Looking back.

On November 8, 2008 DU hockey beat writer Mike Chambers wrote this article and caused a fire storm with the blog post below. Looking forward, as of this date Mr. Chambers is probably smiling and looking pretty good. The AHA has accepted Robert Morris and Niagara to be in their league. The WCHA is in the process of recruiting UNO to be their twelfth member to go along with BSU. Moving east, the team from the University of Alabama-Huntsville has applied for membership in the CCHA. When UNO and or UAF leave the CCHA for the WCHA UAH will be a natural choice to become the twelfth team of the CCHA, hence saving two teams from certain death.

I have seen some people that aren’t happy with the realignment process don’t like the idea of the WCHA becoming a twelve team league. The status quo will not help college hockey. The alternative to the twelve team league is to say the hell with UAH and BSU let these two teams wither and die on the vine, this option is unacceptable. If college hockey allowed that to happen what college or university would want to start a division one hockey program in the future?

Currently There are 58 teams in Division one hockey; if the NCAA lost two to three more teams, there is a very good chance the NCAA would pull the 2-4 at large bids from the NCAA tourney, that too is unacceptable and the decrease in bids would hit the have not the most. This is not a road I would like to see the NCAA hockey tourney go down.

Seriously, reducing 2-4 at large bids could definitely affect a team close to one of us, but oh yeah we got to play Minnesota, Wisconsin and or North Dakota. So I ask WCHA fans what you would rather have a chance to see the Gophers, Badger, Sioux or a better chance for your team to make the NCAA tourney. I am going to take the NCAA tourney option. Most of us that have followed college hockey know that in a one and done tourney anything can happen. It doesn’t matter if you’re a one seed or a sixteen seed; just ask Michigan and Notre Dame.

College hockey conference realignment
Mike Chambers ----- Conference expansion is on its way, folks. Because of the looming demise of College Hockey America, don’t be surprised if the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the Atlantic Hockey Association go from 10 to 12 teams, with Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha joining the WCHA and Robert Morris and Niagara going to the AHA.

This isn’t just opinon. In true blog form, I can’t divulge my sources at this time because things are too political — which is why this issue won’t make the paper right now — but this is what is being discussed by conference commissioners. And it makes sense.

CHA currently has Robert Morris, Alabama-Huntsville, Niagara and Bemidji State. It’s a joke, because the four-team conference gets an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament for its playoff champion, and judging from history, teams in other conferences with far better numbers in the Pairwise Rankings get left out. That’s going to change.

Robert Morris and Niagara have applied for entrance to the AHA. If they are accepted, the AHA will go from 10 to 12 teams.

What we need next — and this is the big one — is for Nebraska-Omaha to apply to the WCHA, and get accepted along with Bemidji State, which previously applied and is a terrific fit. UNO, which currently plays in the CCHA, will be replaced by Alabama-Huntsville.

UNO is a natural fit for the WCHA, with strong state rivalries with Colorado and Minnesota. Alabama-Huntsville isn’t a fit for anyone, but … if UAH goes to the CCHA, we would have five conferences with a near equal amount of teams.

WCHA to continue negotiations with Omaha

Here is the latest development in the WCHA's pursuit of UNO as a 12th member of the WCHA. It looks like there will be some on going negotiations and discussions before the WCHA will be able to convince the UNO Mavericks to move to the WCHA. UNO holds the cards they already have a conference so the WCHA is going to have to give more. Personally I think UNO is a better fit travel wise and the league should try to make this happen.

Following a conference call between Western Collegiate Hockey Association
athletic directors and league commissioner Bruce McLeod Wednesday, negotiations regarding the admittance of the University of Nebraska-Omaha to the WCHA will continue. Bemidji State University athletic director Rick Goeb said McLeod would be going back to UNO to present options that the member schools found acceptable. “He’s going to present options the WCHA agreed on during the conference call,” Goeb said. “The league has now given (McLeod) more direction on what’s acceptable as far as terms of a possible agreement.

“The ball is in UNO’s court now. It’s they’re call if they want to accept
the recommendations.” Contrary to previous media reports, there was no actual “straw poll” Wednesday in which a vote was taken on terms of a possible agreement between Omaha and the WCHA. Instead discussions were held concerning what
terms the league athletic directors felt comfortable in offering. The terms could include such items as league entrance fees, the sharing of postseason revenues and when the team would join the league.
------------------------snip------------------------
What appears to be happening now is the typical give and take of any type of business negotiation. McLeod entered into negotiations with UNO and then reported back to league athletic directors. Discussions were held this week on various options and now McLeod will go back to UNO with a more clear directive from league officials. [Bemidji Pioneer]

The latest from Rink and Run. It will be interesting to see what is going to be announced.

The ball is rolling on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association expansion front and could lead to an announcement as soon as Friday, commissioner Bruce McLeod said from his Denver office Thursday afternoon.

McLeod, who met with league athletic directors by phone Wednesday night, said it was premature to discuss any details, but did note that developments had changed since the conference call.

Back to the drawing board?

This is what Brad Elliott Schlossman is reporting.

Today on 740AM The Fan, Dan Hammer reported that nothing was solved during the straw poll last night and he believes that commish Bruce McLeod may have to go back and re-negotiate some things with Omaha.

Hammer said that there were a number of straw polls taken during a very long conference call. Certainly some were regarding the entrance fee and postseason revenue concessions that the WCHA considered giving Omaha.

More on Expansion.

It looks like Alberts is keeping it close to the vest, the man must be a really good poker player. Nothing new here really. I am sure we will hear an announcement in the up coming days or up coming weeks.

UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts reiterated Wednesday night that the Mavs haven’t applied for admission into the WCHA and that the school is happy with its CCHA membership. He said he wasn’t aware exactly of what the WCHA was meeting to discuss or what the result of those talks might have been.

“There would only be a certain scenario under which we would even entertain the thought of leaving and going to a different league,” Alberts said. “Unless those very basic requirements would be contemplated, we have a home (in the CCHA).”

Alberts declined to get into specifics about the conversations Omaha has had with the WCHA about the terms that would have to be met for the Mavs to consider applying.

However, Omaha would benefit significantly if the league reduces or eliminates the membership fee. When Minnesota State-Mankato entered the WCHA in 1999-2000, it had to pay $120,000 over three years, and it did not receive a cut of postseason revenue during that time. [Omaha.com]

Yeah that is going to happen.

I wonder if Wild fans would trade James Sheppard (160 games 9 goals 34 assists 43 points) for Phil Kessel (222 games 66 goals 60 assists 126 points) ? I say in a heart beat. If the Bruins aren't going to resign him I would rather see him playing in the west not killing the Bruins.

One player who falls into the latter category -- and one who might intrigue the Wild -- is Bruins sniper Phil Kessel, the former Gopher who scored 36 goals in 70 games last season.

The 21-year-old Madison native is a restricted free agent and seeking a deal worth between $4.5 and $5 million a season. While the Bruins plan to meet this week with agent Wade Arnott in hopes of re-signing Kessel, the Bruins are $6 million shy of the anticipated salary cap for next season, and have several other key players to re-sign.

According to numerous sources, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is fielding offers, but because he can't take hefty salaries back, he's looking for a first-round pick and at least one top young player. If the Wild was to enter the fray, it would likely cost at least the 12th overall pick and James Sheppard or Tyler Cuma.
[StarTribune]

Hey Gabby just say it!

I am getting sick and tired of Gaborik and his agent stringing the Wild along, just say it, you're not coming back. It would be interesting to see if Fletcher has made an offer to the much injured "prima donna". I think the Wild might want to look into tampering allegation if Gaborik does in fact end up in Vancouver, I am not sure how one would prove that? Zanstorm has an interesting take on the prospects of Gabby playing in Vancouver- 'If Gillis were to sign Gaborik, I hope I'm not around a gun when I'm drunk in the near future. Yeah I could imagine the two injury-prone Slovaks on the Canucks. No bloody thanks.'

Yeah, I can imagine the two Slovaks would both miss quite a few games playing for the Canucks. Pavol Demitra hasn't played a full 82 game season since 2001-2002 season. Marián Gáborík is no better and is known for being a oft injuried player missing a bunch of games the last 4 season (131). During his NHL hockey career Marián Gáborík has only played 81 games in a season once that was 2002-2003. So yeah if you want to play in Vancouver by all means pack your bags. The Canucks are also taking a big time gamble based on his injury status. So it does puzzles me why Gaborik turned down such a big contract offer from the Wild? Gabby has to know he more than likely he isn't going to get such an from another team.

Marian Gaborik’s agent said he has not “closed the door on the Wild.”

But amid an unsubstantiated report out of Vancouver that Gaborik’s already bought a home there, it’s clear it won’t be easy to get Gaborik to pass up the lure of free agency this close to the market opening.

“You never know what can happen,” agent Ron Salcer said Tuesday. “Right now, the only team we can talk to is the Minnesota Wild. I don’t like to say anything’s a foregone conclusion [that he’s leaving] because until July 1, it’s not going to be.

“But free agency is very enticing. To find out what’s available out there in a free market with 29 other teams would be interesting. But you never burn bridges and you wait to see what happens. So we’ll see where it goes.”

But with the strong likelihood of losing the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher continues to hold trade talks with several teams, including Ottawa regarding two-time 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley, as the Draft approaches Friday and Saturday. [Startribune.com]

Jacques Lemaire named assistant coach for Canada's 2010 men's Olympic hockey team.

I found this interesting nugget over on from the rink, it appears that former Minnesota Wild Coach Jacques Lemaire will be an assist coach on Canada's 2010 men's Olympic hockey team. Congrats to Jacques Lemaire.

Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock and Jacques Lemaire will be assistant coaches to Mike Babcock on Canada's 2010 men's Olympic hockey team, sources tell CTVOlympics.ca.

The team's executive director, Steve Yzerman, is expected to officially introduce all four coaches in a news conference Thursday morning in Montreal, including Red Wings coach Mike Babcock as head coach.

Hitchcock, coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, was an associate coach for Team Canada in 2002, when it won gold in Salt Lake City, and in 2006 in Turin, Italy, when Canada finished seventh. Last summer, he coached Canada to a silver medal in the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Halifax. He won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

Ruff, coach of the Buffalo Sabres, recently coached Team Canada to a silver medal at the World Championship in Switzerland. It was the first ever national team assignment for the longest-tenured coach in the NHL. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2005 as the NHL's top coach of the year.


This will be the first Olympic experience for Lemaire, former Minnesota Wild coach, who won eight Stanley Cups as a player with the Montreal Canadiens and one with the 1995 New Jersey Devils. He is a two-time Jack Adams award winner.

[CTV]

Hasting to be UNO assistant.

Fiona Quick, and Ryan Cardinal from Gopher Puck Live is reporting that Mike Hasting is going to be Dean Blais' assistant coach. If Fiona Quick is right, it looks like former Gopher Scott Bell is going to be Lucia's assistant coach. Ironic thing is that the Star Tribune's Gopher Hockey beat writer is no where to found on the subject.

University of MN assistant coach Mike Hastings is leaving to become Assoc coach at University of Nebraska Omaha w/Dean Blais
--------
University of Minnesota alumnus and current Hamline University head coach Scott Bell should be the primary candidate for U of MN vacancy [Quick facts] and [Minnesota Hockey Journal]

This might help the Bruins.

This could be a good move to give the Bruins more space to work under the cap and maybe allow them to keep their talented forward Phil Kessel. During the last two seasons Peter Schaefer was an utter disappointment and dead weight for the Boston Bruins.

There is belief the Maple Leafs have been zeroing in on New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden and forward Peter Schaefer of the Boston Bruins.

Schaefer, 31, was buried in the minors by the Bruins last season because of salary cap concerns. He has one more year on his contract at $2.3-million (U.S.). Redden, 32, was signed to a six-year, $39-million unrestricted free-agent deal last summer, and the Rangers would not be averse to moving him. [the Bruins Blog] and [Globe and Mail]

More on Heatly to the Wild.

I dunno? I think Heatley could replace the offensive void that Gaborik will leave when he signs a free agent deal somewhere else. With Heatley asking for a trade from his second team he comes off as being a spoiled prima donna that gave up on his team mates for a second time because it wasn't going his way in Ottawa. On the other hand, I would be for any deal that ships first round bust James Sheppard out of town. I have seen nothing from him that leads me to believe that he was worthy of a first round draft choice.

As soon as Heatley’s trade demand went public, it likely weakened the Senators’ ability to get maximum return.

“This is going to be a tough deal for the Senators to make,” a league executive said yesterday. “Dany Heatley is a good player, but he’s not a great player and he’s certainly created a lot of questions about his character because this is the second time in his career he has asked for a trade.”

Sources say the Kings, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Canucks are the most interested teams. The Wild, Oilers and Canucks weren’t on Heatley’s list, but he might be willing to be flexible to get out of Ottawa.

“The issue is you’re not going to get back as good a player as Heatley,” said the executive. “This deal isn’t easy to sell because the player wants out and Bryan Murray is going to have a tough time telling people that his team has improved (after a trade).”

The Kings would like to move winger Alexander Frolov and defenceman Jack Johnson, but the Senators have concerns with both players. Johnson has fired his agent and there is talk he is seeking $5.5 million per season on a long-term deal, while Frolov may not fit into the Senators’ system. The Kings might be willing to offer centre Jarret Stoll, who is scheduled to make $3.6 million next season. Stoll had 18 goals and 23 assists in 74 games last year.

Wild GM Chuck Fletcher, who just took over from the fired Doug Risebrough, has a close relationship with Murray. They have talked about Heatley. It’s believed the Wild could offer centre James Sheppard, defenceman Tyler Cuma or winger Cal Clutterbuck. Minnesota is also trying to move defenceman Marek Zidlicky, centre Eric Belanger and winger Derek Boogaard.

The executive noted not many teams have the ability to make the deal for Heatley and plenty of GMs are probably just “kicking tires” with Murray to see if they can get Heatley for nothing.

“There are so many teams that are up against it and they can’t afford to take on the $7.5 million per season on that contract,” said the executive. “The issue for the Senators is 50-goal scorers don’t come along very often and if you’ve got one, you want to keep him.” [ottawasun.com]

The WCHA Staw Poll.

Here is what Moose of the Hockey Show had to say on the Straw Poll over on USHCO.COM

I just got off the phone with Bruce McLeod, and the conference call is set for tomorrow night. There have been concessions made for UNO, re: entrance fees and reveue, and that is what will be discussed with the WCHA AD's tomorrow. If the "straw poll" is favorable, UNO will submit a letter, and the FAR's will schedule a vote. If the straw poll is not favorable, new terms will be set forth to renegotiate with UNO, or attention will turn to UAF. No timetable was given for the second part of this (FAR vote). This was just a casual conversation I had, so I didn't record it for the web or radio broadcast.

Moose

Dany Heatley's list of teams.

Props to Puck Daddy; this is the list of teams that Dany Heatly wants to be traded to, notice that Minnesota Wild are not one of his teams that he wants to be traded to. Big whew! I don't think I want him on the Wild as well, as a matter of fact I am sick and tired of self center athletes and would like to see the Wild start out fresh. Also, the Boston Bruins do not have room under the cap to sign Heatley so he can take that team off of his list. The Bruins would have to give up the farm to get Heatley and I don't know if they would like to mess up the locker room chemistry with a distraction like Heatley.

• According to Sun Media, the wishlist Dany Heatley(notes) provided the Ottawa Senators: "Sources told Sun Media the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins were among the teams submitted to Murray by Heatley's agents J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine." It's good to want things. [Sun Media]

Ray Bourque to the Bruins?

Here is an interesting article that I found on line. It seems like a good fit. [Bruins Offer Coaching, Front-Office, Playing Position To Ray Bourque]

BOSTON—Citing continued leadership problems at the executive and strategic levels, as well as the fact that they could use a little help on defense, Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs expressed interest in signing former All-Star captain Ray Bourque to help the struggling Bruins "in a variety of ways." "In addition to being a favorite of fans here in Boston, Ray Bourque is a proven champion," Jacobs said, referring to Bourque's 21 years with the Bruins and his brief stint with the Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche. "I believe the leadership, vision, and motivation he exhibited during two decades as a professional hockey player will translate extremely well to his new roles as head coach, general manager, and hockey player." The 45-year-old Bourque announced he is considering the offer, but will weigh it against the opportunity recently offered to him to become concessions, lighting, and entertainment director for Boston's TD Banknorth Garden.

UPDATE: I recieved an email from someone that informed me that this story is false.

Kessel denies 5 million dollar demand.

Boston Bruins forward and former Gopher Phil Kessel is denying a report from the reported by the Ottawa Sun that he is demanding five million dollars a year. Kessel also said that he wants to remain a Boston Bruin. That could also probably shoot down the rumor from hockeybuzz.com that Boston isn’t looking to give Phil Kessel an offer even matching the $3.75 they gave teammate David Krejci, meaning that Kessel will likely be moved.

FRANKLIN — After Phil Kessel finished fielding the creampuff questions from precocious fifth-graders here at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School yesterday, the Bruins forward got down to the harder stuff with a couple reporters.

No, he said, he and his agent, Wade Arnott, have not asked for $5 million a year during negotiations with the Bruins on a new contract, as was reported by the Ottawa Sun.

Yes, his first priority is to remain with the Bruins rather than play elsewhere, although he will become a restricted free agent in a little less than two weeks (July 1) if no agreement is struck with Boston before then.

And yes, his left shoulder is coming along nicely some four weeks after surgery to repair a torn labrum, but even the notoriously fast-healing Kessel doubts he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season in early October.

No to the 'staged fight' rule.

I have to say that I applaud this rule, it’s the right decision. Thank God sanity crept back into the equation and we didn’t create some rule based on a hasty decision. While it was unfortunate that a player was killed in a fight last winter, the same thing could happen with a check from behind or an open ice hit. It was a freak accident.

I was once accused by an unnamed person of relishing a good fight. Yep, you got me, guilty as charged. I have yet to go to a hockey game witness a fight and see people head for the exits, I have seen them stand and cheer though. Fighting polices the game and keep the so called “agitators” in check.

LAS VEGAS -- It appears the "staged fights" rule recommended by the NHL's 30 GMs will not see the light of day.

The players discussed it at their meeting here this week and they recommended to their members on the competition committee to vote against it. The committee needs seven of 10 votes to pass a new rule and won't get them if all five players vote "no" next Thursday when the group meets in Montreal.

The union brought in a number of tough guys Wednesday and they shared their universal thumbs-down on the "staged fights" rule proposition.

"They gave the group a pretty clear message," said NHL Players' Association executive Glenn Healy. "What's the code? What are the rules of engagement? Everyone talks about it, but what is it? So we had these guys come in and talk about it.

"We're about safety, but we also understand that if a fight breaks out in a game, Gandhi isn't leaving; he's going to stay and watch it. We understand that it's part of our sport, it cleans up our sport, it polices our sport, and it's entertainment. Goals, saves, fights -- thank you."

Hockey tough sell to new Canadians.

I found the link to this article over on the illegal curve I believe this goes back to the argument that hockey is a niche sport and doesn’t always translate to all cultures, demographics as well as parts of the USA and or Canada. If you’re an immigrant from China, South Asia, Middle East or the Caribbean, hockey is not a native sport to those countries nor are there many hockey arenas. If you’re from one of these parts of the world, your probably going to be a soccer player.

When Bas Balkissoon moved to Scarborough 34 years ago, hockey was the sport of choice for the mostly white community. But since then, the MPP for Scarborough-Rouge River has watched the community's taste in sports change as new immigrants from China, South Asia and the Caribbean settled there.

"Most of them are from non-hockey-playing countries, where cricket, soccer and badminton are the kind of sports they're familiar with," said Balkissoon, who emigrated from Trinidad in 1970.

"I doubt you could do anything to make hockey a mainstream sport in the community in this area."

The cost of hockey is prohibitive, he said, noting that most immigrants can't afford to pay $1,000 every winter to put a child in a hockey program. In contrast, a summer of soccer costs as little as $100.

Hockey fanatics like Egypt native Nour Abdelwahed, 15, say lowering the cost of equipment would be the best way to lure apprehensive youngsters. The Grade 10 student at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute can skate but only plays street hockey because ice hockey gear is beyond his parents' budget. He thinks more accessible and reasonably priced equipment would allow local leagues to thrive.

"It's not just too high for new immigrants, it's everybody," he said.
[The Star]

Wild interested in Heatley?

Mike Russo has said that the new Wild GM has talked to the Senators GM about acquiring former Wisconsin Badger and current disgruntled Senator Dany Heatley. While Heatley is a dominating hockey players and one of the better forwards in the NHL, I would hope that Heatly wouldn’t come here. I think it could be a potential cancer in the locker room. That is all the Wild need is another potential hockey player that is unhappy in Minnesota, ala Marian Gaborik. This is also the second team that he has asked for a trade from.

With the State of the Wilds cap and who they have on the roster I don’t think the Wild could find enough talent on the Wild’s roster to trade to the Senators to get Heatly anyways. I do have one suggestion if the Wild Management could dump James Sheppard and the ever soft perimeter player Pierre-Marc Bouchard I would be all for it.

Fletcher expects trade talks to intensify this week. He has spoken to all 29 other teams about a variety of hopeful fits. He even has talked several times to Ottawa GM Bryan Murray about two-time 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley, who has asked to be traded and could be by Friday night.

Mr Hockey, 'people should cut Sid The Kid some slack.'

I have to agree with Gordy Howe, cut Sidney Crosby some slack. I honestly don't think Sidney Crosby snubbed the Red Wings players on purpose, I think he got caught up with the interviews and the exuberance of the moment. Drew from the illegal curve also has some advice for Chris Draper, spend a dollar and buy some class. I have to agree hockey is played by men not a bunch of hypersenstive sorority girls.

TORONTO - Mr. Hockey says people should cut Sid The Kid some slack.

Hockey legend Gordie Howe doesn't believe Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby intentionally failed to shake hands with some Detroit players after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

Howe said Crosby's natural shyness combined with getting caught up in the emotion of winning an NHL championship resulted in Crosby getting in line to shake hands after some Red Wings had left the ice.

"He got caught up," Howe said Thursday after serving as the Queen's Plate honorary drawmaster at Woodbine Racetrack. "He will mature.

"He's a good kid."

Great CBC video.

This video is a perfect example on why I love NHL Hockey coverage on CBC, this is heads tails above Versus or NBC. Living close to the Canadian Border I am able to get CBC as a part of my cable package.

More on UAF.

Alaska Nanooks Hockey Blog has an interesting blog article on the UAF's prospects of moving to the WCHA. The Nanooks blogger talked with the UAF AD Forrest Karr. There were two points from the article that really stuck out. Very interesting.

So this is where I have to ask what the WCHA sees in UNO? Why do they seem to be so interested in them? Forrest's response, "No idea...". I second that. The only thing that I can think of is the recruiting side of things. Omaha puts you right in that fine divider between USHL and the NAHL, which opens up a lot of recruitment opportunities for the coaching staff of the WCHA that they currently don't have

This is he other part of the blog post that sticks out for me as maybe the writting is on the wall. While the voting might not be over as some say. I will buy that. It does appear that expansion/realignment is going a certain direction.

But with all of the financial benefit to all parties involved, why are we riding the pine pony while UNO hogs all the WCHA ice time? I didn't have an answer, but Forrest Karr put it nicely. "Right now it doesn't make sense to jump into the mix as the WCHA is a long ways down the road already with UNO. The coaching staff (and I agree) would rather show loyalty to the CCHA and if for some reason a UNO-WCHA partnership does not work out, we will discuss further."

[Nanooks and the WCHA - The Saga Continues...]