Last weekend, UND sweep MSUM to move into a 1st place tie with DU, who tied CC in their one game, else where, SCSU sweep MTU to move into 4th place, and UM took 3pts from UAA.
WCHA Standings
1 North Dakota...............13-6-3...29
1 Denver......................13-7-3...29
3 Wisconsin.................13-7-2...28
4 St. Cloud State.........12-11-1...25
4 Colorado College.........10-8-5...25
6 Minnesota................10-8-4...24
7 Minnesota-Duluth.........9-8-5...23
8 Minnesota State..........9-13-2...20
9 Alaska-Anchorage........7-12-5...19
10 Michigan Tech...........1-17-6...8
#8 Denver at #13 Wisconsin
WOW, this should be the games of the week. Only one point apart, 1st and 3rd place teams in the league, UW on the bubble for the NCAA tourney. There are many implications going on in this series. A sweep by either team puts them in position to win the WCHA regular season, AND move up in the all important PWR standings. The Badgers are coming off a bye week, DU is coming off a tie with rival CC. UW is 9-5-1 at the Kohl center this season, and DU is 5-5-2 away from Magness. Both teams should be up for this series, with all that is riding on it. I'm going to call this one a split, DU in the Friday game, and UW on Saturday.
#14 Minnesota at #18 Colorado College
Another big series, this one is for WCHA home ice in the playoffs. These teams are only separated by one point, too. Since 2009, CC is 3-3-2 and UM is 4-6-1 (and is 1-4-1 in the last 6-games), so neither has done well in 2009. With the pile of teams still alive for home ice, a sweep for one team would help them grab a better hold on home ice. Will this be the weekend the Gophers complete their collapse and fall out of the race, or will it be the Tigers who will starve? UM has only won once on the road in 2009, and well CC doesn't seem to play well on Fridays, hmm. I'm calling a tie on Friday and a Tiger win on Saturday.
#9 North Dakota at Alaska-Anchorage
The Sioux make the long trip to Alaska this weekend in a tie for 1st place with DU. A sweep for the Sioux would give them the inside track for the McNaughton cup, since DU has played one more game than UND. The Seawolves are still alive for getting home ice, but they need some help. The highest I see UAA realistically finishing is 7th place. The Sioux are coming off a weekend sweep of MSUM and UAA is back home after getting one point last weekend at UM. I say the Sioux keep on their winning ways this weekend, Sioux sweep.
#15 Minnesota-Duluth at Michigan Tech
The Bulldogs need keep winning to to stay with the pack of teams their running with now. UMD is still on the NCAA bubble, so winning games is a must if they want to control they own destiny. The Huskies on the other hand are locked into the doghouse. MTU will be playing the number one team in the first round of WCHA playoffs on the road. The Huskies haven't rolled over and played dead yet, they have been in most of their games this year, so look for these dogs to keep barking and biting. I'm going with a split this weekend, UMD Friday, MTU Saturday.
#19 SCSU and MSUM are off this weekend
MSUM at Nebraska-Omaha (Tuesday Feb. 24)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Spirit Lake council mulls nickname vote
At this point in the game you have to wonder if it even matters if the Tribes have a vote or not. If Spirit Lake had a reservation wide referendum on the Fighting Sioux name and voted to keep the name that vote wouldn't mean much if Standing Rock DOESN'T vote to allow a referendum. We will see how this plays out but it almost seems like it is a little too late.
So did I read this right? Is UND offering more scholarship money to Native American Students to allow them keep the Fighting Sioux name? Stay tuned folks.
Spirit Lake council mulls nickname vote
Tu-Uyen Tran Grand Forks Herald
Published Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A decision whether to hold a referendum on UND's Fighting Sioux nickname will be before the Spirit Lake Tribal Council on Saturday, according to a supporter of the referendum.
John Chaske said his group met with the tribal council Wednesday, and it appeared three council members are willing to put the issue on the ballot in April. Another council member was absent, he said, and a decision on the referendum requires all to be present.
Chairwoman Myra Pearson has expressed her opposition to the nickname in the past, but she would only vote in the event of a tie.
----------(snip)----------
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, however, has made clear its opposition to the nickname and even a referendum. It voted 7-5 in May 2008 to not hold a public vote.
Chaske said he understands there are Standing Rock members pushing the council for a vote. “I hope what we do here will give them a spark over there.”
A “yes” vote on the nickname would be the first step in building a new relationship between the tribe and UND, according to Chaske.
Ideally, he said, an agreement with the university might involve more scholarships for tribal members and classes teaching other students the reality of Indian culture. “We don’t all get a check every month from the federal government.”
So did I read this right? Is UND offering more scholarship money to Native American Students to allow them keep the Fighting Sioux name? Stay tuned folks.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Some nice goals.
Here is a sweet goal by former Gopher Blake Wheeler in Boston's 5-1 win against Carolina.
Former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season against Jason Blake's Toronto Maple Leafs team. Blake had a niceassist on Pavel Kabina's goal. Stafford is fourth on the Sabres in points with (17g - 20a - 37 points). Jason Blake is leading the Maple Leafs with (21g - 20a - 45 points).
Here is a nice goal by former B.C. Eagle and current Boston Bruin Chuck Kobasew
Both Fighting Sioux games on TV this weekend.
This is good news for Fighting Sioux fans that happen to live in Great Grand Forks area. You will be able to watch both games of the Fighting Sioux and Seawolves this this weekend on channel 23.
This weekend's UND-UAA series to be televised in Grand Forks area
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota athletics department and Ralph Engelstad Arena announced today an agreement with GCI Cable and Midcontinent Communications to carry the broadcast of this weekend’s series at Alaska Anchorage in the Grand Forks viewing area.
The GCI production will be made available on channel 23 Grand Forks and in the immediate Grand Forks viewing area, which includes the East Grand Forks, Grand Forks Air Force Base, Drayton, Grafton, Minto, Manvel, Larimore, Crookston, Thompson, Reynolds, Buxton, Hatton, Mayville, Portland, Hillsboro, Galesburg and Grandin.
The broadcast will begin at 10:05 p.m. Central on Friday and Saturday night.
I guess you are never too old.
I guess this is an example of why you should never stop living your dreams. I would have to say that this is one of those feel good stories. The guy is supposed to go work on a oil field and ends up suiting up as a back up in a professional hockey league. Funny thing is that Wheaton is backing up former Gopher Kellin Briggs.
ONTARIO, Calif. - For the Reign, they were just two games out of 73.
For Terry Wheaton, the only player in uniform who didn't play either Friday in Bakersfield or Saturday against Las Vegas, it was a dream come true.
The 42-year-old Corona resident knew it would be, almost as soon as he hung up the phone after telling coach Karl Taylor that prior business commitments would prevent him from serving as the team's emergency backup goaltender for the weekend.
"The more I thought about the opportunity," Wheaton said, "I called back and said, `I will be at practice Thursday morning and will reschedule my business meeting.' "
It sounds like a simple choice. But consider that Wheaton, a full-time oil field manager, had to postpone a trip to Libya just to take a few pucks in the chest before each game, then open and close the gate on the Reign bench for 60 minutes. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to see live game action unless starter Kellen Briggs suffered an injury that prevented him from staying in.
Still, once the puck dropped in Bakersfield, with his wife and two children among the 5,525 in attendance, "I had to pinch myself," Wheaton said.
Doug Risebrough's latest blunder.
Check out the latest comment by Wild General Manager Doug Riesebrough talk about mismanaging a National Hockey League team. No one should wonder why the Wild are floundering and will miss the playoffs this season. Pouliot has been a bust since he has been with the Wild and should have been released.
The Road for the Wild gets even tougher as they will play 14 of 17 games on the road.
The Road for the Wild gets even tougher as they will play 14 of 17 games on the road.
Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough admitted keeping Pouliot on the roster following training camp was "a bad mistake."
"He wasn't ready," Risebrough said. "You get to a point when a player's not succeeding [with the Wild] ... it's better to put him down."
A few things.
There is the latest 4 X 4 by INCH and where INCH has predicted UND will end up in the post season. That would be one tough regional. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out.
This is very good news for college hockey. The NCAA has decided to put reginoalization on hold for now. Lets hope cooler heads will prevail and this thing will get killed and die a slow painful death.
GRAND RAPIDS Midwest Regional 1. Notre Dame --- For a team that didn't lose a game for three months, the Irish's list of marquee wins — Boston College, Minnesota Duluth, Michigan — is surprisingly short.
2.Miami --- The home-and-home series against Ohio State to close the regular season could have some extra heft, don't you think? The RedHawks appear to have shaken their January swoon.
3. North Dakota --- To steal a phrase from ESPN's Chris Berman, nobody circles the wagons like the Sioux. Still, this team isn't that far removed from consecutive losses to Michigan State and Michigan Tech.
4. RIT --- There was a time not that long ago where it was unfathomable to put anyone other than Air Force in as the Atlantic Hockey auto-bid.
This is very good news for college hockey. The NCAA has decided to put reginoalization on hold for now. Lets hope cooler heads will prevail and this thing will get killed and die a slow painful death.
"Regionalization," or the NCAA's cost-cutting restrictions on placement of teams in the NCAA tournament bracket, has been put on hold for one year, according to Steve Cady, chair of the Men's Division I Ice Hockey Committee and associate athletic director at Miami.
Regionalization threatened to cause havoc with the bracket this year, as CHN previously examined in this article here.
The Championships/Sports Management Cabinet is voting this week on whether to make regionalization of brackets something that is mandated across most NCAA sports. If they do, Cady said it wouldn't take hold until next year.
But even then, because of the cooperation the committee received on delaying it until next year, Cady is optimistic that the more drastic regionalization proposals will not be passed, and instead hockey will be allowed its compromise proposal
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
First step in changing the name?
I believe this might be the first step in what some of us fear is coming, the changing of the Fighting Sioux nickname. I am not a fan of changing the name but I don't see how the University of North Dakota keeps the name. Stay tuned;I will keep up with this issue and post anything related to the Fighting Sioux name.
Grand Forks Lawyer to Chair ND Nickname Committee
2/17/2009
A 10-member committee has been formed to consider the future of the University of North Dakota`s Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
Board of Higher Education member Grant Shaft will chair the group. Shaft is a Grand Forks attorney and former state legislator.
The group`s first meeting has not yet been scheduled.
The panel includes representatives from UND`s student body, members of the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes and representatives of Sen. Byron Dorgan and Gov. John Hoeven.
The members are Shaft; Ryan Bernstein, Hoeven`s staff attorney; Robert Boyd, a UND vice president; Steve Burian, a UND alumnus who heads a Grand Forks civil engineering and consulting company; and Pam Gulleson, Dorgan`s state director.
Other members are Jody Hodgeson, general manager of the Ralph Engelstad Arena; Standing Rock Sioux tribal member Tom Iron; Spirit Lake reservation resident Erich Longie; UND law student Jeremiah Lunde; and UND student Celeste Melander.
Wild at the Trade dead line.
This is my latest crontibution at the illegal curve. If I was the General Manager for the Minnesota Wild.
3. Minnesota Wild (Courtesy of Eric from Goon’s World)
Needs:
1.) Top line forward: Someone in like Olli Jokinen.
2.) Second line forward: Someone along the lines of a player like Jason Blake.
3.) Another second or third line forward: Or maybe a rent-a-player like Keith Tkachuk. Simply:
The Wild are in dire need of offense and anything would be an improvement.
Who’s Available:
1.) Martin Skoula: This team has an over abundance on defense.
2.) Kim Johnsson: See above.
3.) Marian Gaborik: Wild can’t resign him so the team needs to get whatever they can for Gabby.
3. Minnesota Wild (Courtesy of Eric from Goon’s World)
Needs:
1.) Top line forward: Someone in like Olli Jokinen.
2.) Second line forward: Someone along the lines of a player like Jason Blake.
3.) Another second or third line forward: Or maybe a rent-a-player like Keith Tkachuk. Simply:
The Wild are in dire need of offense and anything would be an improvement.
Who’s Available:
1.) Martin Skoula: This team has an over abundance on defense.
2.) Kim Johnsson: See above.
3.) Marian Gaborik: Wild can’t resign him so the team needs to get whatever they can for Gabby.
Check out this Radio color guy.
A fellow Sioux fan sent me this audio clip. This guys is unbelieve able; it is the Florida Panthers Radio Voice Randy Moller, he sure beats the heck out of some of the various NHL and college hockey announcers. You will the call on a few of Keith Ballards goals.
Television great Rick Jeanneret from the Buffalo Sabres is pretty good as well. The May Day, May Day call is one of my saddest moments. One of my buddy is a Sabres fans and put this call on my answering machine after the series was over.
GM Place to host Olympic hockey.
There have been some questions on whether the 2010 Olympics were to be played on an Olympic sheet of ice or not. It is official that the 2010 games will be at GM place which is an NHL rink.
This will be the first Olympics to be played on a NHL size rink. Personally, I am excited and relieved that we don't have to watch the best hockey players in the game of hockey play on those God awful sheets of ice.
GM Place will host the ice hockey events in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. These will be the first Olympic games to use NHL sized ice. This decision was made in order to maximize the potential crowds and revenue, instead of building a smaller, temporary venue with the international-size ice surface, as has been done for most other Winter Games. On July 2, 2003, 18,000 came to GM Place to hear the announcement that Vancouver got the games.
CHA is better than the AHA
This blog post is in response to this stupid comment
First off the CHA has been very competative in their 10 year history. The CHA actually had a team, Niagara make the 2000 NCAA tourney as an at large bid. The same can not be said about the AHA. Robert Morris and Niagara University actually have to cut scholarships to join the AHA, the CHA currently allows 18 scholarships the AHA is going to 12 next season. In my opinion that means the teams joining the AHA are taking a step down to join this league.
Record against the big 4.
AHA 11-40-5 (.241)
CCHA 24-24-8 (.500)
CHA 12-34-2 (.271)
ECACHL 20-37-4 (.361)
HEA 33-20-4 (.614)
WCHA 22-18-8 (.542)
The CHA's record versus the AHA is 5-2-1.
"The CHA is a billion times worse than Atlantic Hockey, no one who knows anything about hockey would say otherwise."This comment is so wrong in some many ways that I don't know where to begin? I can't let this stupidity go. Just for the record this comment is in response to a blog post.
First off the CHA has been very competative in their 10 year history. The CHA actually had a team, Niagara make the 2000 NCAA tourney as an at large bid. The same can not be said about the AHA. Robert Morris and Niagara University actually have to cut scholarships to join the AHA, the CHA currently allows 18 scholarships the AHA is going to 12 next season. In my opinion that means the teams joining the AHA are taking a step down to join this league.
Record against the big 4.
AHA 11-40-5 (.241)
CCHA 24-24-8 (.500)
CHA 12-34-2 (.271)
ECACHL 20-37-4 (.361)
HEA 33-20-4 (.614)
WCHA 22-18-8 (.542)
The CHA's record versus the AHA is 5-2-1.
Monday, February 16, 2009
A few things
Check out what Dan Barreiro has to say about the Golden Gophers about six minutes into the broadcast.
Here is what Fiona Quick has to say about Nate Hagemo's return to hockey. Sounds like Hagemo has run into some injury problems.
Who would thought this was possible? I got this from Fiona Quick's twitter. It kind of makes you wonder what the deal is? Why is it that Frazee isn't good enough to play with the Minnesota Gophers but is able to get it going with the Lowell Devils.
Former Fighting Sioux Star Zach Parise was named the first star of the week by the NHL.
Bruins Forward Michael Ryder has returned to practice after after having facial surgery. Ryder usually skates on a line with Blake Wheeler and David David
Here is what Fiona Quick has to say about Nate Hagemo's return to hockey. Sounds like Hagemo has run into some injury problems.
Nate Hagemo had two goals and two assists in 10 games with the Amarillo Gorillas and was considered one of their top defensemen when he was checked awkwardly into the end boards by Mississippi’s Brad Bonello during a game on December 20th. Hagemo reportedly was on the ice for some time before being assisted to the locker room. Hagemo suffered neck and back injuries, including a herniated lumbar disc. He was cleared to play by Amarillo's doctors in mid-January and placed on waivers and immediately claimed by the Tulsa Oilers but failed their physical so the transaction was canceled and he has been sent back to Amarillo until he can be cleared to play. He has been attempting a comeback this season following trouble with substance abuse and multiple arrests. Hagemo was told he may not recover from a previous shoulder injury but this new injury does not involve the shoulder. He is contributing to every off-ice event for the Gorillas, visiting schools and hospitals and helping in the team offices, while working on his rehabilitation hoping to avoid surgery.
Who would thought this was possible? I got this from Fiona Quick's twitter. It kind of makes you wonder what the deal is? Why is it that Frazee isn't good enough to play with the Minnesota Gophers but is able to get it going with the Lowell Devils.
Jeff Frazee, is now tied for fifth in the AHL with 20 wins (20-9-4) 2.59 Goals Against Average and .923 Save Percentage
Former Fighting Sioux Star Zach Parise was named the first star of the week by the NHL.
Bruins Forward Michael Ryder has returned to practice after after having facial surgery. Ryder usually skates on a line with Blake Wheeler and David David
Ryder, clipped by Antoine Vermette's stick 10 days ago in Ottawa, said he initially feared he suffered eye damage. His eye turned out to be fine--despite a couple of days of blurred vision--but Vermette's stick broke both nose cartilage and the sinus bone.
Derrick LaPoint out for the year. (Moron of the week)
All Sioux fans know Sioux defense man Derrick LaPoint is out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg. LaPoint is a good defenseman that plays the game straight up and clean. Goon's World would like to wish Derrick Lapoint a speedy recovery and hope to see you back next season.
I watched the tape of the incident and yikes I have to feel for Derrick. The video shows him laying on the ice and he tries to get up look at his leg and just lays back down. LaPoint is a lot braver than I am.
Moron of the Week
Here is my candidate for 'Moron of the week' it was posted over on the Badgers hockey blog and it's too bad we don't get to know who this anonymous Skippy is so we can expose him. I like how people have all the balls in the world when they can sit behind a fake screen name and say vile stuff like this. This person is a real piece of work. It almost makes me want to change this weekly award to douche bag of the week. So as long as it is a Sioux player this is fine with this clown. (clip to the incident) Way to stay classy.
I watched the tape of the incident and yikes I have to feel for Derrick. The video shows him laying on the ice and he tries to get up look at his leg and just lays back down. LaPoint is a lot braver than I am.
(read the whole story here) UND sophomore defenseman Derrick LaPoint will miss the rest of the season with a broken tibia and fibula, an injury he suffered during Saturday night’s 4-3 win over Minnesota State-Mankato.
The injury occurred midway through the first period when Mankato forward Trevor Bruess took LaPoint into the end wall with a hit from behind. LaPoint’s ankle rolled up and both bones were cleanly broken.
He was carted off on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. LaPoint had successful surgery Sunday morning.
Moron of the Week
Here is my candidate for 'Moron of the week' it was posted over on the Badgers hockey blog and it's too bad we don't get to know who this anonymous Skippy is so we can expose him. I like how people have all the balls in the world when they can sit behind a fake screen name and say vile stuff like this. This person is a real piece of work. It almost makes me want to change this weekly award to douche bag of the week. So as long as it is a Sioux player this is fine with this clown. (clip to the incident) Way to stay classy.
Anonymous said...
I can't feel much sympathy for an Sioux player, regardless of where they are from originally.
February 15, 2009 9:40 PM
Poll Monday (Happy Presidents Day)
USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
February 16, 2009
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Boston University (44) 23-5-2 993 1
2 Notre Dame ( 6) 23-5-3 945 2
3 Michigan 23-9-0 905 4
4 Northeastern 20-8-2 815 3
5 Miami 18-8-4 783 7
6 Vermont 17-7-4 731 5
7 Yale 19-5-1 677 10
8 Denver 17-9-4 659 8
9 North Dakota 18-11-3 564 11
10 Princeton 18-7-0 560 9
11 Cornell 15-6-4 495 6
12 New Hampshire 14-9-5 420 12
13 Wisconsin 16-11-3 404 13
14 Minnesota 13-9-6 371 14
15 Minnesota-Duluth 15-9-6 256 17
16 Ohio State 18-10-4 211 16
17 Boston College 13-10-5 177 15
18 Colorado College 14-9-8 167 18
19 St. Cloud State 17-13-2 101 NR
20 St. Lawrence 16-11-3 92 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Dartmouth 91, Mass.-Lowell 21, RIT 18,
February 16, 2009
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Boston University (44) 23-5-2 993 1
2 Notre Dame ( 6) 23-5-3 945 2
3 Michigan 23-9-0 905 4
4 Northeastern 20-8-2 815 3
5 Miami 18-8-4 783 7
6 Vermont 17-7-4 731 5
7 Yale 19-5-1 677 10
8 Denver 17-9-4 659 8
9 North Dakota 18-11-3 564 11
10 Princeton 18-7-0 560 9
11 Cornell 15-6-4 495 6
12 New Hampshire 14-9-5 420 12
13 Wisconsin 16-11-3 404 13
14 Minnesota 13-9-6 371 14
15 Minnesota-Duluth 15-9-6 256 17
16 Ohio State 18-10-4 211 16
17 Boston College 13-10-5 177 15
18 Colorado College 14-9-8 167 18
19 St. Cloud State 17-13-2 101 NR
20 St. Lawrence 16-11-3 92 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Dartmouth 91, Mass.-Lowell 21, RIT 18,
Air Force 16, Nebraska-Omaha 12, Alaska 5, Colgate 5,
Massachusetts 4, Alaska-Anchorage 2
--------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
Feb. 16, 2009
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week
1 Boston University (31) 23-5-2 507 1
2 Notre Dame (3) 23-5-3 473 3
3 Michigan 23-9-0 448 4
4 Miami (Ohio) 18-8-4 391 6
5 Northeastern 20-8-2 369 2
6 Vermont 17-7-4 331 5
7 Yale 19-5-1 296 10
8 Denver 17-9-4 285 8
9 North Dakota 18-11-3 235 11
10 Princeton 18-7-0 205 9
11 Cornell 15-6-4 151 7
12 New Hampshire 14-9-5 133 12
13 Wisconsin 16-11-3 109 13
14 Minnesota 13-9-6 85 14
15 Ohio State 18-10-4 21 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Minnesota Duluth, 16; Colorado College, 12; Boston College, 7; Rochester Institute of Technology, 3; St. Lawrence University, 3.
--------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
Feb. 16, 2009
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week
1 Boston University (31) 23-5-2 507 1
2 Notre Dame (3) 23-5-3 473 3
3 Michigan 23-9-0 448 4
4 Miami (Ohio) 18-8-4 391 6
5 Northeastern 20-8-2 369 2
6 Vermont 17-7-4 331 5
7 Yale 19-5-1 296 10
8 Denver 17-9-4 285 8
9 North Dakota 18-11-3 235 11
10 Princeton 18-7-0 205 9
11 Cornell 15-6-4 151 7
12 New Hampshire 14-9-5 133 12
13 Wisconsin 16-11-3 109 13
14 Minnesota 13-9-6 85 14
15 Ohio State 18-10-4 21 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Minnesota Duluth, 16; Colorado College, 12; Boston College, 7; Rochester Institute of Technology, 3; St. Lawrence University, 3.
INCH Power Rankings & Randomness
1. Boston University
2. Notre Dame
3. Michigan
4. Miami
5. Northeastern
6. Vermont
7. North Dakota
8. Denver
9. Yale
10. Princeton
11. Wisconsin
12. Cornell
13. New Hampshire
14. Minnesota
15. Ohio State
16. Minnesota Duluth
17. Colorado College
18. Boston College
19. St. Cloud State
20. St. Lawrence
Dropped out: Air Force, Niagara
Bubble-licious: Air Force, Dartmouth, RIT, Niagara, UMass Lowell
Analysis
First off happy president's day holiday. I guess I am almost shocked that UMD isn't higher in the INCH power rankings. After being out of the top ten most of the season UND has made it back.
I found this great quote in the Wild beat writer's Russo's Rant this morning some good stuff here.
2. Notre Dame
3. Michigan
4. Miami
5. Northeastern
6. Vermont
7. North Dakota
8. Denver
9. Yale
10. Princeton
11. Wisconsin
12. Cornell
13. New Hampshire
14. Minnesota
15. Ohio State
16. Minnesota Duluth
17. Colorado College
18. Boston College
19. St. Cloud State
20. St. Lawrence
Dropped out: Air Force, Niagara
Bubble-licious: Air Force, Dartmouth, RIT, Niagara, UMass Lowell
Analysis
First off happy president's day holiday. I guess I am almost shocked that UMD isn't higher in the INCH power rankings. After being out of the top ten most of the season UND has made it back.
I found this great quote in the Wild beat writer's Russo's Rant this morning some good stuff here.
attended the Gophers-Alaska Anchorage game last night. Just a bad hockey game. I was sitting with Senators GM Bryan Murray and assistant GM Tim Murray in the third, and Tim Murray said (and he said I can print this), “If anybody ever says again that the NHL should go to bigger rinks, come watch a bad college game.”
Of course the rodent fans are going to take issue with Russo but I think the big ice sucks because it takes some of the hitting out of the game and actually slows the game down. On a smaller sheet of ice the game comes at you faster. Go to the DECC and watch a game, the action is ussually fast and furious. I like a lot of other NHL fans think the olympic sheet of ice God awful, thank God the 2010 olympics in Vancover will be at GM place which has NHL ice.
REA tough place to play.
Check out this video that I found on Youtube, it would appear that the REA is becoming a very hostile place for opposing players.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Another weekend another incident.
Greg Shepherd was to attend both games this weekend at REA in case something out of the ordinary occurred in this weekend's series between the Mavericks and the Sioux. Well it happened again, color me surprised.
At the end of last night's game between UND and MSU-M Maverick player Geoff Irwin broke his carbon fiber stick slashing Darcy Zajac. In reviewing the replay WDAZ/Channel 23 did not catch the slash on film you can hear the stick being broken over Zajac on the tape. This is straight out of the federal league on slap shot and is utter bravo sierra. There is no room for that type of a reaction in ANY LEAGUE this is totally unacceptable, this wasn't a bow tie cross check this was a full swing tomahawk chop with a hockey stick. If that was the NHL it would be a minimum of two games. Lucky for Irwin the linesman Nate Freeman was able to rescue him before Zajac could exact his pound of flesh.
If Mullen was suspended by DU coach George Gwozdecky for his slash on UMD's Mike Connolly, this has to be a at least a 1-2 game suspension and it is time for Troy Jutting to man up and admit his player was wrong.
At the end of last night's game between UND and MSU-M Maverick player Geoff Irwin broke his carbon fiber stick slashing Darcy Zajac. In reviewing the replay WDAZ/Channel 23 did not catch the slash on film you can hear the stick being broken over Zajac on the tape. This is straight out of the federal league on slap shot and is utter bravo sierra. There is no room for that type of a reaction in ANY LEAGUE this is totally unacceptable, this wasn't a bow tie cross check this was a full swing tomahawk chop with a hockey stick. If that was the NHL it would be a minimum of two games. Lucky for Irwin the linesman Nate Freeman was able to rescue him before Zajac could exact his pound of flesh.
If Mullen was suspended by DU coach George Gwozdecky for his slash on UMD's Mike Connolly, this has to be a at least a 1-2 game suspension and it is time for Troy Jutting to man up and admit his player was wrong.
Scores from 2-14-2009.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Atlantic Hockey
American Int'l 1 at Canisius 5
Mercyhurst 7 at Connecticut 4
Air Force 1 at Bentley 4
RIT 3 at Holy Cross 1
Sacred Heart 1 at Army 3
Analysis
Yawn!
CCHA
Ohio State 1 at Michigan State 2
Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Michigan 4
Northern Michigan 2 at Notre Dame 5
Alaska 4 at Western Michigan 3
Miami 4 at Lake Superior 0
Ferris State 1 at Bowling Green 3
Analysis
No shootouts in the CCHA last night. Notre Dame keeps rolling along. Miami with the shut out.
CHA
Niagara 1 at Alabama-Huntsville 3
Bemidji State 0 at Robert Morris 3
Analysis
Big conference win for UAH. Bob Morris beats BSU, but don't worry BSU and RMU will play a few more against each other before the season is over.
ECAC
Cornell 2 at Harvard 4
Clarkson 3 at Quinnipiac 5
Yale 4 at Rensselaer 1
Colgate 1 at Dartmouth 0
St. Lawrence 3 at Princeton 1
Brown 1 at Union 3
Analysis
EZAC teams Cornell and Princeton are falling in the Pair Wise Rankings faster than a prom dress at an after prom party. This is what happens when your teams plays a small number of out of conference teams and then play conference games against the weak sisters of the poor each week. What is even worse is when your team loses to the weak sisters of the poor.
Hockey East
Boston College 4 at Mass.-Lowell 4 ot
Massachusetts 4 at Northeastern 1
Boston University 2 at Maine 2 ot
Vermont 4 at Merrimack 3
New Hampshire 4 at Providence 2
Analysis
Maine gets a point after getting run out of the building the night before by BU.
WCHA
Michigan Tech 2 at St. Cloud State 4
Minnesota State 3 at North Dakota 4
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Minnesota 4
Analysis
Minnesota finally wins after not winning in 5 games. Make that the first place Sioux; UND defenseman Chay Genoway skated the puck from the end to end and fired a puck at Mankato goalie Mike Zacharias. The rebound deflected to the left to Gregoire, who put it in. North Dakota is tied with Wisconsin for the lowest goals against in league play. Hum, it appears that UND doesn't have too many issues with defense and goaltending.
Atlantic Hockey
American Int'l 1 at Canisius 5
Mercyhurst 7 at Connecticut 4
Air Force 1 at Bentley 4
RIT 3 at Holy Cross 1
Sacred Heart 1 at Army 3
Analysis
Yawn!
CCHA
Ohio State 1 at Michigan State 2
Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Michigan 4
Northern Michigan 2 at Notre Dame 5
Alaska 4 at Western Michigan 3
Miami 4 at Lake Superior 0
Ferris State 1 at Bowling Green 3
Analysis
No shootouts in the CCHA last night. Notre Dame keeps rolling along. Miami with the shut out.
CHA
Niagara 1 at Alabama-Huntsville 3
Bemidji State 0 at Robert Morris 3
Analysis
Big conference win for UAH. Bob Morris beats BSU, but don't worry BSU and RMU will play a few more against each other before the season is over.
ECAC
Cornell 2 at Harvard 4
Clarkson 3 at Quinnipiac 5
Yale 4 at Rensselaer 1
Colgate 1 at Dartmouth 0
St. Lawrence 3 at Princeton 1
Brown 1 at Union 3
Analysis
EZAC teams Cornell and Princeton are falling in the Pair Wise Rankings faster than a prom dress at an after prom party. This is what happens when your teams plays a small number of out of conference teams and then play conference games against the weak sisters of the poor each week. What is even worse is when your team loses to the weak sisters of the poor.
Hockey East
Boston College 4 at Mass.-Lowell 4 ot
Massachusetts 4 at Northeastern 1
Boston University 2 at Maine 2 ot
Vermont 4 at Merrimack 3
New Hampshire 4 at Providence 2
Analysis
Maine gets a point after getting run out of the building the night before by BU.
WCHA
Michigan Tech 2 at St. Cloud State 4
Minnesota State 3 at North Dakota 4
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Minnesota 4
Analysis
Minnesota finally wins after not winning in 5 games. Make that the first place Sioux; UND defenseman Chay Genoway skated the puck from the end to end and fired a puck at Mankato goalie Mike Zacharias. The rebound deflected to the left to Gregoire, who put it in. North Dakota is tied with Wisconsin for the lowest goals against in league play. Hum, it appears that UND doesn't have too many issues with defense and goaltending.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sioux 4 Purple Cows 3
First off I hope that Derrick LaPoint has a speedy recovery. From the video and the picture that I saw of the injury it does not look good for LaPoint. Derrick LaPoint has made some great strides in his development this season and has played pretty well after having a little bit of a tough start. The Fighting Sioux hockey team will miss LaPoint on the blue line.
This was a hard fought game between two teams that really don't like each other all that much. While I do like watching the Sioux and Mavericks play I don't like some of the antics that I saw this weekend. Trevor Buress needs to learn some respect for his fellow competitors, IF this kid ever makes it to the next level he is going to get it handed to him if he doesn't learn to play a little cleaner game.
I have no problem with players that play hard and get into an occasional fight but if you watch the NHL you don't see too many the NHL goon's doing the bush league moves Buress does on a nightly basis because eventually someone come calling and you have to pay the piper. What I say from Buress on Friday night was disgusting, that bush league leg check on Chay Genoway could have ended Chay's season. To Chay's credit he was able to get out of the way Buress in the nick of time and didn't absorb much of a dirty leg on leg check. I don't think I have seen Derick Boogaard or Milan Lucic try to leg check an oppostion player intentionally.
While I think UND was the better team this weekend I am not so sure I want the Sioux to see the Mavericks again this season. Hopefully the Mavericks move up so the Sioux don't have to play them until maybe St Paul.
The Mavericks are pretty fast and have a good amount of talent through the forward lines. Defensively, I think the Mavericks are a little small and they get caught up ice quite a bit but Mike Zacharias is an awesome goaltender and saved their bacon a lot this weekend. If it wasn't for Zacharias the score might have been more lopsided in UND's favor both nights.
Finally it was fun to talk to a few of the people from Mankato this weekend, they traveled pretty well. It was fun to meet Dan Myers and his girl friend and also talk to Heather and Amy as well. Amy wanted me to wear a purple cow jersey to the game tonight but I don't think I could ever wear any thing that is purple in color let alone a purple hockey jersey. I just don't know if purple is my color. Last time I owned anything with purple the Viking's quarter back took a knee and a field goal kicker missed an easy field goal, yeah so much for the 15-1 season. I actually threw my Viking's hat out after that day.
I would like to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day.
Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNS-1 James Gaulrapp (2-Holding) NDK 0x1 3:34
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Hooking) MNS 1x1 10:31
NDK-2 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) MNS 1x2 11:46
MNS 1 - 0 6x4 PP Geoff Irwin (10) (Kael Mouillierat, Kurt Davis) 11:57
MNS: 19,9,22,23,21,G1 NDK: 20,11,5,G31
MNS-2 Rylan Galiardi (2-Holding) NDK 0x2 13:00
MNS-3 BENCH (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) (Served by Justin Jokinen) NDK 0x3 15:14
MNS-4 Jason Wiley (2-High-Sticking) NDK 0x4 17:32
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Matt Watkins (5) (Andrew Kozek, Darcy Zajac) 19:57
NDK (+): 20,10,11,2,25,G31 MNS (-): 5,12,17,18,20,G1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNS-5 Rylan Galiardi (2-Holding) NDK 1x5 1:02
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Ryan Duncan (13) (Chris VandeVelde, Ryan Martens) 1:53
NDK: 16,29,8,14,25,G31 MNS: 19,5,15,17,G1
MNS-6 Cameron Cooper (2-Roughing) NDK 1x6 2:05
NDK-3 Jason Gregoire (2-Interference) MNS 1x3 3:07
MNS-7 Andrew Sackrison (2-Tripping) NDK 1x7 9:58
MNS-8 Rylan Galiardi (2-High-Sticking) NDK 1x8 15:40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNS 2 - 2 6x6 Geoff Irwin (11) (Kael Mouillierat) 0:53
MNS (+): 19,9,17,23,3,G1 NDK (-): 14,20,2,8,11,G31
NDK-4 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) MNS 1x4 1:34
MNS-9 Blake Friesen (2-Hooking) NDK 1x9 8:52
MNS 3 - 2 5x6 SH Trevor Bruess (11) (Kael Mouillierat, Ben Youds) 10:47
MNS (+): 23,9,5,3,G1 NDK (-): 2,17,21,19,5,G31
MNS-10 Brian Kilburg (2-Interference) NDK 2x10 12:58
NDK 3 - 3 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (10) (Ryan Martens, Ryan Duncan) 13:40
NDK: 14,8,16,29,25,G31 MNS: 10,18,5,17,G1
MNS-11 Mike Louwerse (2-Roughing) 15:46
NDK-5 Evan Trupp (2-Roughing) 15:46
NDK 4 - 3 5x5 GW LL Jason Gregoire (11) (Chay Genoway, Jake Marto) 17:08
NDK (+): 17,5,25,16,G31 MNS (-): 19,4,20,22,G1
Timeout - Minnesota State 19:56
MNS-12 Geoff Irwin (2-Roughing) 20:00
MNS-13 Geoff Irwin (5-Slashing) 20:00
NDK-6 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 20:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was a hard fought game between two teams that really don't like each other all that much. While I do like watching the Sioux and Mavericks play I don't like some of the antics that I saw this weekend. Trevor Buress needs to learn some respect for his fellow competitors, IF this kid ever makes it to the next level he is going to get it handed to him if he doesn't learn to play a little cleaner game.
I have no problem with players that play hard and get into an occasional fight but if you watch the NHL you don't see too many the NHL goon's doing the bush league moves Buress does on a nightly basis because eventually someone come calling and you have to pay the piper. What I say from Buress on Friday night was disgusting, that bush league leg check on Chay Genoway could have ended Chay's season. To Chay's credit he was able to get out of the way Buress in the nick of time and didn't absorb much of a dirty leg on leg check. I don't think I have seen Derick Boogaard or Milan Lucic try to leg check an oppostion player intentionally.
While I think UND was the better team this weekend I am not so sure I want the Sioux to see the Mavericks again this season. Hopefully the Mavericks move up so the Sioux don't have to play them until maybe St Paul.
The Mavericks are pretty fast and have a good amount of talent through the forward lines. Defensively, I think the Mavericks are a little small and they get caught up ice quite a bit but Mike Zacharias is an awesome goaltender and saved their bacon a lot this weekend. If it wasn't for Zacharias the score might have been more lopsided in UND's favor both nights.
Finally it was fun to talk to a few of the people from Mankato this weekend, they traveled pretty well. It was fun to meet Dan Myers and his girl friend and also talk to Heather and Amy as well. Amy wanted me to wear a purple cow jersey to the game tonight but I don't think I could ever wear any thing that is purple in color let alone a purple hockey jersey. I just don't know if purple is my color. Last time I owned anything with purple the Viking's quarter back took a knee and a field goal kicker missed an easy field goal, yeah so much for the 15-1 season. I actually threw my Viking's hat out after that day.
I would like to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day.
Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNS-1 James Gaulrapp (2-Holding) NDK 0x1 3:34
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Hooking) MNS 1x1 10:31
NDK-2 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) MNS 1x2 11:46
MNS 1 - 0 6x4 PP Geoff Irwin (10) (Kael Mouillierat, Kurt Davis) 11:57
MNS: 19,9,22,23,21,G1 NDK: 20,11,5,G31
MNS-2 Rylan Galiardi (2-Holding) NDK 0x2 13:00
MNS-3 BENCH (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) (Served by Justin Jokinen) NDK 0x3 15:14
MNS-4 Jason Wiley (2-High-Sticking) NDK 0x4 17:32
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Matt Watkins (5) (Andrew Kozek, Darcy Zajac) 19:57
NDK (+): 20,10,11,2,25,G31 MNS (-): 5,12,17,18,20,G1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNS-5 Rylan Galiardi (2-Holding) NDK 1x5 1:02
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Ryan Duncan (13) (Chris VandeVelde, Ryan Martens) 1:53
NDK: 16,29,8,14,25,G31 MNS: 19,5,15,17,G1
MNS-6 Cameron Cooper (2-Roughing) NDK 1x6 2:05
NDK-3 Jason Gregoire (2-Interference) MNS 1x3 3:07
MNS-7 Andrew Sackrison (2-Tripping) NDK 1x7 9:58
MNS-8 Rylan Galiardi (2-High-Sticking) NDK 1x8 15:40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNS 2 - 2 6x6 Geoff Irwin (11) (Kael Mouillierat) 0:53
MNS (+): 19,9,17,23,3,G1 NDK (-): 14,20,2,8,11,G31
NDK-4 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) MNS 1x4 1:34
MNS-9 Blake Friesen (2-Hooking) NDK 1x9 8:52
MNS 3 - 2 5x6 SH Trevor Bruess (11) (Kael Mouillierat, Ben Youds) 10:47
MNS (+): 23,9,5,3,G1 NDK (-): 2,17,21,19,5,G31
MNS-10 Brian Kilburg (2-Interference) NDK 2x10 12:58
NDK 3 - 3 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (10) (Ryan Martens, Ryan Duncan) 13:40
NDK: 14,8,16,29,25,G31 MNS: 10,18,5,17,G1
MNS-11 Mike Louwerse (2-Roughing) 15:46
NDK-5 Evan Trupp (2-Roughing) 15:46
NDK 4 - 3 5x5 GW LL Jason Gregoire (11) (Chay Genoway, Jake Marto) 17:08
NDK (+): 17,5,25,16,G31 MNS (-): 19,4,20,22,G1
Timeout - Minnesota State 19:56
MNS-12 Geoff Irwin (2-Roughing) 20:00
MNS-13 Geoff Irwin (5-Slashing) 20:00
NDK-6 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 20:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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