Latest Bracketology

Here is the latest Bracketology blog from Jason Moy. Interesting they have to Gophers in the tourney and Cornell back on the lake known as Mariucci Arena. I can imagine that Michigan wouldn't be all that thrilled with the prospect of having to play the Gophers on their home ice but I can't see Michigan getting beat by the Gophers either.

East Regional (Bridgeport)

16 Bemidji State vs. 1 Boston University
9 Yale vs. 7 Vermont

Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids)

14 Minnesota-Duluth vs. 2 Notre Dame
10 Miami vs. 6 Northeastern

Northeast Regional (Manchester)

15 Air Force vs. 3 Denver
11 Princeton vs. 8 New Hampshire

West Regional (Minneapolis)

13 Minnesota vs. 4 Michigan
12 Cornell vs. 5 North Dakota

A couple of things. (Moron of the Week)

Apparently Coach Jacques Lemaire is not all that happy with Avalanche uber hack Cody McCormick for his vicious cross check on Cal Clutterbuck in the last game against the Av's. You have got to love this quote by Jacques that I bolded. Mike Russo is spot on that former MTU Husky John Scott rocked McCormick's ass in a very good fight. Of course the horse collar tackle at the end by McCormick was a bush league move.

Seriously, I am sick and tired of seeing these punks/agitators skate around the ice and take liberties with people and then watching the refs not make the proper call. The league doesn't look very good when they have to go back and review game tape, then have to go back and suspend the player ex-post facto. In my opinion I thought it was a major penalty at the time. NHL ref Don VanMassenhoven is probably one of the worst refs in the National Hockey League.

Colorado’s Cody McCormick got suspended two games for cross-checking Cal Clutterbuck in the head last night. I was sitting with Doug Risebrough when I got the email, showed it to him and he said, “Is that all? That’s my quote.”

Coach Jacques Lemaire said the referees last night weren’t going to call any penalties on it because Don VanMassenhoven didn’t see it. So Lemaire told VanMassenhoven, “You better tell your partner to call something because [McCormick’s] going to get suspended.” In other words, Lemaire was telling referee Ian Walsh there better be a penalty or it would be embarrassing for the men in stripes. Lemaire, by the way, used me as the dummy to demonstrate what McCormick did. Luckily, Lemaire avoided my face with his stick by I’d say a good, I don’t know, HALF INCH!

Walsh assessed a double minor. Later, Clutterbuck got cross-checked in the face again, this time by John-Michael Liles. VanMassenhoven nailed Clutterbuck for diving, too, probably because the ref felt he was miraculously back way too soon after being on the ice so long from the previous incident.

Lemaire said, “Trust me, he was shook up. What’s he got to get 50 stitches or a broken jaw?”

McCormick, who by the way got his clock cleaned by John Scott in Scott’s first NHL bout, is eligible to return against the Wild on Tuesday during another rare visit in St. Paul for Minnesota. (read the whole story here)

***Apparently Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough is not happy with the way his team practiced yesterday and is tired of listening to excuses from them about being tired. I am not sure how people can even take this clown seriously anymore? Doug Risebrough has run this team into the ground should start taking some ownership for this and maybe his team's play is so poor is because they are playing to their abilities. Ever think the reason the Wild couldn't score for 6 minutes of power play time was that you have 4-5 people on this team that can score a team full of third and fourth liners. Holy Cow Risebrough you're killing me here.

Risebrough said he's also tired of hearing how the Wild's arduous late-season road schedule is exhausting the team.

"They played yesterday [in Denver], they got up at 8 a.m. to catch a 9 a.m. bus to be on a 10 o'clock plane, where they flew first class with some really good food," Risebrough said. "They got here at 12:30 and they're on the ice now. What will they do now when they're finished at 3? Go to the hotel and sleep.

"At home, they'd go for a new car or their wife will say, 'I haven't been out for dinner in a while,' or, 'You haven't seen Johnny play hockey in a month.' The road is nothing. I know I'm making light of it. But come on. This is not a tough life.

"It's all in here," Risebrough said, pointing to his head.

"We can't have any excuse grabbers. Those are the ones who are going to fail because it's just easier to fail. It's hard work to succeed, but it's easy to fail."
(Click here for the whole article)

Moron of the Week

Here is our candidate for the moron of the Week. Maybe this Skippy should have sobered up before he wrote this gem. I would be willing to bet he is probably a doctoral candidate in rocket science from the University of Minnesota. First off the Sioux are tied for 5th in the power ranking while DU is ranked 3rd, not a very big separation. Second UND beat DU 8-3 and tied them the following night. Also lets not forget that the Sioux, swept the Gophers 6-3 and 6-1 exposing the Gophers and showing the rest of the league that the Gophers are a very weak hockey team. I would have to say you failed miserably in your attempt Skippy.

Get a life Flickertail fans
Why do we constantly see posts from jealous UND Flickertail fans on Gopher articles in the MINNEAPOLIS paper's web site? Doesn't Grand Forks offer anything for Flickertail fans to spew out lame comments? Hey, UND, we don't care about you, your precious hockey team, or the fact that you finished near the top in a down league this season. As far as being the best team in the WCHA, according to an earlier post, how do you explain being behind Denver in the Pairwise, and tied for 7th in the country in the those same rankings? That would indicate to me, that your squad is far from being "The best". Heck, Minnesota is only a few slots behind UND in the Pairwise, and they have had a terrible second half of the season. Maybe you should start thinking about sand bagging for the big flood and stop wasting your time making senseless posts on a Minneapolis paper's web site?!

posted by maxwell812 on Mar 14, 09 at 9:12 am

Scores from 3-13-2009

Friday, March 13, 2009

CCHA Tournament
Northern Michigan 2 at Miami 3
Nebraska-Omaha 0 at Notre Dame 5
Ohio State 0 at Alaska 4
Western Michigan 2 at Michigan 5

Analysis
No real surprising results here other than maybe OSU losing to Alaska.
Everyone else that won was expected to win.

CHA Tournament
Robert Morris 2 vs. Niagara 1
Alabama-Huntsville 1 at Bemidji State 4

Analysis
The shocker of the night was that RMU ended Niagara's playoff chances.

ECAC Tournament
Quinnipiac 3 at St. Lawrence 5
Union 2 at Princeton 3
Rensselaer 1 at Cornell 0
Brown 2 at Yale 4

Analysis
The big shocker here was the Cornell Big Red losing to Rensselaer.

HEA Tournament
Maine 1 at Boston University 2
Boston College 5 at New Hampshire 3
Massachusetts 2 at Northeastern 1
Mass.-Lowell 4 at Vermont 3 ot

Analysis
UMass-Lowell shocks Vermont. Boston College says we are not dead yet as the Eagle beats UNH in Durham, N.H. and now B.C. sits on the bubble at 17 in the PWR. The Eagles are going to have to probably win the Hockey East tourney or have a good showing to advance to the NCAA tourney.

AHA Tournament
Canisius 3 at Bentley 6
Holy Cross 5 at RIT 3
Army 2 at Mercyhurst 6
Sacred Heart 3 at Air Force 4

Analysis
I was shocked that RIT lost to Holy Cross since I have picked RIT to win the AHA tourney.

WCHA Tournament
Minnesota State 1 at Wisconsin 7
St. Cloud State 2 at Minnesota 4
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Denver 3
Michigan Tech 1 at North Dakota 5
Minnesota-Duluth 4 at Colorado College 1

Analysis
Bulldogs take a bite out of Bachman and the Tigers. From what I hear the Bulldogs came out with a vengeance and took it to the Tigers. It will be interesting to see if UMD can finish the deal tonight. (EDIT) I got a text last night from Lets Go Mav's and she had mentioned that the Mav's were outshot 66-27 by the Badgers. At first I thought it was a misprint but after WCHAdominates post I went back and looked at the box score and that shot total is eye popping. Wisconsin might be one of the better teams to miss the NCAA tourney this season.

Fighting Sioux 5 Real Huskies 1

Last night's game started out slow and was a little boring to watch but the game picked up and ended with a bang. It appeared that maybe at the start of the game the Fighting Sioux were grasping the sticks a little tight and they could have been a little nervous. To start the game I thought the Fighting Sioux also looked a little out of sync but they did manage to get their legs moving as the game progressed. The kind of broke the game open in the second period as they put seventeen shots on net getting two past Rob Nolan.

MTU no cupcake

Make no mistake about it, MTU is a tough team to play against. The Minnesota Gophers were bitten by them last weekend. The Huskies are the masters of clogging up the neutral zone and take away space to perfection. They also do a good job at taking away the passing lanes. If anything this is a good preparation for the games ahead. In the playoffs the games become tighter and you can't take a minute off or face the possibility of getting buried. One untimely turnover can spell doom. Rewind to last years frozen four.

Zajac still golden

The Fighting Sioux got another goal from Darcy Zajac this time a short handed goal keeping another impressive streak alive. When Fighting Sioux forward Zajac scores a goal UND has never lost a game. This season Zajac has scored some pretty nice goals, I thought last nights was a thing of beauty. Zajac has been contributing on the defensive side and well as offensively and has five points in the past eight games (3-2-5). Zajac has also almost equaled his point totals of his first two seasons at UND as Zajac has (5-12-17) for the season and his first point total for his first two seasons (11-7-18).

Ryan Ducan’s swan song

As Sioux fans we are watching Ryan Duncan’s swan song (final theatrical or dramatic appearance) and I have to say that I am going to miss watching this kid play for the Sioux because he has a knack for scoring big goals at the right time. Last night Ryan Duncan scored a nice power play goal in the second period to get Sioux going. Even without Oshie or Toews Ryan Duncan continues playing at a high level

-------------------Box score-------------------
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1st Period (20:00)
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MTU-1 Derek Kitti (2-Boarding) NDK 0x1 5:49
MTU-2 Derek Kitti (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 14:45
NDK-1 Andrew Kozek (2-Hooking) 14:45
NDK-2 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) MTU 0x1 14:45
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 LL Chris VandeVelde (15) (Matt Frattin, Brad Miller) 17:04
NDK (+): 29,21,14,24,19,G31 MTU (-): 7,21,27,23,20,G37

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2nd Period (20:00)
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MTU-3 Jordan Baker (2-Slashing) NDK 1x2 2:40
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP GW Ryan Duncan (16) (Brad Miller) 3:00
NDK: 16,14,26,29,25,G31 MTU: 28,13,20,12,G37
NDK-3 Mario Lamoureux (2-Hooking) MTU 0x2 3:48
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Evan Trupp (7) (Chris VandeVelde, Matt Frattin) 6:08
NDK (+): 19,29,21,14,24,G31 MTU (-): 19,5,23,14,18,G37
MTU-4 Ryan Bunger (2-Holding) NDK 1x3 6:55
MTU-5 Drew Dobson (2-Boarding) NDK 1x4 7:34
NDK-4 Andrew Kozek (2-CTH HIGH-STICKING) MTU 0x3 10:18
MTU-6 Ricky Doriott (2-Hooking) NDK 1x5 18:37

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3rd Period (20:00)
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MTU-7 Drew Dobson (2-Tripping) NDK 1x6 3:00
NDK-5 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) MTU 1x4 4:47
MTU 1 - 3 6x5 PP Alex MacLeod (5) (John Schwarz, Alex Gagne) 6:13
MTU: 14,10,18,5,19,G37 NDK: 20,5,2,11,G31
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) MTU 1x5 8:44
NDK 4 - 1 5x6 SH Darcy Zajac (5) (Chay Genoway) 10:31
NDK (+): 11,5,29,14,G31 MTU (-): 17,12,16,26,22,G37
NDK 5 - 1 6x6 Mario Lamoureux (3) (Brad Miller, Ben Blood) 11:13
NDK (+): 9,14,24,10,22,G31 MTU (-): 27,21,10,26,7,G37
MTU-8 Alex MacLeod (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 1x7 11:40
MTU-9 Eli Vlaisavljevich (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 1x8 16:12
MTU-10 Justin St. Louis (2-Roughing) 17:11
NDK-7 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 17:11
NDK-8 Matt Watkins (2-Goaltender Interference) MTU 1x6 17:11
MTU-11 BENCH (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) (Served by Bryce Reddick) NDK 1x9 19:10

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End of Game
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Bison Basketball in ND History.

There has been this on going debate over on siouxsports.com about how Sioux fans should be cheering for the Bison in the NCAA basketball tourney because they represent the state of North Dakota and if you don't cheer for the Bison then you're not pro-North Dakota. Spare us the silly lecture please. That is one of the silliest arguments I have ever heard. First off the Bison are representing North Dakota State University in basketball that's it. On the Bison's roster there are a grand total of three players from the great state of North Dakota, a majority of the players (8) are from Minnesota.

Also, Sioux fans aren't required to cheer for the Bison and not cheering for them doesn’t make one anti-North Dakota. If some Sioux fans decide to cheer for the Bison in the NCAA Division one basketball tourney that is their decision and good for them. I don’t have a problem with that. That is their choice.

Make no mistake about it, there are a lot of Sioux fans like me still look to the Bison as being our heated rival and they will always be, there is no way under any circumstances we could ever cheer for them. To me the Bison logo is as offensive of a symbol is as hated at the Golden Gophers "M" or the Green Bay Packers yellow helmets.

Also, there has been this on going argument if the Bison make the NCAA tourney that it would be the biggest story to ever come out of North Dakota. This argument started over on Mike McFeely's blog. While the Bison making the NCAA tourney it’s first year as a full division one program it is hardly the biggest North Dakota sports story of all-time. This accomplishment is small in comparison to the history of Fighting Sioux hockey. In today’s Grand Forks, Herald former Fighting Sioux Hockey beat writer Virg Foss addresses this subject in his column today. I think his article hits a lot of the important points.

It is an outstanding accomplishment. Kudos to the Bison, let me be clear on that.

But someone had to win the Summit League postseason basketball tournament and earn the bid to the NCAA tournament. NDSU, the most veteran and polished team in the league, was that one, as expected.

The true test of where this NDSU team will rank in state sports history comes in whether it can win a game or two in the tournament. The bet here is that it will be one-and-done for the Bison.

If that’s what happens, the Bison basketball team might be a candidate for a top five place in state history as trailblazers in the sport on the college level in our state. But that’s all.

Who else ranks higher? Phil Jackson might win more NBA championships than any coach in league history. That has to rank at or near the top all-time in the history of state sports.

You can’t overlook the 61 homers for the New York Yankees by Roger Maris in 1961, a major league record for someone not on drugs of some kind. Sure, he’s not a North Dakota native, but he spent his significant years for development in Grand Forks and Fargo, so we claim him.

You can’t overlook Tony Hrkac and Ryan Duncan from UND winning Hobey Baker Awards as the top players in NCAA Division I hockey. Or Mark Taylor being named the nation’s best college player by The Hockey News magazine the year before the Hobey Award came into existence.

How about the 116 points in the 1986-87 season for Hrkac, a national record that may never be broken.

So until the time a basketball team from NDSU or UND wins an NCAA Division I championship, I would rank Fighting Sioux hockey and its seven national championships at the top of my list, along with Jackson’s achievements.

They are accomplishments that have stood the test of time, during a lifetime in Jackson’s case, during the lifetimes of hundreds of athletes in the case of Sioux hockey.

There are those who will say college hockey, with less than 60 schools playing it at the Division I level, should be knocked down a peg or two when 340-some colleges that play NCAA Division I men’s basketball.

That’s a shallow argument. College hockey at UND is played at a truly unique level in the state. The reputation and respect the program has on a national level for excellence is well-earned.

Need proof? UND has placed more players into the top pro league (the NHL) in one sport than NDSU has in all of its sports combined.

So let’s take what NDSU did in men’s basketball this season and honor it for what it is, an outstanding achievement worthy of praise.

But don’t kid yourself. As the biggest sports accomplishment in North Dakota history, it’s not even close — unless the Bison win the whole dang thing.
(read the whole story here)

P.A at Great Waters Brewery on March 20th.

Good news for all the Rubes that went last year KFAN remote, Paul Allen is going to be back again at the Great Waters Brewery on March 20th from 0900-1200. If you have never been to one of these events I recommend going, it was a lot of fun last year. The Great Waters Brewery have some awesome dark beers and great food. I have been to two of them and they are a lot of fun and very good way to meet other hockey fans.

Friday, March 20th
Paul Allen Project broadcast at Great Waters Brewery in St. Paul
It’s time to go to Great Waters! Get all geared up for the WCHA Final Five games and join P.A. at Great Waters Brewery in St. Paul from 9am-Noon! Wear your college hockey gear and get ready for a little puck talk. See you there!

Brad Eidsness on Julie Robenhymer's NCAA podcast.

Julie Robenhymer from hockeybuzz.com had Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness on her podcast at 39:50 in (Click here to listen to the pod cast).

For Fighting Sioux fans this podcast is a must listen to, it kind of gives you a good idea how bright Brad Eidsness really is, he sounds like a real student of the game. Also, Julie Robenhymer's podcast are always funnier than heck, I ussually listen to them when I mow my lawn. Also, it sounds like Julie Robenhymer is going to be at the Final Five next week in St Paul, this was announced during the end of Blake Geoffrion interview on the podcast.

One of the things from the podcast that caught really my attention was that Julie said the following ;

I saw you guys at the very start of the season at ice breaker tourney in Boston and it was a very difficult start to the season and I was talking to the the reporters from Grand Forks that cover the fighting Sioux and they were on the messages boards and hockey is really big in North Dakota and especially with their fighting Sioux and one of the reporters was showing here this message board and the sky was falling.

Sounds
Must have been Brad Elliott Schlossman and she is probably talking about siouxsports.com.

Bozak might not make Final Five

DU blogger and UND antagonist Mike Chambers is reporting that DU super sophomore Tyler Bozak might not be back until the NCAA playoffs. That is a big blow to the Denver Pioneers.

DU center Tyler Bozak, who has missed the past 17 games with a knee injury, might not return to the lineup until the opening game of the NCAA Tournament on March 27 or March 28, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky told me Thursday.

Bozak, who has 55 points in 59 career games at DU, said last week he was on track o return at next week’s WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn., assuming DU advances by eliminating Alaska-Anchorage in this weekend’s three-game WCHA playoff series at Magness Arena.

“This past Monday he began participating in warmup drills _ skating, shooting, passing, and (this) Monday he will be cleared for full practice with the team, and at that point we will wait for our medical team, as far as a decision for him to participate in games,” Gwozdecky said. “I don’t anticipate he will be cleared to play at that point. It will be more along the lines of being cleared the week after the Final Five.”

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.
------------

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.
-------------(snip)--------------
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.