Ballard whoops Crosby.

I had to watch this video a few times and all I can say is good for Keith Ballard nice to see Cindy Crosby get what's coming to him. Crosby while a great player acts like a spoiled toddler that has had his pacifier taken away from him.

I am also sick and tired of seeing hockey players go after the opposition after they have recieved a legal body check or one of their teammates have been hit by a legal check. Grow the hell up and be a man, your part of the ice. This is unacceptable, If you don't like to get hit play tennis. There is no rule that you can't hit a teams star player.

Season over for the Wild. Note to Ownership Fire GM.

I was watching this game this afternoon on NBC and frankly the team put me to sleep, talk about boring, it almost looks as if the Wild accepted the fact that they aren't going to make the playoffs and just bagged the game. Gabby can say that Osgood was shakey but I didn't see a lot from him except for his goal. I almost wonder if Gaborik is hockey's version of Randy Moss I play when I want to.

I think the real truth is that the GM didn't give the coach a team that could have did much even if they would have had Gaborik for the whole season. Also when you have offensive defenseman like Marek Zidlicky they are prone to make big time mistakes that cost goals and if they Wild could have held on they would've at least gotten a point.

This team is pathetic and needs leadership at the top, there is nothing in the way of talent developing in Houston, General Manager Doug Risebrough is a joke and the one that should take all of the blame. I wish I could be the one to tell Risebrough he is fired. Gone, clean out your office because your toast. Take the train.

Teams that can’t put together a single real winning streak in a season shouldn’t have been in this position anyway. But that’s an indictment of the system.

Tonight’s loss was deserved, but it was heartbreaking nonetheless. The Wild was outshot 44-23, 34-11 at one point. Only Niklas Backstrom, a shaky Chris Osgood, and a couple posts, too (first period must have been sponsored by the Minnesota & Michigan Iron Range’s cuz Koivu, Hossa and Hudler hit iron), allowed the Wild to even be a minute from overtime.

And then, in one flawed, fatal last-minute shift, three players — Cal Clutterbuck, Eric Belanger and Marek Zidlicky, according to coach Jacques Lemaire — made mistakes.

Belanger fell. Clutterbuck joined Marian Gaborik on a forecheck when he shouldn’t have. But as often is the case, it was Mr. Zidlicky who caused the 2-on-1 by again carelessly stepping up in the neutral zone like he’s done so many times this season (most recent on Zach Parise in New Jersey, resulting in Brian Gionta’s nail in the coffin).

Zidlicky got lured into stepping up on Pavel Datsyuk. One pass later, 2-on-1 between Tomas Holmstrom and Marian Hossa.

Game over. Season over.

Lemaire roasted the players, but I point you to the game story for those quotes. The locker room was pretty glum after the game, obviously, because this week vacation plans will begin and native country’s will begin to phone about world championship availability. (read the whole article here)

Must seen interview with Tyler Bozak

I saw this Tyler Bozak interview over on DG's LetsGoDU hockey blog. Even if you're not a DU fan it's a must see.

A couple of the points that really hit home was how down to earth Bozak is but also how modest he is as a person. Folks, this was one of the best players in the WCHA this past season and barring injury would have run away with the scoring title in my opinion. Sounds like Bozak is a very good student and will go back and finish the rest of the year at Denver. The part that makes Bozak such an attractive prospect to the NHL is ability to play both ends of the ice. Toronto is going to be good again very soon they have picked up two top undrafted free agents and have been rumored to be going after Matt Gillroy from BU as well.

More of the Avery and Thomas incident.

This what Tim Thomas had to say about Sean "Sloppy Seconds" Avery smacking Tim Thomas to the back of his head with his Hockey stick as Thomas was stretching during a TV timeout. What part of that is socially unacceptable does Avery not understand?

"You look up and see who it is," recalled Thomas, "and you're like, 'You've got to be kidding me.' So it was just reflex."
---------snip-----------
Thomas decided to answer this one for himself. "There are some lines that can't be crossed," said Thomas, who graciously gave Avery credit for his gritty, and usually fair, play around the net during the times when there weren't TV timeouts. "He has a hard time figuring out what the lines are."

This is what the Rangers coach John Tortorella had to say about Tim Thomas after took matter into his own hands. Just for the record John I can't believe you think Thomas deserved an extra penalty, the reason he was the aggressor was that he was just whacked a goalie in a vulnerable position in the back of the head by one of your head cases Sean Avery.

Tortorella took issue after the game with the fact that the referees didn't come down harder on Thomas for jumping Avery. During the game's final TV timeout, Thomas had taken a knee between the circles when Avery skated by and raked the back of his head with his stick. Thomas chased after him, pushed him from behind and touched off a melee that ended up with matching minors for Avery (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Thomas (roughing).

"There has to be an extra one given to Thomas," Tortorella said, calling him "the aggressor" on the play, even though Avery - who dodged reporters after the game - could just as easily have put the Rangers shorthanded when they couldn't afford it.

Former Beaver Matt Climie gets first NHL start and win.

It's been a whirl wind week for the Bemidji State University Beaver hockey program first with the Beavers making the Frozen Four and now one of their former goalies Matt Clime got his first start in last night's game against the St Louis Blues. Clime also got a win in his first start with a 5-4 win in over-time against the Blues.

The big news of the morning was that 26-year-old Matt Climie will make his NHL debut tonight in goal for the Stars.

Climie, as you might expect, was excited about his chance in goal with the Stars. Climie was an emergency call-up Friday from Idaho, the Stars' East Coast Hockey League affiliate. Stars goalie Marty Turco suffered a lower-body injury Thursday against Calgary and is day-to-day. Climie said he received a call from the Stars late Thursday night saying he's going to be called up. He said he was told before this morning's skate that he would start tonight.

"My first start in the NHL, growing up in Canada, every kid dreams of playing in the NHL," Climie said. "I'm kind of overwhelmed."

Stars coach Dave Tippett said he's going with Climie tonight because he's the goalie that gives the Stars the best chance to win. I think you can read between the lines there for what that means for backup goalie Tobias Stephan and his future with the organization. Stephan will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and it's unlikely that the Stars will make him an offer. He's probably gone.
(Read the whole story here)

Thomas gives Sjostrom a waffle.

You had to wonder how long it would take before Sean "Sloppy Seconds" Avery would perform one of his bushleague acts. You have to know if you hit, whack, bump the oppositions goalie you're going to pay for it. Sjostrom got everything he deserves when he jumped Timmy Thomas. You have to love Jack Edwards from NESN he is my favorite homer.

Bruins clinch the top spot in the east.

So if you were a college hockey fan from the WCHA watching the Minnesota Gophers last year or the two seasons prior to that; would you've thought that Blake Wheeler would be a legitimate candidate for the Calder trophy. Would you have thought that Wheeler would score 20 goals and add 22 assist for 42 points in 76 games. Not in a million years. Today Wheeler scored the Bruins only goal as the Boston Bruins shut out the New Yorks Rangers and clinched the top spot in the East.

The State of the Wild.

Check out the latest zinger from Wild Blogger Michael Russo on the state of the Minnesota Wild. Russo really hit the bullseye with this article. The next step I would like to see is the Minneapolis media call for Wild owner Craig Leipold to sack Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough. It's time for Risebrough to go because he has been a miserable failure when it comes to running the Wild. This team is all his doing and he is the that the blame should be laid on. Russo is right as well as he should start looking at the Blues and Kings because that is who the Wild are going to be chasing next season.

The Wild Owner should have taken notice when Risebrough didn't want to trade James Sheppard for Olli Jokinen. Are you kidding me, Risebrough didn't want to trade young talent like James Sheppard, guys like James Sheppard are a dime a dozen in the NHL. There are hundreds of guys like him in the AHL and ECHL.

If the front office convinces owner Craig Leipold that this was a throw-away season solely because Gaborik was hurt, it's an injustice to everybody who paid a dime for tickets or merchandise.

If Leipold wants a reality check, just turn on the Center Ice package and watch St. Louis and Columbus and Chicago and Edmonton and even Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Think the Wild really has better young talent, a brighter future? Those teams are burgeoning with young, explosive talent, which is reason for real optimism there and pessimism here.

The Wild has James Sheppard, who's somehow untouchable like he's going to wake up tomorrow and become Jarome Iginla. Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns are good, cornerstone players.

But in the history of this organization, the Wild has developed one star, Gaborik -- and this week is likely his Minnesota swan song.

The Wild has sold out every game in franchise history, but it's not guaranteed to continue. Assistant GM Tommy Thompson knows this. He wasn't trying to critique the current state of affairs. But in an interview with me for the upcoming Hockey News Draft magazine, Thompson said the Wild must draft a "dynamic player ... with a little pizzazz" this June.

Another great read on T.J. Oshie.

Imagine the possibilities if former Fighting Sioux hockey and current St Louis Blue hockey player T.J. Oshie had not been hurt and played the whole season. I suspect he would have been one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the year. Check this article from the Sporting News on T.J. Oshie.

This, from a kid who is 5-11, 181 pounds -- not a thug, but a well-round skilled player who knows how to hit and hit hard.

After missing more than 20 games with a high ankle sprain earlier in the season, Oshie exploded onto the scene with highlight goals and hits. He's leveled opponents with big-time hits, like this one against Nash.

The Blue Jackets were angered about the hit. Blues fans went bonkers for it. Blues broadcaster Bernie Federko noted correctly Oshie did exactly what he should do.

"A player coming out of the penalty box is told to go directly to the puck," Federko said during last Saturday's telecast. "He caught Nash flatfooted."

Argue it all you want, but Oshie did glide into the hit. Had it been charging, he would have been called for a penalty.

A typical comment from cyberspace: "That homer announcer is dead wrong. Nash is on the ice and is fair game. There is no written law you can't check a team's superstar legally. I am also sick and tired of hockey players wanting to fight after someone who lays a legal hit on one of their teammates. It is part of the game," according to a post on Goon's World. By the title, take it with a grain of salt. But take it as a statement of fact as well.

"Paging Mr. Nash, Mr. Rick Nash. Please come pick up your pride at the customer service counter," wrote old friend Kevin Wheeler of KMOX Radio in St. Louis.
(Read the whole article right here)

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.