INCH Chat.

Here is the latest from the boy from INCH in this weeks Chat with Inside College Hockey. I found it the INCH chat to be interesting as usual, and there was some really good questions, it is just too bad that the chat is only a half hour long. I was also kind of shocked by Mike Eidelbe's answer to the fan from Fargo, ND. Lots of calls from Fargo, ND today.

Steiny (NYC): What are the chances Minnesota-Duluth upsets Colorado College?

Jess Myers: The Bulldogs won and tied in Colorado Springs earlier this season, so it's not like there's no chance, but Minnesota Duluth heads into the playoffs with zero momentum, having gone 0-3-2 in their last five games, and letting leads slip away in all of them. With CC playing much better in the past few weeks, I'm not expecting an upset.
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Drew (Lakewood CO): What do you think is going to happen with the first round with the WCHA. Do you think all the tops seeds will make it to St. Paul or not, which ones and why? And what are the chances or the Gophers making the NCAA tournament?

Jess Myers: If the Gophers get to the Final Five, their chances are pretty good. But that's still a big if, with a dangerous St. Cloud State team visiting this weekend. As for round one, I'm picking two upsets -- Minnesota State over Wisconsin (the Badgers haven't played well for a month, and the Mavs are the hotter team) and Alaska Anchorage over Denver (the Seawolves are the hottest team in the league heading into the postseason). Still, look for Denver to make the NCAA tournament and even make some noise there (2004, anyone?).
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Eric (Fargo, ND): What are the chances that Lucia gets fired as the coach of Minnesota if his team don't produce next season? Seems like the people in Mpls are getting antsy.

Jess Myers: There was a piece in the Minneapolis paper speculating about that very idea today. Men's hockey is generally the one island of stability in the Minnesota athletic department, so I think it would take more than mediocre play to force Lucia onto the unemployment line. But if his health continues to be an issue, all bets are off.
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Derrick, Fargo, ND: What kind of blueprint is needed to take down both Boston U and Notre Dame? Obviously no team possesses what takes to beat them now, or both respective clubs would have more losses, but what clubs possess the necessary ingredients to cause an upset? Thanks

Mike Eidelbes: The easiest way is to have your goaltender steal a game. A team like Michigan is dangerous because they can score in bunches and are solid defensively, and I think North Dakota matches up well with both because they're tough, experienced, play well as a team, and always find a way to win.

Is Lucia feeling the heat? Lemaire?

I found this article in today's Red Star and Sickle, while I find it mildly interesting and entertaining, isn't Souhan jumping to conclusions a little prematurely? Neither teams season is over yet. Both teams could make the playoffs. On one hand Don Lucia recruits his own players and should take more of the blame for his teams demise than say Wild coach Jacques Lemaire who doesn't have much say about player moves and has been critical of GM Doug Risebrough in around about way. If anything the Wild owner should fire Doug Risebrough the minute the Wild have been eliminated from the playoff picture.

While I expect the rumors about Jacques Lemaire retiring after the end of the season to be true, I don't think this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. Lou Nannie has been on record a few times saying that this will be Jacques last year of coaching as well. On the flip side of the equation I can't many scenarios where Don Lucia is getting fired. Not anytime in the near future. Probably not next year either. Unless; maybe if the Gophers miss the Final Five and the NCAA playoffs (they are hosting a regional) this season and fall flat on their noses next season.

Based on how well the Gophers have played against the SCSU Huskies this season, they are 4-0 against the Huskies, there is probably a good chance the Gophers make the Final Five. Win a couple of games at the Final Five and the Gophers move up in the PWR rankings and probably squeak in and make the NCAA tourney.

If the two previously mentioned scenarios happen the Gophers do not have a good season next year then maybe I could see the fans and alumni in Minneapolis getting a little antsy and pushing for tDon's head. Just for the record Jim Souhan isn't a regular hockey writer but his article does stir up the masses down in the Twin Cities Check out the comments from the (Gopher and Wild fans).

Clocks might be winding down on Lemaire, Lucia. The Wild coach is strongly hinting at retirement, while his Gophers counterpart is struggling to rise above mediocrity.
By JIM SOUHAN, Star Tribune
We thought we were set for life with our two big-time hockey coaches. We were wrong.

A couple of years ago Jacques Lemaire, the only coach in Wild history, and Don Lucia, winner of two national titles at the U, probably could have signed lifetime contracts. Today, locking up Lemaire might prove impossible, and locking up Lucia might be inadvisable.
-------------(snip)-------------
Not long ago, the Gophers' goal every season was to win the national title. This year, they seemed thrilled to beat Michigan Tech to secure a home series in the WCHA playoffs. "We're No. 5!" is not the chant we expect to hear from Gophers hockey fans.

Lucia was sidelined by an illness earlier this season. That, combined with his legacy, ensures that he'll receive the benefit of the doubt for at least another year.

He's earned that, but by next season, we'll be back to acknowledging that he possesses every conceivable advantage a college hockey coach can have. If he doesn't recruit or develop the best defensemen and goaltenders, if his players lack grit and regress during their college careers, if they leave for the pros because playing for the Gophers proved less than enthralling, he has no one to blame but himself.

"The Gophers have got to play a lot tighter, and they need good goaltending again or they're not going to advance," Nanne said. "If they play tighter in their own zone and get goaltending like they had earlier in the year and last year, they can make the NCAAs. If they don't, they're not going to advance."

Lemaire is probably as good as gone. Lucia has plenty of methods and resources with which to right his powerful program, but he might not have as much time as he thinks.

More on fighting in the NHL.

Yesterday Hab's tough guy Georges Laraque made some waves when he said that proposing a 10 minute misconduct for fights after the face off:

was the stupidest thing ever!" Laraque told TSN. "I think it's a joke. They might as well take fighting out of the NHL...fighting won't be safer; it will be eliminated because an added 10 minute misconduct is too much."

I am going to say that I have to agree with Big Georges Laraque, this is a joke. If you take the fighting out of hockey you're actually going to make the game more dirty because the players will have no fear of retribution if they carry out an egregious act of violence against their fellow opposition players. You're going to have agitators/hacks like Matt Cooke and Jarkko Ruutu running up and down the ice taking runs at team's skilled players without fear of retribution. Which could actually lead to checking from behinds and spearing penalties.

Why can't the NHL GM's just leave well enough alone? Now Gary Betteman would like to sit down with Laraque and discuss the fighting issues. I can only imagine what that conversation would sound like.

Face it Betteman a majority of fans like fighting in hockey, you don't see fans booing a hockey fight, or leaving their seats. Also, the players are on record as wantinig to keep fighting to police the game. Also, ever notice how after a fight the players on both benchs slap their sticks on the side of the bench showing their approval. Lets worry about head shots and worry less about fighting. Heck, if I was a tough guy I would be upset too, because they are talking about their jobs and their lively hoods.

NAPLES, Fla. - Gary Bettman would be happy to sit down with Georges Laraque and talk about fighting.

The NHL commissioner thinks he might be able to convince the Montreal Canadiens tough guy that rule changes proposed by general managers this week aren't actually so bad for enforcers. Laraque was quick to criticize the recommendation by GMs that the instigator rule be more stringently applied next season and that a 10-minute misconduct penalty be given out to players who drop the gloves right after a faceoff.

Bettman was careful when asked to respond to the comments.

"I'd like to talk to George about it 1-on-1," he said Wednesday. "I think with an in-depth discussion, these rules aren't so far off the mark from things that he would be comfortable with."

After 16 years as commissioner, debates about fighting are nothing new for Bettman.

Laraque's biggest concern is that the proposed changes might end up eliminating the role he has filled for more than 600 NHL games over the last decade.

"The GMs need to find ways to make fighting safer instead of taking fighting out of the game," Laraque said Tuesday in Montreal. "With the instigator rule, you have more cheap shots in the game than ever. Having a 10-minute misconduct won't stop that. They should look at helmets or whatever to make it safer, not more penalties."

Mark Stuart vs Jared Boll

You have got to give Mark Stuart some credit for fighting Jared Boll the NHL leader with 21 fighting majors. That was the fourth fight on the season for former Colorado College Tiger Mark Stuart.

Bruin's fan vote for the seventh player award.

Ah yes! You got to love the Boston Bruin's homer announcer from NESN, Jack Edwards. Bruins fans it's that time again you can click here to vote for the NESN's Bruin's 7th Player Award. Last year’s award was won by goaltender and former Vermont Catamount Tim Thomas.

This season my pick for the 7th player award is Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic. In my opinion Milian Lucic is becoming a more complete player that can fight, hit, and score. Lucic has been compared by some to former Boston Bruin Cam Neely because of this style of play. This season Lucic has played in 58 games and has scored 13 goals – 22 assists and 35 points and already surpassed last season’s point total by 8 points.

Also, Gopher’s fans you can vote for their favorite former Gophers players Blake Wheeler and Phil Kessel.

Bruess Suspened for one game.

Seems to be a common reoccurring theme here. Uber Hack Trevor Bruess has been suspended for his actions on the ice last weekend. While some want to defend ths players actions there is no excuse for a player to runs around the ice kneeing people, you can ruin someone career in a heart beat. That is how all Pro Cam Neely's career was ended. I consider the kneeing penalty even more gutless than the checking from behind penalty.

When Minnesota State University Mankato was in Grand Forks to play this season a lot of fans were saying Bruess was leaving to go pro after the season was over. I am going to make a prediction; If Trevor Bruess pulls some of the bush league tactics I have seen you commit on the ice this season in the ECHL or the AHL you're going to get it handed to you.

MADISON, Wis. – The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) announced today (March 11, 2009) that Mavericks’ junior forward Trevor Bruess has been suspended for one game as a result of his actions in last Saturday’s conference game against St. Cloud State held in Mankato, Minn. Bruess will be required to serve his one-game suspension during Minnesota State’s next scheduled game at the University of Wisconsin on Friday, March 13.
– WCHA –

Here is the boxscore for Mr Bruess during last Saturday nights game. Two penalties for kneeing in the same period. I don't remember the last time I saw that.
MNS-1 Trevor Bruess (5-Kneeing) STC 0x1
MNS-3 Trevor Bruess (2-Kneeing) STC 0x3
MNS-6 Trevor Bruess (2-Roughing)

Playoff Series (Sioux 7)

Well, last weekend saw a new WCHA Champion crowned, the Fighting Sioux claimed the title on Friday night with a 2-1 win over host Wisconsin, and then lost to UW 4-1 on Saturday. The suprising Seawolves sweep the host Bulldogs in Duluth. MTU and UM split in Houghton, the Mavericks took 3-pts from the Huskies of SCSU, and DU and CC played to their 3rd tie of the season.

When looking at the national stage DU and UND are pretty solid locks into the NCAA tourney. The boys from UM, CC, and UMD are still on the bubble, they need to put together some wins and get a little help or win the WCHA playoff title to get the auto-bid into the NCAA tourney.


2008-2009 FINAL WCHA Standings

1 North Dakota.................17-7-4...38
2 Denver...........................16-8-4...36
3 Wisconsin.....................14-11-3...31
3 Colorado College...........12-9-7...31
5 Minnesota....................12-11-5...29
6 St. Cloud State............13-13-2...28
7 Minnesota-Duluth......10-11-7...27
8 Minnesota State.........11-13-4...26
9 Alaska-Anchorage.......9-14-5...23
10 Michigan Tech............2-19-7...11


Other than the SCSU-UM series, all the other playoff match-ups have teams that only played each other in 2 WCHA games, what are the odds of that!


(The numbers in front of the teams are their current PWR, which mimic the NCAA tournament selections.)

Michigan Tech @ #7 North Dakota
Season head-to-head 1-1-1

MTU got its second WCHA win of the year last weekend against the Gophers (UAA is the other win). The Huskies from Houghton have had a rough season to say the least, and now going to Grand Forks for the first time this season isn't going to help them. The Sioux haven't lost a home game since Nov. 28th (Cornell), and have a 12-3-2overall record at the Ralph Engelstad Arena this season. The Sioux are the WCHA regular season champions for the first time since the '03-'04 season, that year MTU also finished 10th. I think this series will be like that one, Sioux Sweep.


#22 Alaska-Anchorage @ #4 Denver
Season series 1-1-0

These two teams played the end of January in DU and the results were a 6-2 DU win on Friday and a 3-2 overtime UAA win on Saturday. On paper DU is clearly the better team, BUT the Seawolves have 4 games in a row, 3 of them on the road. The boys from UAA have evened their road record to 7-7-1 on the season, while the Pioneers are 13-5-3 at home in Magness Arena. DU is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and 2-2-1 in their 5 home games in that span. With the Seawolves on a roll right now and knowing they can win in the Mile High City they will give the Pioneers all they can handle and turn this into a three game series. In the end, we will see the better team prevail, DU in three.


#24 Minnesota State @ #19 Wisconsin
Season series 1-0-1 MSU-M leads

The Mavericks just took 3pts from the Badgers at the end of February, at the Alltel center in Mankato. Now they travel to Madison to play them their. UW just ended their 5-game winless streak by beating UND on Saturday. That was good for them, but doesn't carry much weight, since UND had wrapped up the WCHA title the night before. The Mavericks are heating up, they are riding a season best 5-game unbeaten streak (2-0-3) into the playoffs, and averaging 3.4 goals/game in that span. The Badgers need to score some goals in this series if they want to advance to the Final 5 in St. Paul. MSUM is 7-8-4 on the road, and UW is 10-8-2 at home, so the home ice advantage might not be as big as help to UW. I'm taking the Mavericks to win the series in 3-games.


#17 Minnesota Duluth @ #14 Colorado College
Season series 1-0-1 UMD leads

The Bulldogs enter this series limping in like, well, a dog that's been hit by a car. They are winless in 5-games (0-3-2) giving up 14-goals in their last three games, which were all loses. CC comes in winless in their last 3-games, not so hot themselves. Both teams have star goalies in Stalock (UMD) and Bachman (CC), if either of them heat up they could single-handedly win the series. The Bulldogs took 3-pts from the Tiger at World Arena back in early December. The Tigers still struggle to win open games in series all season long, they have won only 4 series openers, and 2 of them where back in October. Which ever goalie (and defensemen) steps up in this series will take their team to St. Paul for the Final 5. I'm going with the Bulldogs on Friday, Tigers Saturday, and Tigers on Sunday.


#21 St. Cloud State @ #13 Minnesota
Season series 4-0-0 UM leads

The Gophers have 2 sweeps on the season, and both of them were against the Huskies of SCSU. Minnesota has a 3-5-2 record their past 10-games and St. Cloud State has a 6-4-1 in their last 10-games. The last game these teams played against each other end in a 8-6 win for the Gophers. If the Huskies can score first they can quit the Gopher fans in their house. I don't believe the Gophers have won a game when they have given up the first goal, but have only lost one when scoring first. UM has had its share of goaltending drama the past few weeks, and like many have said they will only go as far as their goaltending will take them. The Huskies have taken points from teams in the top five earlier this season, but the Gophers have had SCSU's number this season. Of course, some people would say it is hard to beat a team 6 times in a season. I'm going with that philosophy, SCSU on Friday, UM on Saturday, and SCSU on Sunday.

The latest 4 X 4 from INCH.

The latest 4X4 from INCH is out. You do have to wonder if UND is destined to meet Michigan again?

MINNEAPOLIS West Regional
1. Michigan---Michigan could end up in GR, but I'd like to see them face North Dakota in Minneapolis to make up for those times when the Wolverines were a No. 3 seed at Yost and advanced to the Frozen.
2. North Dakota---Duncan Go Nuts: Before being held scoreless in Saturday's meaningless game at Wisconsin, Ryan Duncan had scored 4-7—11 during a season-high, eight-game point streak.
3. Cornell---Tough break for the Big Red to be sent to Minneapolis to face the Sioux on Lake Mariucci. Cornell's strengths are better suited to the NHL-sized rinks.
4. St. Lawrence---SLU surpassed Joe Gladziszewski as the biggest St. Cloud State fans in New York State. No question they'd like to see the Gophers bounced in the first round of the WCHA tourney

The fighting debate in hockey.

Yawn! Here we go again. The NHL GM's are down at their annual meeting in Florida talking about various issues and one of them is the subject of staged fights in hockey and hits to the head. Personally, I can't ever see the NHL without fighting, and it probably will never happen, not any time soon anyways. Also, I wonder why people can't leave well enough alone as well.

Of course there are always going to be a few people that are going to be appalled at fighting in the National Hockey League but for the most part a lot of those those people don't understand fighting role in hockey. Fighting is a method of policing the game and keeping people honest. Here is what a few people had to say about fighting in the NHL.

NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly, who addressed the GMs for an hour Monday morning, said the players support fighting in the game. The skilled players like it because they believe having someone in their lineup capable of handling himself in a fight provides a measure of security for them. Enforcers like it, naturally, because it provides them with a job.

"The players' view is fighting actually does play an important role in the sport," Kelly said. "Players believe that fighting, to a large degree, does cut down on some of the violence in the sport, it does cut down on the stick work and other play. It protects the star players, the smaller players."

Here is what Brian Burke GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs had to say about "staged fights" in professional hockey. You have got to love Brian Burke he says it like he sees it.

"Staged fighting. I see that phrase a lot," Burke said. "You'll see two guys line up off the face off and they're yapping, and then they fight and everyone says, 'Oh, it's a staged fight.' When I was playing in the American League, I went up to a guy in a game who speared me two years before that when I was playing university hockey.

"So, anyone else upstairs would say it's a staged fight. Well, it wasn't a staged fight. I was going to get this guy, and I was going to get him the first time I was on the ice with him. And after the incident, he yelled at me, 'What was that all about?' And I told him, I said, 'You got me two years ago, and I didn't get a chance to get you for two years.' It's not always a staged fight."

Did he win the fight?

"Yeah, I did win the fight," Burke said. "Dave Lumley. Go ask him. He speared me in the back of the leg."

Here is what Jarome Iginla has to say about the subject of fighting in Hockey. I agree is Iggy without fighting in the NHL there would be a lot more stick work and liberties taken on games star players.

Without fighting, there would definitely be more stick work, some more cheap shots and cheap hits. Fighting keeps people accountable—they know there is the threat of a fight if things get too carried away.”

—Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla

Are Dogs fans getting antsy?

I found this story over on the Ciskie blog and it appears that one of the local Duluth writers is calling for Former Fighting Sioux assistant coach Scott Sandelin’s head before the season has even ended.

To taking a quote out of the sports cliches' it isn't over until the fat lady sings. Hey Howie, the season isn't over for the Bulldogs, not yet anyways. Why don't you let the game play out first. In case you haven't noticed the Bulldogs get to play C.C. in the Springs this weekend where they have a record of 1-0-1 against the Tigers this year. Personally, I would wait till the end of the season before you start kicking dirt on the Bulldogs season.

You have to wonder if this guy followed the rest of the WCHA very closely because seeding for the WCHA playoffs were not really decided until the last hours of the season. Maybe he should stick to high school hockey. Seriously, who is to say the Bulldogs don't go to Colorado College beat the Tigers in two or three games and get to the Final Five? UMD is also ranked 17th in Pair Wise Rankings so a series win in Colorado Springs and a couple of games in St Paul could put them into the NCAA tourney. During the 2005-2006 season the UMD Bulldogs were 11-25-4 and went to DU and won a WCHA playoff series against the Pioneers in Denver.

Sandelin to be shown the door?

Is there a ground swell to have Sandelin removed? It doesn't appear to be so from reading the message boards and blogs around the blogsphere. I have seen a few message board posts from fans dissatisfied with the way things are going in Duluth but I not seeing hoards of angry Bulldog fans just yet. I did see a few posts were some UMD fans were calling for Stalock to be benched and that one was puzzling to me since Alex finished at the goal tending leader for the WCHA.

Future looks bright

In my opinion the Bulldog future seems bright and expect the Bulldogs to challenge for a top 5 position in the WCHA standings next season. Freshmen Mike Connolly 8-15-23 3rd in rookie scoring and Jack Connolly 5-13-18 10th in rookie scoring are showing promises of bright futures. I could imagine these two ripping up the WCHA goaltending next season. Also, Justin Fontaine who is only a sophomore is tied with the league lead with 9 power play goals and is third in scoring in the WCHA with (10-24-34).

So based on some current players and the arrival of Dylan Olson of the AJHL who was ranked number 23 among North American skaters in Mid-Season Rankings by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, so it would appear that coach Sandelin has the Bulldogs program going in the right direction. Earlier in the season when the Bulldogs played the Sioux I thought they were one of the tougher teams the Fighting Sioux had faced in the first half of the season 2008-2009 season. If that team that played against the Sioux on November 21st and 22nd the Tiger could have their hands full.

ANOTHER BULLDOGS MELTDOWN
Even those who bleed UMD maroon-and-gold expected it, if they were totally honest: the over-hyped Bulldogs men’s hockey team followed a familiar rut in the ice when it melted down big-time in the final two weeks of the regular season.

Competing for fifth-place and a home ice series in the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs in the final weekend, UMD’s once-proud program sunk to perhaps the most pitiful low in Coach Scott Sandelin’s mostly unproductive tenure last weekend — when the poorly-prepared Bulldogs lost twice at home to (drum roll, please) the mighty, ninth-place Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.

Twice at home to the Seawolves, with a possible home ice spot on the line. Even the program’s chief apologists might have a hard time spinning this meltdown in our favor.

The Bulldogs (16-12-8 overall, 10-11-7 WCHA) are 0-3-2 in the last five games and opens the league playoffs next weekend at Colorado College.

Yikes, Bullpuppies. You guys stunk up the DECC over the weekend. You let down your fans — including the proud alumni — your school and your community.

Wheeler learns from sitting in the press box.

I saw this story while reading the illegal curve this morning. For the record I was surprised when Blake Wheeler made the Bruins roster out of training camp. As the season progressed I was mildly shocked that he became a legitimate candidate for the Rookie of the Year in the NHL, based on his three years of play in the WCHA. As the season wore on I have been impressed with Wheelers play and his contributions to the Bruins run towards a number one seed in the east for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Lately his line of Ryder, Krejci, Wheeler has fallen off a bit after a very dependable scoring threat. Here is a break down of the troubles of the Ryder, Krejci, Wheeler line; Davide Krejci has 2 points in 6 games, Wheeler has 3 assists in the past 6 games, zero points in the last 4 games, Ryder has one point in the past 5 games. I think one could make the argument that some of the Bruins struggles in the last 6 games (2-3-1 record) could be linked to the struggles of this line. They need to get on the score sheet more consistantly. If you shut the top line of Savard, Lucic and Kessel the other lines need to step up and contribute.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - On Saturday, while his teammates were scoring a 5-3 win over Chicago, Blake Wheeler was in the TD Banknorth Garden press box, sharing a ninth-floor suite with assistant coach Doug Houda. They watched the game, then studied and discussed replays of certain plays.

A day later, Wheeler was back on the ice with usual linemates David Krejci and Michael Ryder, recording two shots and two hits in 16:07 of action during a 4-3 loss to the Rangers. Yesterday, Wheeler was one of six Bruins to participate in a limited practice at Dispatch Ice Haus.

Such is life as an NHL rookie.
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The early guess, from management and the coaching staff, was that Wheeler would start 2008-09 in Providence, then perhaps be worthy of a midseason promotion. But from the start of training camp, Wheeler showcased excellent skating and strength on the puck that made him a scoring threat.

In the games leading up to being scratched, though, Wheeler's legs weren't whirring the way they were earlier in the season when he was among the league's brightest rookies. When he watched Saturday, Wheeler noticed right away that the most successful players - new teammate Mark Recchi had an especially high-energy game - were the ones skating effectively. (read the rest of the article here)

Alaska's Lamoureux Ties League Shutout Record

Former Fighting Sioux goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoreux is having a great season with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

Alaska rookie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux stopped 30 shots in a 2-0 win against Las Vegas on Sunday for his seventh shutout of the season to tie the ECHL record set by Maxime Gingras of Richmond in 1998-99 and tied by David Brumby of Jackson in 1999-2000 and Frederic Cloutier of Louisiana in 2001-02.

The 24 year old is 26-14-2 and leads the league in wins with 26 and save percentage with .923 while ranking second with a goals-against average of 2.30.

He is 4-1-0 with two shutouts, a goals-against average of 1.41 and a save percentage of .948 in his last five starts.

Will the NHL ban staged fights?

The subject of banning staged fights is coming up again at the GM's annual meetings in Naples Florida. I am not so sure the league wants to go there. Fighting is a big part of professional hockey and I would be willing to bet there are a good number of Wild fans that go to the games to watch Derek Boogaard take on one of the leagues tough guys, it’s an interesting side show and it’s fun to watch. Also, these so called goons or tough guys make room for the skilled players and keep the opposition players honest. If a player cheap shots a skilled player like Marian Gaborik they know the Boogey man is going to take a piece of him eventually.

What I love about the "anti-Boogaard" brigade that has surfaced as of late, is I bet you its all the people that were extremely pissed and calling for Brad May to face Derek Boogaard in the playoff series with the Ducks, when May-Day punched out Kim Johnsson. Same with when we seen Mattias Ohlund break Koivu's leg. I bet they called for Ohlund's suspension to be reduced, just so he got to face Boogaard in the matchup a few games later. Its old, really. Onto Boogaard, he is one of the few reasons to actually see a game. Do you really think people went to a Kings/Wild game a couple weeks ago, looking to see Anze Kopitar? I HIGHLY doubt it. Again, I'll bet you, a lot of the people that went (myself included), went to the game hoping to see the heavy weight fight between Derek Boogaard and Raitis Ivanans. Same thing a few weeks before that when the Preds came to town. Yay, lets all go out and see Radek Bonk! Please. A lot of people would be kidding to say they didn't want to see Boogaard/Belak IV. Its a dirty secret to hockey, but, when the team has played as up and down, and very boring as the Wild have this year, there isn't much else of a reason to see some games. (comments section of article)

They just can’t leave well enough alone, can they? Hockey is a niche sport and I could care less if we are scaring some social high brow elite from the north east away because they are offended by fighting in the NHL.

Also, I don’t know if the NHL wants to go there you could end up going down a very slippery slope here. Fighting is a deterrent to further violence. I know this sounds silly to some but have you watched a division one college hockey game lately? The DQ for fighting and the face mask have actually raised the level of violence, stick work and checking from behind penalties. A lot of the stuff goes on because the players in the NCAA division one hockey know they don’t have to fight if they cheap shot someone.

Lastly, if the National Hockey League really decided that they wanted to ban staged fights, how do you decide when a fight is staged or not staged? This would be almost as ridiculous as it sounds. Who’s is going to decide? Two refs aren’t going to be the same. Are the on ice officials going to call Toronto for a ruling?

Based on interviews with several GMs, there is at least one form of fighting most of them would like to see disappear, but no one knows how to do it without an outright ban on fights. And no general manager could be found who supports the complete elimination of fighting.

What most of them would like to see is an end to the staged fight, where two players whose only role on the team is to fight, drop their gloves and go at it.

"The sense I get is there will be a lot of discussion on staged fights," said Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. "I'm against that. But no, I don't see an outright ban on fighting." (Read the whole story here)

Poll Monday 3-09-2009

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
March 9, 2009

1 Boston University (42) 27- 5-4 992 1
2 Notre Dame ( 8) 27- 5-3 958 2
3 Michigan 26-10-0 894 3
4 Northeastern 23- 9-4 828 4
5 Denver 20-10-5 791 5
6 North Dakota 22-12-4 709 6
7 Vermont 20- 9-5 670 7
8 Miami 19-10-5 641 8
9 New Hampshire 19-10-5 579 9
10 Yale 20- 7-2 552 11
11 Princeton 20- 9-0 533 10
12 Cornell 18- 7-4 479 12
13 Colorado College 16-10-10 383 13
14 Ohio State 22-12-4 352 14
15 St. Lawrence 19-11-4 302 15
16 Minnesota 15-12-7 200 17
17 Wisconsin 17-15-4 174 19
18 Boston College 16-13-5 124 20
19 Minnesota-Duluth 16-12-8 91 16
20 St. Cloud State 18-15-3 82 18
Others Receiving Votes: Mass.-Lowell 65, Air Force 58,
RIT 18, Alaska 8, Minnesota State 8, Alaska-Anchorage 3,
Union 3, Northern Michigan 2, Dartmouth 1
----------

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
March 9, 2009
1 Boston University 502 (26) 1 27- 5-4
2 University of Notre Dame 484 (8) 2 27- 5-3
3 University of Michigan 462 3 26-10-0
4 Northeastern University 394 4 23- 9-4
5 University of Denver 380 5 20-10-5
6 University of North Dakota 322 6 22-12-4
7 University of Vermont 294 7 20- 9-5
8 Miami (Ohio) University 245 8 19-10-5
9 University of New Hampshire 226 9 19-10-5
10 Yale University 204 10 20- 7-2
11 Princeton University 179 11 20- 9-0
12 Cornell University 163 12 18- 7-4
13 Colorado College 80 15 16-10-10
14 The Ohio State University 71 14 22-12-4
15 St. Lawrence University 48 13 19-11-4

Others receiving votes: University of Wisconsin 9, U.S. Air Force Academy 6, University of Minnesota 6,
University of Massachusetts Lowell 3, Rochester Institute of Technology
1, St. Cloud State University 1.

INCH Power Rankings.

INCH Power Rankings
March 8, 2009
1. Notre Dame
2. Boston University
3. Michigan
4. Northeastern
5. North Dakota - On Dec. 28, the Fighting Sioux dropped a 2-1 decision to Michigan Tech in the GLI consolation game. This weekend, the WCHA champs host the Huskies in a first-round playoff series. Would this be categorized as coming half circle? 22-12-4 (17-7-4 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Wisconsin, 2-1; L at Wisconsin, 4-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Michigan Tech (WCHA First Round Series)
6. Denver
7. Vermont
8. Miami
9. Yale
10. Princeton
11. New Hampshire
12. Cornell
13. St. Lawrence
14. Ohio State
15. Colorado College
16. Minnesota
17. Boston College
18. Wisconsin
19. St. Cloud State
20. Air Force

Dropped out: Minnesota Duluth

Bubble-licious: RIT, UMass Lowell

I am actually surprised that INCH put us infront of Denver University.

Brad Eidsness for ROY in the WCHA.

I believe that Jordan Schroeder of the University of Minnesota overall (13 assists – 27 goals -40 points) and (11 assists – 24 goals - 35 points) conference play will be the Rookie of the Year in the WCHA. I don't think there is going to be any debate on the subject because the voters’ minds have been made up already. This was suggested by the voice of the Fighting Sioux hockey team Tim Hennesey last week during the weekly coaches’ radio show last Wednesday. I concur with Tim's assessment and that it's basically goig to be a rubberstamp for Jordan Schroeder. I wish the voters would be more objective when looking at the candidates and also take a look more closely at Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness because I believe there is a strong case for Brad Eidsness being the ROY in the WCHA. I like a lot of Sioux fans believe Brad Eidsness is a legitmate contender for the ROY.

In Eids we trust

Where would the Sioux be without Brad Eidsness this season? Probably not first in the WCHA and would probably be getting ready to travel on the road for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Brad Eidsness is a rookie/freshman goalie in a league dominated by juniors and seniors, but he has stood tall and answered the bell. Also, Brad Eidsness is the only freshman goalie that I know of that started every game but one for his team during WCHA conference play this season.


Brad Eidsness by the Numbers

The numbers speak for themselves Brad Eidsness is 22-9-4 and GAA 2.47 and Save% of 0.909 and is 17-5-4 GAA 2.39 save% .909 1 shutout in league play. While hockey is a team game and the Sioux are balanced on all four lines Brad Eidsness lead his team to a first place finish in the WCHA with his strong play between the pipes. If it hadn't been for Brad Eidsness the Fighting Sioux could very well could have been a ninth place team. While the Gophers backed into the fifth spot in the WCHA playoffs and almost ended up on the road for a second year in a row to start the WCHA playoffs.


Final goals against averages for the WCHA
1.) Alex Stalock UMD JR 1679:42 67 2.39
2.) Brad Eidsness UND FR 1604:24 64 2.39
3.) Marc Cheverie DU SO 1671:12 67 2.41

Final Save Percentage in the WCHA

1.) Marc Cheverie DU SO 748 67 .918
2.) Alex Stalock UMD JR 727 67 .916
3.) Richard Bachman C.C. SO 765 73 .913
4.) Shane Connelly UW SR 710 69 .911
5.) Jase Weslosky SCSU JR 761 75 .910
6.) Brad Eidsness UND FR 640 64 .909

Winning Percentage:
1.) Brad Eidsness UND FR 17- 5- 4 .731
2.) Marc Cheverie DU SO 16- 8- 4 .643
3.) Richard Bachman C.C. SO 12- 8- 7 .574

Brian Lee back with the Senators.

Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Brian Lee is being sent back to the Ottawa Senators after being sent down to Binghamton at the end of February. It will be interesting to see if Brian Lee can spend the rest of the season with the Senators. The Ottawa Senators are in 12th place and will miss the NHL playoffs this season so I can imagine that Lee will be rejoining the Binghamton Senators for the AHL playoffs.

Ottawa ---- The Ottawa Senators today recalled defenseman Brian Lee on an emergency basis from the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.

Lee has two goals, nine assists and 14 penalty minutes over 36 games with the NHL club this season, while averaging 19:09 minutes of time-on-ice. This will be Lee's fourth appearance with the Senators this season, after most recently playing 28 games before being assigned to Binghamton on Feb. 27.

In 27 AHL games with Binghamton this season, the 21-year-old has two goals, 10 assists and 41 penalty minutes.

The Senators next see action tomorrow night, when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:30 p.m.

How they finished.

This is how I predicted the teams would finish at the begining of the season. Yeah! I did real well didn't I?
1. C.C.
2. Minnesota
3. UND
4. Denver
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota State
7. UMD
8. SCSU
9. MTU
10. UAA

This how the season actually ended.

(1) North Dakota 38 (22-12-4)
(2) Denver 36 (20-10-5)
(3) Wisconsin 31(17-15-4)
(4) Colorado College 31(16-10-10)
(5) Minnesota 29(15-12-7)
(6) St. Cloud State 28(18-15-3)
(7) Minnesota-Duluth 27 (16-12-8)
(8) Minnesota State 26 (15-15-6)
(9) Alaska-Anchorage 23 (14-15-5)
(10) Michigan Tech 11 (6-23-7)

This was my What If prediction.

UND 28 38
UMN 28 37
Denver 28 36
CC 28 30
UW 28 30
Mankato 28 26
UMD 28 25
SCSU 28 23
AA 28 22
MTech 28 13


38th Annual Coaches Poll.

1. Colorado College (8) 78
2. UND (2) 67
3. Denver 62
4. (tie) Minnesota 53
4. (tie) Wisconsin 53
6. St. Cloud State 48
7. MSU-Mankato 38
8. Minn.-Duluth 24
9. Michigan Tech 14
10. Alaska-Anchorage 13


Here are the results of the Capital times media poll.
Team (first-place votes) Points Last year
1. Colorado College (22) 247 1
2. North Dakota (3) 210 2
3. Denver 192 3
4. Minnesota 156 7
(tie) Wisconsin 156 6
6. St. Cloud State 133 t4
7. Minnesota State 124 t4
8. Minnesota-Duluth 78 8
9. Michigan Tech 51 9
10. Alaska Anchorage 32 10

Here is how Sioux7 picked the team to finish.
1. UND
2. Denver
3. CC
4. SCSU
5. Minnesota
6. Wisconsin
7. UM-Duluth
8. MSU-Mankato
9. MTU
10. UAA

This is how Jess Meyers from INCH picked the league to finish. Nah, Jess Meyer's picks didn't go real well either.

1. Colorado College
2. Denver
3. St. Cloud State
4. Wisconsin
5. Minnesota State
6. Minnesota
7. North Dakota
8. Minnesota Duluth
9. Michigan Tech
10. Alaska Anchorage

Here is what I had to say at the beginning of the season after the exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison.

After watching the Sioux play in an exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison last night I have to say that there is a lot to be positive about. The overrated senior team captain and 2007 Hobey Baker Memorial winner Ryan Duncan (that is how some WCHA fans describe him) looked really good on a line with Chris VandeVelde and Brad Miller. Got that Ducan haters? Even without T.J. Oshie or Toews flanking him, Ryan Duncan managed to score two beautiful goals helping the Sioux to a 6-2 route of the Manitoba Bison.

Also, there is some positive mojo emitting from the Fighting Sioux hockey team getting a balanced attack as 10 of the 14 forwards factored into the games scoring. Granted there were two extra forwards because the game was listed as an exhibition and the Sioux could dress as many players as they wanted. None the less; the Fighting Sioux hockey team looked small (aside from Malone and Davidson), quick and moved the puck around nicely dominating a much slower Manitoba game. The speedy Sioux appeared to run out of gas in the third period but that is to be expected since the Sioux have only had one official practice going into the game.

Up next WCHA playoffs.

The Brackets are now set for the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

(1) North Dakota (22-12-4)
(10) Michigan Tech (6-23-7)

(3) Wisconsin (17-15-4)
(8) Minnesota State (15-15-6)

(4) Colorado College (16-10-10)
(7) Minnesota-Duluth (16-12-8)

(5) Minnesota (15-12-7)
(6) St. Cloud State (18-5-3)

(9) Alaska-Anchorage (14-15-5)
(2) Denver (20-10-5)

BADgers 4 Sioux 1

First off I was reading the board over at Sioux sports after I returned from my buddies house where I watched the third period. While I am not happy with a loss I have seen better teams than this one get swept in Madison. The 2000 Fighting Sioux hockey team was swept by the Badges in Madison 3-2ot and 6-5ot in January 14 and 15 2000.

Seriously! Who didn't expect a let down tonight after clinching the first MacNaughten cup in 4 seasons. UND has lost two games in 2009 (13-2-3) so the sky is not falling, I repeat the sky is not falling. Wisconsin wanted it more than UND did tonight and while I never can really appreciate a loss this particular loss can help the coaching staff refocus the team for the playoffs. After the WCHA playoffs the next loss will end the Fighting Sioux's season.

Power Play not good tonight

I can not remember the last time I have seen a team get two short handed goals scored on them during the same power play. I would have to think that it has to be a long time since we have seen something like that. I am sure that Coach Hakstol and his staff will review the game film from this weekend and make the proper adjustments. The power play was not good this weekend and the Fighting Sioux need to get better if they want to be successful in the WCHA and NCAA playoffs.

Box Scores
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1st Period (20:00)
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WIS-1 Brendan Smith (5-Checking from Behind) (Served by Michael Davies) NDK 0x1 2:15
WIS-2 Brendan Smith (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Michael Davies) 2:15
NDK-1 Chay Genoway (2-Cross-Checking) 14:54
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) (Served by Andrew Kozek) WIS 0x1 14:54
WIS-3 Patrick Johnson (2-Roughing) 14:54
NDK-3 Zach Jones (2-Holding) WIS 0x2 16:08

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2nd Period (20:00)
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WIS 1 - 0 6x6 Ben Grotting (4) (John Mitchell, Jake Gardiner) 0:34
WIS (+): 14,24,19,16,2,G35 NDK (-): 8,20,6,11,25,G31
NDK-4 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) WIS 0x3 1:34
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Brad Malone (4) (Brad Miller, Mario Lamoureux) 4:05
NDK (+): 22,14,10,9,24,G31 WIS (-): 4,12,3,10,14,G35
WIS-4 Ryan McDonagh (2-Interference) NDK 0x2 9:18
WIS 2 - 1 5x6 SH GW LL Derek Stepan (7) (Andy Bohmbach) 9:30
WIS (+): 21,11,19,2,G35 NDK (-): 17,8,5,21,19,G31
WIS 3 - 1 5x6 SH Derek Stepan (8) (Andy Bohmbach) 11:12
WIS (+): 21,11,3,19,G35 NDK (-): 17,8,19,5,10,G31
WIS-5 Jamie McBain (2-Interference) NDK 0x3 12:22
WIS-6 Jordy Murray (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x4 14:55
WIS-7 Ryan McDonagh (2-Roughing) NDK 0x5 19:05

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3rd Period (20:00)
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WIS 4 - 1 6x6 John Mitchell (14) (Tom Gorowsky) 12:28
WIS (+): 24,15,4,16,3,G35 NDK (-): 16,25,17,26,6,G31

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End of Game