dislike.

Western College Hockey on UND.

Check out what Chris Dilks from Western College Hockey has to say about the WCHA and UND. I agree with what is said here. I think UND is becoming a decent team that rack up the goals.

6. North Dakota, 12 games played, 13 points

I think a lot of people wrote off North Dakota earlier this year because they weren't as strong as they were the past couple years, but they are potentially one of the scariest teams in the league for the second half of the season. They're a team known for their slow starts, and they're strong finishes, and I think they could do the same this year. A big sweep over St. Cloud last weekend puts them in excellent position for the second half of the year.

One reason they're so dangerous is that they've finally got things figured out in goal. I have no idea why Aaron Walski got three starts in goal, but North Dakota lost all three, while they've been pretty good with Brad Eidsness in goal. Eidsness struggled in his first start, but since then, has been at least serviceable in net.

The Sioux don't have any real stars on offense--BTW, I've yet to receive any apologies for all the things said about me for not putting Ryan Duncan on my preseason all-conference team--but they've got a lot of very good players that give them a really balanced scoring attack.