Tim Thomas gets paid.

Former Vermont Catamount and current Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas signed a contract extension for 4 years and 20 million dollars. Just for comparision sake here is what some of the other goalies will be making next season. Bruins goalie Tim Thomas will be making 6 million next season the same amount as Niklas Backstrom. Also, you have to wonder if Thomas is probably the odds on favorite to be the man between the pipes in next year's Olympics.

Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875 million)
Roberto Luongo ($6.75 million)
Ryan Miller ($6.25 million)
Jean-Sebastien Giguere ($6 million)
Niklas Backstrom ($6 million)
Miikka Kiprusoff ($5.833 million)
Marty Turco ($5.7 million)
Tomas Vokoun ($5.7 million)
Cristobal Huet ($5.625 million)
Evgeni Nabokov ($5.375 million)
Martin Brodeur ($5.2 million)
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million)

(Source Bruin's Blog)

Note to WCHA commissioner make it work.

The WCHA commissioner and North Dakota faculty representative Sue Jeno made a site visit to Bemidji State University on Friday; this is one of the first steps in the right direction of getting BSU gaining membership into the WCHA. Now is a time for a steady hand and leadership as the WCHA makes the transition to a 11 or 12 team league.

The thing that troubles me the most is all of the excuse making I hear from the WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, to quote the one time beat writer for the Fighting Sioux Virg Foss, “make it work.” If McLeod can’t make it work maybe the member schools of the WCHA should consider another person for the Commissioner's job. IIRC the commissioner’s contract is up for renewal this year and maybe the league needs to go in another direction if McLeod can’t offer stable leadership. Maybe there is someone that can make it work. I don’t think the WCHA wants to be the league that killed 2008-2009 Division one Hockey’s version of Cinderella.

With BSU the sole applicant, it would leave the WCHA an 11-team league which would present scheduling problems. Not in the math, McLeod said, but in producing a fair and equitable balance among the big and smaller schools in the league.

“I have put together an 11-team 28-game schedule for three years out,” he said. “You can put it together. … But there’s no model to it.”

The WCHA already plays an imbalanced schedule because home-and-home games aren’t available to all teams. The 10-team, 28-game imbalanced schedule takes four years to work it out so that all teams play home and away an equal number of times. A 12-team, 28-game schedule takes five years.

“I have yet to figure out a way – I’ve been in NHL offices, every place I can to try to find some model that works with some fairness, some balance to it and I have yet to come up with it,” he said.

The schedule he does have has some teams with two games on the road three years in a row to the same school.

“It’s not fair to the institutions that are in the league right now, that they have no idea what their opponents' schedule is going to look like from year to year,” he said. “It has no recognition of traditional opponents we have in the league.”

Many think that a step backward, McLeod said.

Better than an 11-team league is a 12-team league, he said, and it appears work continues to gain another application.

“Obviously the answer to an 11-team league is a 12-team league,” he said. “We are doing a lot of homework in that area. … There are some interests. I can’t mention them, but there are definitively possibilities for us but we have to come up with the right circumstances, the right way to approach, etc. etc.”

McLeod says he hopes BSU can get an answer this spring, right at the WCHA’s annual meeting. “That may or may not happen, depending on some things that are still in the works regarding some of the things we’re hoping for in a little bit.”
(read the whole story here)

NMU to stay in the CCHA.

It had been speculated that NMU might jump to the WCHA, but that rumor has been shot down. I agree with the NMU blogger, I think NMU would be a great addition to the WCHA and would be a natural rival with MTU. I think NMU fans should email and call the NMU athletic department.

NMU Decides to Stay in CCHA --- Rob Balmes
Much to the chagrin of many Wildcat fans, the NMU President, Board, and Athletic Director decided to remain in the CCHA, turning down an offer to rejoin the WCHA. I personally believe it is a terrible mistake, but respect the decision. Fans should now petition the CCHA to open a dialogue and not be bullied by Michigan and Michigan State to have cross-over interleague play every season. They have their nice little deal to play Wisconsin and Minnesota every season. The dream is dead, NMU remains a Central member.

Will all of the Hobey Hat Trick be signed this spring?

You have to wonder if after the Frozen Four is done next weekend will all of the Hobey Baker Hat Trick players be signed to professional contracts? Colin Wilson, Boston University a Sophomore (13g - 27a – 40) will probably get some pressure from the Nashville Predators to sign and Matt Gilroy Boston University a Senior defenseman
(5g - 16a – 21) is said to be one of the more sought after free agents after Tyler Bozek who just signed a professional contract today with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

4/03/2009 --- The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed free agent goalie Brad Thiessen from Northeastern University.

Thiessen is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker award as the top college hockey player for the 2008-09 season.

The Aldergrove, BC native finished fourth in the nation in victories with a record of 25-12-4. He recorded six shutouts in 41 games with a save percentage of .931 and goals-against average of 2.11.

The 23-year-old was named the best goaltender and Player of the Year in Hockey East.

The winner of the Bozak sweepstakes is? The Leafs.

Sounds like Brian Burke got his man and is going to go after Boston University senior defensman Matt Gilroy as well as soon as the NCAA playoffs are over. It looks like the Maple Leafs are on the road to recovery and making the right steps to right the ship after a futile existence the last three seasons no Stanley Cup playoff; actually that will be four seasons after this current season is officially over. So look for the Maple Leafs to make some improvement.

So if your a Leaf aka a Make Me Laugh Fan things are starting to look up your general manager just got DU's Tyler Bozak and Notre Dame's Christian Hanson to sign professional contracts. Tyler Bozak was one of the most sought after undrafted free agents because he is a complete forward that plays both ends of the ice and will make an impact in the NHL.

Another Piece of the Puzzle
The Maple Leafs, having more success off the ice in recent days than they enjoyed all season, have outfought several other clubs for the right to sign talented Denver University forward Tyler Bozak.

Bozak, 23, has told the Leafs they are his preferred destination for his first NHL contract, with a contract expected to be signed sometime today. The Leafs are believed to have outmaneuvered Ottawa, Colorado and Anaheim, among other clubs, to sign the U.S. collegiate star. Tyler Bozak had 18 goals in 41 games with Denver in 2007-08.

After signing Christian Hanson of Notre Dame, who will make his NHL debut tonight in Philly, earlier this week, snaring Bozak gives the Leafs two of the top U.S. collegiate free agents available, with Boston University defenceman Matt Gilroy still on Brian Burke's radar.

Quite clearly, these free agents are looking at the Leafs and seeing opportunity for immediate NHL work based on the club's lack of depth at every position. This week, in a way, has turned into the draft before the draft for the Leafs, who desperately need to add prospects to their bare talent cupboard.

Bozak, a native of Regina who played his junior hockey in B.C. before heading to Denver, is thought to have more of an offensive upside than Hanson, but is smaller and missed most of the past season with a knee injury. Both are skill players, and Burke undoubtedly made it clear to both that he intends to add muscle around them to make their introduction to NHL competition easier.

Getting both players, meanwhile, is in part a credit to the stability the Leafs are enjoying these days.

So the list is updated over on the UND hockey blog.
Early departures in the WCHA (7)

Alaska-Anchorage (1)
Paul Crowder, jr, forward, N.Y. Rangers

Colorado College (2)
Brian Connelly, jr, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
Richard Bachman, so, goaltender, Dallas Stars

Denver (1)
Tyler Bozak, so, forward, Toronto Maple Leafs

Minnesota (1)
Ryan Stoa, jr, forward, Colorado Avalanche

MSU-Mankato (1)
Trevor Bruess, jr, forward, Washington Capitals

Wisconsin (1)
Jamie McBain, jr, defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes

David Backes scores 4 goals in one game.

I have to admit that I am getting more and more excited about the St Louis Blues and the great young team that they have. I mean look at the players. Tonight former MSU-M Maverick star David Backes scored four (4) goals in one game. Backed scored a natural hat trick and then scored the game winning goal. That is impressive in my book. You have to wonder if anyone will want to face tem in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team they beat the Detroit Redwings.


(Goal 2)

(Goal 3)

(Goal 4)

NCAA upsets show why more teams necessary

Here was an interesting article that was in the THN.COM However the article is devoid of a few key facts. Lets clear up a couple of things up. First off; Robert Morris, Niagara have already found a conference the AHA and BSU and UAH are still looking for a new conference to call home. Second; Air Force was playing in their third straight NCAA regional they have never advanced to the Frozen Four.

The University of Findlay (Ohio) Oilers were the basketball team in question and hey, congratulations on your first national title.

But with Air Force beating Michigan and Bemidji State (Minn.) trouncing Notre Dame and Cornell in the Frozen Four tournament over the weekend, I couldn’t help but think of those players who suited up for the Oilers on the ice from 1999 to 2004, when Findlay was a member of College Hockey America (CHA), the dwindling conference that has also produced the Bemidji State Beavers. Those same Beavers are angling to join the powerhouse WCHA, leaving the CHA with just three members (Robert Morris, Niagara and Alabama-Huntsville). And based on the way the Beavers handled No. 1 Notre Dame and highly rated Cornell, it’s obvious the team knows how to compete with the big boys.

Findlay hockey died because of budget constraints, an all-too-familiar refrain these days, but a rough one when you read between the lines: the school would rather have a Division II basketball team than a Division I hockey team. In essence, they’d rather play Cal Poly Pomona on the hardwood than Notre Dame on the ice.

But hey – not my decision.

American college athletics are so exciting because of the atmospheres and because of the rivalries (think Wisconsin-Minnesota or Boston College-Boston U.). I’ve said this before, but it needs to be said again: More big schools are needed in NCAA hockey.

The talent is there. Powerhouses such as Wisconsin often over recruit and some players end up playing at Division III schools for a year until a roster spot opens up. And as we’ve seen with Air Force and Bemidji State, hockey is finding its Gonzagas and George Masons. The Falcons of Air Force, for example, were playing in their third straight Frozen Four tournament coming out of the Atlantic Hockey conference.

Big Joe Finley Signs.

LGM's favorite former Fighting Sioux hockey player Joe Finley has signed an entry level professional contract with the Washington Capitals organization. Goon's World would like to congratulate Big Joe and wish him good luck in the next step in his hockey career. I have enjoyed watching Finley play for UND the last four seasons.

04/02/2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 2, 2009

Capitals Sign Defenseman Joe Finley

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Joe Finley to a two-year entry-level contract beginning next season, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Finley, 21, will join the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Monday.

Finley skated in 27 games for the University of North Dakota this year and recorded two goals and eight assists. He missed 16 games with an injury.

The 6'7", 240-pound Edina, Minn., native was a four-time letter winner for North Dakota and helped the Fighting Sioux advance to the Frozen Four in each of his first three years of college. He recorded 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists) in 154 career games and led the team in plus/minus during his sophomore and junior years. He was named to the All-WCHA Academic Team three times.

He played one season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League before college and recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) and 181 penalty minutes in 55 games.

Finley was Washington's first-round choice, 27th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

T.J. Oshie Named NHL rookie of the month.

Former Fighting Sioux Hockey player T.J. Oshie was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March, Oshie edged out former Badger Brian Elliot and Former Gopher Kyle Okposo for the award. If T.J. Oshie wouldn't have gotten hurt this season I could see him making a push for Rookie of the year in the NHL.

NEW YORK -- St. Louis center T.J. Oshie, who helped spark the Blues' playoff surge by recording 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and a +6 rating in 14 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March.

Oshie edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (8-7--15 in 15 games), Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (5-9--14 in 13 games), New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (5-8--13 in 13 games), Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliott (9-3-0, 2.57 goals-against average), Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason (8-4-2, 2.46 GAA) and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (7-2-3, 2.53 GAA) for the award.

Oshie tallied points in nine games as the Blues posted a 9-4-1 record and climbed from 12th to ninth in the Western Conference standings. He recorded an assist and a +3 rating in a 5-2 victory over Dallas Mar. 10, notched a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to Detroit Mar. 14 and notched a pair of assists in a 5-3 win over Minnesota Mar. 15. Forming a 'Kid Line' with fellow rookie Patrik Berglund and second-year David Perron, Oshie tallied a goal and an assist and was named First Star in a 4-2 victory over Vancouver Mar. 26 and registered 1-1--2 and a +3 rating in a 5-2 win at Columbus Mar. 29 that gave the Blues a sweep of the weekend home-and-home series.

Oshie is the fifth player to be named NHL Rookie of the Month this season, joining Columbus Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard (October), Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason (November and December), Anaheim Ducks right wing Bobby Ryan (January) and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (February).

Hobey Hat trick announced.

Here is the 2008-2009 Hobey Hat Trick.

The hat trick includes Junior goalie Brad Thiessen from Northeastern, Boston University senior defenseman Matt Gilroy and BU sophomore forward Colin Wilson.

This is why I like the shootout

I hear a lot of people railing against the shootout and how some people don't
want to see NCAA Division one hockey to adopt the shootout across the board
well it is goals/moves like this that make the shootout an exciting option for me.

Serratore for Spencer Penrose. Why not?

Here are the finalist for the 2008-2009 Spencer Penrose finalists. I would like to see the award go to Tom Serratore coach of the Bemidji State University Beavers because I think he is the most deserving of the award.

Coach Serratore has gotten the more out of less with his hockey team. I mean think about it this way, the BSU Beavers have (1) one player that is drafted by an NHL team (Chris Peluso (PIT) JR) the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had (8) eight players, you tell me what team under achieved there. So what we are saying while BSU had one drafted player other teams have 5-15 drafted players and couldn't make the Frozen Four or even get out of the first round game of their regional.

Breaking it down further the BSU Beavers weren't even in the top 25 of the Pair Wise Rankings yet they beat the 2nd and 12th ranked teams, in fact the Beavers beat the number two ranked team that was at the top of the rankings most of the season and went something like 20 games without a loss.

Keith Allain, Yale*
Enrico Blasi, Miami#@
Greg Cronin, Northeastern*
Dallas Ferguson, Alaska*
Dave Hakstol, North Dakota*
Jack Parker, Boston University#@
Tom Serratore, Bemidji State*#
Kevin Sneddon, Vermont#
Ryan Soderquist, Bentley*

* Conference coach of the year
# NCAA Frozen Four participant
@ Previous winner

Recent winners

2000 Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
2001 Dean Blais, North Dakota
2002 Tim Whitehead, Maine
2003 Bob Daniels, Ferris State
2004 Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth
2005 George Gwozdecky, Denver
2006 Enrico Blasi, Miami
2007 Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame
2008 Red Berenson, Michigan

2009-2010 schedule is up

2009-2010 UND Fighting Sioux tenative schedule has been posted. Brad Schlossman posted an article about the schedule as well.

Oct. 3 -- MANITOBA (ex)(CIS)
Oct. 9 -- MERRIMACK (HOCKEY EAST)
Oct. 10 -- MERRIMACK (HOCKEY EAST)
Oct. 16 -- MINNESOTA
Oct. 17 -- MINNESOTA
Oct. 23 -- at Anchorage
Oct. 24 -- at Anchorage
Nov. 6 -- at Mich. Tech
Nov. 7 -- at Mich. Tech
Nov. 13 -- ST. CLOUD
Nov. 14 -- ST. CLOUD
Nov. 20 -- at Denver
Nov. 21 -- at Denver
Nov. 27 -- MIAMI (CCHA)
Nov. 28 -- OHIO STATE (CCHA)
Dec. 4 -- at Duluth
Dec. 5 -- at Duluth
Dec. 11 -- WISCONSIN
Dec. 12 -- WISCONSIN
Dec. 19 -- US WORLD JR (ex)
Jan. 1 -- at Notre Dame tour.(TBD)
Jan. 2 -- at Notre Dame tour. (TBD)
Jan. 8 -- MSU-MANKATO
Jan. 9 -- MSU-MANKATO
Jan. 15 -- at Minnesota
Jan. 16 -- at Minnesota
Jan. 22 -- at Cornell (ECAC)
Jan. 23 -- at Cornell (ECAC)
Jan. 29 -- DENVER
Jan. 30 -- DENVER
Feb. 12 -- at St. Cloud
Feb. 13 -- at St. Cloud
Feb. 19 -- DULUTH
Feb. 20 -- DULUTH
Feb. 26 -- at Colo. Coll.
Feb. 27 -- at Colo. Coll.
Mar. 5 -- MICH. TECH
Mar. 6 -- MICH. TECH
Mar. 12-13 -- WCHA first round
Mar. 18-20 -- WCHA Final Five
Mar. 26-28 -- NCAA regionals
Apr. 8-10 -- Frozen Four

James van Riemsdyk signs with the Flyers.

The UNH Wildcats were handed a bit of bad news todoay when they found out that their super star forward James van Riemsdyke will forgo his college eligibility to play for the Philadelphia Flyer's. Based on his play and his WJC tourney no one should be surprised. I expect JVR to make an immediate impact in the NHL.

DURHAM – Going, going, gone.

Sophomore center James van Riemsdyk informed University of New Hampshire hockey coach Dick Umile Wednesday morning that he had signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, ending the tenure of one of the highest-profile recruits to ever wear a UNH uniform.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Van Riemsdyk returned home to New Jersey on Tuesday and finalized plans with his parents and family advisor, Umile said, adding that it was no surprise.

“I think we all knew there was a good possibility it was going to happen, but nothing’s official until it happens,” said Umile, who called van Riemsdyk a “joy to coach” and said he supports his decision to turn pro.

The No. 2 overall pick by the Flyers in the 2007 NHL draft, van Riemsdyk upset some people in Philly by returning to UNH for his sophomore season.

The Wildcats’ season ended Sunday, one step short of the Frozen Four, when they were nipped by top-ranked Boston University, 2-1, in the Northeast Regional final in Manchester. They finished 20-13-5.

Van Riemsdyk issued a statement through UNH Wednesday that read, in part: “It has been my lifelong dream to one day play in the NHL. … UNH has played a crucial role in preparing me for this important next step in my hockey career and I shall be forever grateful. I fully intend to complete my academic obligations for the current second semester.”

So now we are to believe the Wild like college kids?

When I was reading Wild blogger Mike Russo's blog post today this part of article really jumped out at me. It's no mystery that Wild general manager Doug Risebrough doesn't like college hockey players very much, if he did he would have more of them on his roster. Seriously! If Doug Risebrough really like ex-college hockey players why aren't there more ex-college hockey players on the Wild roster? While the Wild have 15 ex-collegiate hockey players on their farm club none of them are on the fast track to playing for the big club.

I think this is a legitimate question since there are many opportunities to get a good look at college hockey players living in the state of hockey. The Minnesota Wild have one collegiate hockey player on their team John Scott and he is from Edmonton Alberta, also the Wild have one American on their team Dan Fritsche who played his amateur hockey in the OHL and he is going to be a career third or fourth line player. I love the Minnesota Wild but Risebrough is doing a horrible job managing this franchise.

Also ran into Canucks bruiser Darcy Hordichuk, and he interviewed me rather than vice versa regarding a 6-foot-8 former Michigan Tech (who says the Wild dislikes college kids?) dude named John Scott. Apparently Hordichuk’s thinking he may need to “go” with the towering blue-liner, and by “go,” I mean fight if you catch my drift.

I talked to Scott a lot this morning about his fighting. He openly says that he’s a “bad fighter,” and it’s something he might need to address this summer by taking boxing lessons. Being a college kid, he never had to fight. He openly admits he hates fighting but knows at 6-8, it’s something he’s going to have to do if he’s going to be a regular in this league.
(read the whole blog here)

Houston Aeros roster 2008-2009.
Nolan Schaefer Providence College
Krys Kolanos, Boston College
Marco Rosa, Merrimack college
Brandon Rogers, Michigan
Danny Irmen, Minnesota
Jason Deitsch, St Norbert College
Bryan Lundbohm, North Dakota
Robbie Earl, Wisconsin
Jason Ryznar, Michigan
Mike Hamilton, Maine
Jon Insana, Michigan State
Tony Hrkac, North Dakota
John Adams, Boston College
Ryan Lang, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Bolts a bunch of hacks

After watching the game between the Bruins and the Lighting it would appear that Tampa Bay is a bunch of hacks, the stick swinging in this game was ridiculous. Check out the fight video of Milan Lucic as he buries Josef Melichar who was stupid enough to hit him up high with a bush league high hit. A whole lot of nasty is what Blues GM John Davidson called Lucic. Also, on the injury front Phil Kessel is still out of the line up until at least next week.

By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff April 1, 2009 01:30 PM
Lots of stick work--and an abundance of shattered sticks--in last night's game.

''I guess you are right,'' said Milan Lucic, pulling up his sleeves to show slices in both forearms from enemy hacks. ''You saw that a lot of that in the old NHL, but not so much today.''

Julien kept to his minimal updates on the injured likes of Phil Kessel and Shawn Thornton. Kessel, he said, won't play until, next week. Thornton is considered day-to-day with a minor injury.

Genoway returning for senior season.

Brad Elliott Schlossman beat writer for the Fighting Sioux hockey team is reporting that WCHA defenseman of the year Chay Genoway will return for his senior season at UND. This is very good news for the Fighting Sioux hockey team, Chay brings a lot of on the ice leadership that should help some of the younger Sioux defenders. I would suspect that he will be a good candidate for wearing the "C". Your staying for another week just made a lot of Sioux fan's week a lot better. Now if we can only talk Vandy into staying we will be set.

The UND men’s hockey team will have to replace a pair of senior alternate captains on defense for next season, but it won’t have to replace the reigning Western Collegiate Hockey Association defensive player of the year.

Chay Genoway has decided that he won’t entertain any pro offers this offseason and he will be back at UND for his senior year.

“There was interest, but I didn’t want to take it any further,” Genoway said. “There is a time and place for some guys to go. But for me, everything points back to coming back to this program. I want to cherish another year here. I’m not ready to leave this place. It’s too special of a place. If I had the chance to play here for 10 years, I would.

“I’ve talked to guys who have moved on and they always say that this is their favorite place they’ve ever played, even at the pro level. I think we’re going to have a good team next year and I’m really excited about it.”

Genoway is an undrafted free agent, but NHL teams will have to wait another year to get a crack at the 5-foot-8, 165-pound dynamic, offensive defenseman.
(read the whole story right here)

BSU makes history.

This past weekend there was a whirlwind of excitement surrounding the NCAA Division one hockey tourney as the Bemidji State University Beavers qualified for the Frozen Four by beating a couple impressive highly favored foes. The flat bellied experts predicted that there was no way the Beavers could win and said that the Beavers would be a one and done team. The Beavers would have none of that and went along their merry way busting brackets and breaking the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s and Cornell Big Red heart’s. It was a story book ending to an incredible weekend of college hockey.

BSU fans Giddy

Much of this week I have spent a fair amount of talking to my friends from Bemidji State Nation about their team’s historic series of events. You can hear the excitement in their voices as they get ready for the upcoming Frozen Four. As a UND fan I know how exciting it can be leading up the Frozen Four as the four years prior my team was in the big dance on the big stage.

I can't blame the BSU fans for being giddy, this is an exciting time. I have to admit being from Bemidji and having attended BSU for two years and being a member of the 1992 BSU football team I am giddy as hell. I also lived in Bemidji I want to see the Beavers win it all. I have to admit that I am sick and tired of seeing the hockey pundits and ESPN be cheer for the big schools like BU, B.C. Notre Dame, and Michigan school’s (2x). I think it is time for another small school to win the whole thing that doesn’t reside in on the East Coast or Michigan. So the only thing that would top this magical run by BSU would be a NCAA title. Is it possible, yeah it is…

Historic Run

The BSU Beavers became the first 16 seed to make the Frozen Four. Three number one seeds went down to defeat and only one Boston University won both of their games. The other three number one seeds didn't even win their first game. Compare and contrast the two Cinderella team's wins; the Falcons scored two relatively quick goals against Michigan and then were very lucky they were able to hang on to their lead as Michigan was all over them in the third period but could not score a goal. You almost have to wonder if AFA had Plexiglas on the front of the net.

On the other hand the Beavers flat out dominated one very good hockey team and another defensive powerhouse for 6 periods of hockey. There wasn’t any score a couple of goals and then go into a defensive shell. It was attack and counter attack. So yeah it’s historic probably because it has never happened until this past weekend. The BSU plan was very simple get pucks deep and skate very hard for 30 second and get off the ice. So simply yet the opposition was unable to answer Serratore’s game plan.

Puck Daddy on BSU

Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy kind of sums up the significance of BSU making the big dance. This story is very similar to the 1980 Olympic victory, kind of David versus Goliath

Sometimes, it takes a miracle for hockey to receive mainstream sports attention. Like back in 1980, when a bunch of college kids from the U.S. shocked the Olympic world by defeating the Russians; or like in 2009, when a bunch of college kids from Bemidji State University upset Notre Dame and Cornell to qualify for the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four in Washington, DC next weekend.

Bemidji what now? The question is being asked around the sports world as the liberal arts university from northern Minnesota -- home to around 5,000 students -- enters the semifinals of college hockey's Div. I championship tournament for the first time, in what some are calling "the equivalent of Morehead State going to the Final Four."

Kozek signs with the Chicago Wolves.

Goon's World will have a fond memories of former Fighting Sioux forward Andrew Kozek
I included the game winning goal from last years West Regional against the Badgers.
I would like to wish Kozek good luck in the next step of his hockey career.

( Chicago Wolves Press Release)--- The Chicago Wolves have signed left wing Andrew Kozek to an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO).

The 22-year-old forward posted an assist in the University of North Dakota’s 6-5 overtime loss to the University of New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament on Saturday, and tallied eight goals, 20 points and 40 penalty minutes in 38 games with UND (WCHA) this season.

Overall, the Sicamous, British Columbia, native racked up 38 goals, 27 assists and 65 points in 167 career matchups with the Fighting Sioux, spanning four seasons (2005 to 2009). The Atlanta Thrashers second choice, 53rd overall, in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, KOZEK also spent two seasons with the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) prior to joining UND, recording 67 goals 71 assists and 138 points in 118 matchups from 2003 to 2005.

KOZEK will be available to make his professional debut when the Wolves take on the Peoria Rivermen at Carver Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

UNH loses Ryan Bourque to the QMJHL

Like father like son Ray Bourque's kid Ryan Bourque is going to play in the QMJHL and has backed out of his verbal commitment to UNH. Sounds like a significant loss for the Wildcats. You have to wonder how solid the Bourque's commitment to the Wildcats was? What is more interesting is the comments following this blog post and the debate on whether the NCAA versus CHL debate.

Bourque to skip UNH, head to QMJHL

Like his father, the youngest Bourque will play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Ryan Bourque, a Boxford native and son of Bruins legend and NHL Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, will forgo a verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire to suit up for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League next season.

Bourque, 18, was Quebec's seventh-round choice in last year's junior draft. He was ranked 61st among North American skaters in this year's NHL Central Scouting midseason rankings. He will have up to three years of junior eligibility. The Remparts' owner, general manager and coach is NHL Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, a former teammate of Ray Bourque's with the Colorado Avalanche.

US Under-18 team coach Ron Rolston said Bourque is an elite player in his age group who will be productive at the next level.

"He does everything for us, and he provides leadership," said Rolston. "He'll be a valuable asset to Quebec."

A 5-foot-8, 165-pound left wing, Bourque played the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He had 19 goals and 24 assists in 47 games this year, second on the Under-18 team. He will play for the US in the Under-18 World Championships, which begin April 9.

Ray Bourque played three seasons for the now-defunct Sorel (later Verdun) Eperviers, or Blackhawks, of the QMJHL.