Unofficial Results: Cassie Walder, WDAZ, Published Thursday, July 16, 2009
Unofficial election results show current chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates, North Dakota, narrowly advancing to the tribe’s September general election. Current chairman Ron His Horse Is Thunder was not the top vote-getter in Wednesday night's primary election. Early morning unofficial result tallies show only two votes carried His Horse Is Thunder as one of the two candidates advancing. His top challenger, former tribal chairman Charles Murphy, topped His Horse Is Thunder with 567 votes from the tribes 8 precincts. But it was current tribal vice-chair Avis Little Eagle who was the most immediate threat to His Horse Is Thunder, receiving 221 votes. Just two less than His Horse Is Thunder's 223 vote total. Again, these results were unofficial at press time. If certified, both His Horse Is Thunder and Murphy will move forward to the tribe’s September general election.
His Horse Is Thunder has repeatedly held his opposition to the University of North Dakota’s use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. Though Standing Rock supporters of the nickname have called for a tribe-wide vote, His Horse Is Thunder has maintained such a vote would not be binding. He said the Sioux nickname issue was not a driving force in the primary election run-off. Though several candidates running for the tribal chairman's spot were vocal in their support of UND's use of the nickname, top vote-getter Charles Murphy has not spoken about it.
Without approval from both the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes and a 30-year contract granting UND use of the nickname by October 1 of this year, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education will retire the nickname. The Spirit Lake tribe voted in support of the nickname this spring. However, the Spirit Lake tribal council has not granted a 30-year approval for nickname use. Tonight's Standing Rock election results will be certified tomorrow.
Two recent University of Minnesota men’s hockey standouts have been added to the Gophers’ coaching staff for the 2009-10 season.
Grant Potulny, who was named a volunteer assistant coach in May, has been elevated to a full-time position following a national search process. In addition, Justin Johnson has been named the team’s volunteer goaltending coach. Both were members of Minnesota’s national championship teams in 2002 and 2003 with Potulny serving as a team captain each year.
“I’m excited to bring both Grant and Justin back into the program,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. “They were both part of our two national championship teams and have a great understanding of what it takes to win at that level. They are proud alums and committed and excited to be back as a part of Gopher hockey.”
“It was just six years ago that I was in the same spots as these guys,” Potulny said of the current Gophers’ team. “Don and John (Hill) do an amazing job and I think I bring some youthful energy as somebody who can bring a different element to what we’re doing already.”
Potulny, 29, has served as the interim assistant coach for the past month since the resignation of Mike Hastings. He has been playing professionally since his career with the Gophers that spanned from 2000-04. He was an assistant captain as a sophomore for Minnesota’s 2002 national championship team and then captained the team the following two years, including the Gophers’ 2003 national title squad.
“Those were the best four years of my life,” Potulny said of his days with the Gophers. “I truly believe that every kid who comes to Minnesota should have a chance to play in the Frozen Four and I’d love to help make that happen.”
“As a three-year captain, Grant was a tremendous leader and was well respected by his teammates,” Lucia said. “As an interim assistant coach over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to watch him interact with players and coaches at our model camp and select-16 festival and coach at the select-17 festival in New York. I have had numerous people come up to me and tell me how impressed they were with Grant. He will bring instant credibility based on what he did as a player and captain here and bring new insights after playing professionally the past five years.”
Potulny recently retired from pro hockey after battling injuries throughout his career. He was injured most of this past season, which he spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate in Norfolk (Va.). He competed three full seasons with the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton (N.Y.) from 2004-07 before spending one season each with the Washington Capitals’ affiliate in Hershey (Pa.) and the Edmonton Oilers’ affiliate in Springfield (Mass.).
Potulny played in 146 games for the Gophers, totaling 68 goals and 48 assists for 116 points. He is best-known for scoring the overtime game-winning goal in Minnesota’s 4-3 win over Maine in the 2002 national championship game at the Xcel Energy Center.
Johnson, 28, was a volunteer assistant coach at St. Cloud State the past three seasons. Johnson was a four-year letterwinner for the Gophers from 2002-05, posting a 2.88 goals against average and 22-8-3 career record. He was named to the all-tournament team at the 2003 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five after stopping 50 of 54 shots. Johnson was a three-time recipient of the team’s community service award.
“I felt it was extremely important that we have somebody who can work with the goaltenders and Justin has been working with goalies since he graduated,” Lucia said. “Also working with Mental Edge, he can bring added insights to players and coaches on the psychological aspects of the game. Justin has worked in the WCHA over the last three years and has an understanding of what it takes to compete as a player and coach at this level.”
“It’s almost like coming home for me,” Johnson said. “With the talent they have all around and in net it’s going to be an exciting season and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’ve known Kent (Patterson) since he was a Pee Wee in camps and we have a great relationship,” he added. “Being at St. Cloud, we did a lot of film analysis on Alex (Kangas) and figuring out how to beat him. He’s an outstanding goalie and I’m very familiar with his game as well.”
In addition to his coaching duties, Johnson has instructed at former Gopher Robb Stauber’s Goalcrease and The Mental Edge, which mentors athletes of all ages and abilities by developing mental toughness skills. He has published an interactive and customized preparation manual for hockey goalies titled “GameDay.”
[Gopher Sports]
“I don’t comment on rumors,” B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli said.
The right winger’s name has been floated in potential trades for a second straight offseason. The most notable this year was a draft night deal with Toronto that would have sent defenseman Tomas Kaberle to the Bruins.
The 21-year-old Kessel became a restricted free agent July 1. He has stayed in Boston this summer after undergoing shoulder surgery following the B’s Game 7 second-round playoff loss to Carolina.
Center David Krejci, who is rehabbing from May hip surgery, has spent almost every day with Kessel this offseason and hopes the sides can reach a contract agreement.
“Obviously I would love to have him on the team again next year,” Krejci said. “We are best friends on the team, and you don’t want to see guys like that walk away. I hope he’ll get a deal done. I don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s out of my reach. I’ll hope for the best and hope he stays here and everything is going to work out.”
Krejci said Kessel wants to return but hasn’t gotten too involved with the contract situation.
“We’re together every day, and this is the one thing we don’t really talk about that much,” Krejci said. “Obviously we talk, but there is some stuff that is private. He’s one of my best friends on the team, and some stuff he would like to just keep between us, especially about a contract.” [Boston Herald]
WCHA not biggest news
Arrogance, pompous, egotistical and self-serving were the first words that came to mind after reading Tom Serratore’s comments about BSU men’s hockey team being accepted into the WCHA. To say that “There’s not any news that has ever impacted this community and university like being inducted into this prestigious conference,” is lunacy. Throughout the history of this community and the university there have been numerous events that have made a huge impact on the lives of people living in this area and beyond. Perhaps the largest of these would be the actually founding of the university (Bemidji State Normal School.)
Followed by the school’s evolution from elementary teacher training to the multi-disciplined institute of higher learning that it is today. (If Cass Lake had gotten its way, there would be no college hockey in Bemidji.) Mr. Serratore seems to be suffering from extreme shortsightedness. He is correct in one statement. “There are people who aren’t born yet who will be impacted by the WCHA.” Since getting into the WCHA was contingent on BSU getting a new hockey rink, (event center) and by many accounts the new hockey rink/event center will never turn a profit, the yet unborn will be impacted by having to subsidize the center.
Matt Havumaki
Bemidji
The WCHA has talked a lot about doing what is best for college hockey. But while adding Bemidji State -- after BSU had run out of options to keep its program viable -- was certainly a gracious and strong move by the WCHA to benefit Bemidji State, its effect on college hockey as a whole is more neutral if it negatively impacts the CCHA.
McLeod tried to sell it, saying that UNO's move can be an overall benefit to college hockey as a whole, because the chain reaction effect could result in saving Alabama-Huntsville as well.
"I have a long relationshp with Tom, and we openly discussed this, including three weeks ago in San Antonio at meetings of the (NCAA) championships committee," McLeod said. "Tom is first class all the way. As an individual, I have nothing but good things to say.
"Having said that, we went into this process above board, to do it the right way best we could. Part of that was keeping Tom informed. I hope he would say we followed through on that. It's clear he didn't want to lose Omaha. It speaks to their caliber. And actually, he made some other suggestions to me -- why not think about these things.
"I've proven in the past with involvement getting the WCHA going -- I work for the WCHA -- but I need to step back and look at what's best for college hockey in general. Hopefully if it (WCHA expansion) worked out with Omaha or someone else, that would open a slot (for Alabama-Huntsville). That may not have be the same caliber or attractiveness (as UNO), but that we could save another program. ... I hope that happens."
Still, there is no question that the CCHA takes a hit -- at least in the short term -- from this switch. No offense to Albama-Huntsville, but its program, and the commitment to the program, do not currently approach what Nebraska-Omaha is. [college hockey news]
OMAHA, Neb. -- The new University of Nebraska-Omaha hockey coach, on the job less than a week, has already picked his successor, thus ensuring the long-term future of the program's leadership.
Coach Dean Blais hired former Lancers coach Mike Hastings to be his associate head coach. Blais himself was just hired last month to succeed the program's first coach, Mike Kemp.
Blais said Hastings will be a good "go-between" for Blais and the players.
"He knows the guys better than I do," Blais said, acknowledging that he did not know if that was a good or bad thing. He does know that his successor will come from his staff.
"When I'm gone, he'll take over and we won't miss a beat," Blais said.
That is when the time comes, though. Blais is so new to the city that he said he still learning his way around.
"Only been lost a couple of times," Blais said.
His potential successor is not thinking about anything but the present.
"It's a thought that's down the road, but … we need to work on making sure we're as good as we can be when we play that first exhibition game in the season," Hastings said.
OTTAWA — Reporters and others unable to reach Dany Heatley shouldn't feel bad.
The captain of the Ottawa Senators is in the same boat, failing to connect with a player who has been his linemate for the better part of four NHL seasons.
On Tuesday, for the first time since Heatley's controversial trade demand, Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson spoke to a handful of Ottawa media via conference call. Alfredsson was speaking from Paris, where he is attending NHL Players' Association meetings.
Alfredsson admitted he hasn't even spoken to Heatley during this firestorm, though he has "tried to reach him a few times." As the team leader, Alfredsson wants to talk with Heatley to see if there is something that can be worked out between the high-scoring winger and the hockey club, some issue beyond the publicized concern with head coach Cory Clouston.
Blackhawks fire GM Tallon ---- TFP has confirmed that the Chicago Blackhawks fired general manager Dale Tallon late Monday and an official announcement will be made on Tuesday.
TFP Columnist and Comcast Chicago anchor Josh Mora has also confirmed that Stan Bowman, the club's assistant GM, will be taking over as GM.
Tallon was named the eighth GM in team history on June 21, 2005. Prior to becoming GM, he served as assistant GM, and was the club's director of player personnel from 1998-2002.
Tallon's job had reportedly been on the fence since the Hawks season had ended.
Sources close to the situation tell TFP "the embarrassment over the negative publicity of the contract situation (regarding the club's restricted free agents) was the clinching blow."
The Blackhawks were believed to be late in notifying the agents of their main RFAs that they had received qualifying offers. As a result, the Hawks had signed those players, including Cam Barker and Kris Versteeg, to new contracts.
[The Fourth Period] confirmed by the [Daily Herald]
Galen Nagle Golf Tournament
This Friday, the BSU men's hockey team will hold their annual golf tournament fundraiser. The event is named in honor of Galen Nagle...a former Beaver goalie. Shotgun start at noon at the Bemidji Country Club...with dinner and auction to follow.
Bemidji State University and the Galen Nagle Memorial Fund Committee have established a memorial scholarship fund in honor of the former Beaver hockey standout, designed to support the Bemidji State hockey program.
Galen W. Nagle was a goaltender for the Beaver hockey team from 1980-’84, and served as a coach and teacher in the state of Minnesota for several years before losing his life to cancer Oct. 18, 1996 at the age of 34. “Galen exemplified Beaver hockey,” said former Bemidji State coach R.H. “Bob” Peters. “Hard work, dedication and loyalty were inherent to his character, and through his efforts, he became a vital part of our team.”
Nagle and the 1984 Beaver hockey team made college hockey history with a perfect 31-0-0 season en route to the school’s first NCAA Division II National Championship. An All-Tournament selection from the 1984 Division II Championship, Nagle completed his Bemidji State hockey goaltending career with an 8-1 victory in the title game.
Initially a walk-on at Bemidji State, Nagle’s determination and willingness to give forged a special bond with teammates and coaches. He never lost a game in goal for Bemidji State, posting a 22-0-0 career record with three shutouts. He allowed just 37 goals in his career, leaving Bemidji State as the program’s all-time leader in save percentage (.9308) and goals-against average (2.039) - career records which still stand today for players with at least 1,000 minutes in goal. “Galen considered it a privilege and an honor to be a part of the team, and conversely, we valued his contribution to the team,” Peters said. “He has had a lasting impact on the lives of the people he touched, and we will always remember him.”
A 1984 graduate of Bemidji State, Nagle taught industrial arts at Scotts- Highland Middle School in Apple Valley for several years and coached in hockey programs at Rosemount, Holy Angels Academy, Richfield, Bloomington, Wayzata and Thief River Falls. He also served as the chief goalie instructor for Coach Peters’ Bemidji International Hockey Camp at BSU.
Nagle was born to Richard and Marlys June 18, 1962 in Baudette, Minn. He and his family moved to Bemidji in 1979, and he graduated from Bemidji High School in 1980. The annual golf tournament was inaugurated in his honor Aug. 7, 1998.
Hope to see you there!
Now that he has the gig, what can be expected of Lemaire behind the Devils bench?
First of all, he wants to coach beyond one season. He made that clear today, and barring a Lamoriellian hasty coaching decision, one imagines Lemaire will be given that opportunity.
He also steadfastly rejected the notion that his arrival portends a statistic decline for Devils star Zach Parise(notes), who is one of the best offensive standouts the organization has ever produced.
"I don't know what I'm going to put in [as a coach] that would stop any of the players from performing at their best," said Lemaire.
For those wondering how that philosophy jibes with Lemaire's system stifling a player like Marian Gaborik(notes) with the Wild, know this: He believes Parise and other Devils on this team to be outstanding two-way players. So overstressing defense, smothering an offensive game for the sake of the system ... it's not something Lemaire sees happening with Parise.
(A former Devils player told me the same thing at the Draft, claiming that Parise's numbers could actually improve with Lemaire behind the pine.)
One area where Lemaire could help the team is on the blue line, where assistant coach Mario Tremblay joins the Devils as the man in charge of the defense on the bench. They got the most out of Wild defenseman who might be considered journeymen on other teams; the Devils defense isn't the star-studded collection Lemaire had during his first stint, but it's a solid enough group that could be even better than what Sutter squeezed out of them.
Lemaire is back in New Jersey because he still has the itch and wants to win another ring:
"You want to have a chance to win the Cup. In my situation, this would be a great thing, to have a chance."
One gets the same vibe from Lamoriello in bringing back Lemaire, bringing back Brian Rolston(notes), bringing back Brendan Shanahan(notes) and the others. Time's running short for all of these veterans who have dedicated themselves to The Game and to the franchise. When Marty Brodeur is 37 and the next name on the potential starting goalie chart is Jeff Frazee(notes), there's a win-now vibe in place.
[Puck Daddy]
Onto Lemaire:
“I never did close the door on coaching. I said my time in Minnesota is over.”
“I had a great time in New Jersey in the 90s. I had some great memories and I hope to get some more.”
Not easy writing all this on blackberry. My laptop’s in the shop. Also, I don’t speak French.
“I never thought I’d be back. The five years I thought I’d cherish the rest of my life. But the situation right now is perfect for me.”
On Parise’s growth and under more restricted system, will he be hindered? “I don’t know what would be put in that’ll stop any player to perform at their best. He’s a kid that works offensively and defensively. … I’m not the coach that will stop any guys to perform and do what they’re good at.”
On Rolston: “He’s a guy that has to be put in the right situation. I’m not saying Brent didn’t do this, but he’s a guy we have to demand a little more. That’s my intention. That’s what we did in Minny and we’ll try to repeat that.”
Lou approached him before the draft.
“It would be a great thing to have a chance to win the Cup. I want to be part of this. If there’s a chance, I’d love to get another one.”
On Tremblay: “He’ll be in charge of the defense. I’ve been nine years with him and I think he’s a great complement of myself. He’s fun for the players. He knows how to deal with them in practices.” [russo's rants]
Devils to name a head coach today. The Devils have scheduled a 1:30 p.m. conference all today to make "a major announcement."
It is expected that they name a head coach at that time.
All signs point to Jacques Lemaire [Fire and Ice]
SPIRIT LAKE NATION -- On April 21, 2009, the people of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe exercised our Democratic rights and privileges as free Americans and participated in a vote to determine the fate of the UND Fighting Sioux nickname. The vote was a landslide in support of keeping the name and logo in place as it has been for more than 80 years, and yet the controversy and opposition we continue to encounter remains surprisingly desperate from a very small but vocal group of malcontents.
In the time since the vote, the leaders of the movement to put the issue on the ballot have reflected on just what has happened and what it means to them. In retrospect, the battle that is now behind the Spirit Lake people has charged the residents with pride, respect and a feeling of self determination that is still strong. The vote has given us all a taste of freedom and a renewed appreciation for democracy. It has also given our people a feeling of unity as we stood together and accomplished our goal.
The matter of the name is far from resolved as a result of this vote, but the success of the Spirit Lake people to speak their own mind and determine their own fate has spurred kindred Sioux people in the state to pursue a similar course of action on the Standing Rock Reservation.
The Spirit Lake Committee for Understanding and Respect was determined from the start to keep the focus on the issue and conduct our campaign in a manner that would leave no room for criticism or condemnation. It has been difficult, especially when members were accused of things like taking money from “The Ralph," or fraudulently obtaining signatures for petitions. This treatment was not limited to the committee members only, but the Engelstad Family Foundation and even Ralph Engelstad himself was dragged through the muck. The internet news forums prior to the vote abounded with emotionally charged missives from both sides of the issue which often overlooked the point of the issue completely. While we appreciate support from any who offer it, we have and will continue to conduct ourselves and our activities in a manner of understanding and respect, just like our committee name says, and encourage our supporters to do likewise.
In reference to the 1969 naming ceremony conducted on the campus of the University of North Dakota when Standing Rock tribal leaders officially blessed the University’s use of the Sioux name, there can be no retractions or dismissals. This ceremony was conducted as a pipe ceremony and a pipe ceremony can never be undone or taken back. Spiritual leaders are the only ones who should talk about these matters and they will not discuss this in public and very seldom in private, because the pipe (c’anunpa) is far too sacred for public discussion. For example, when our chiefs signed a treaty and gave their word with the pipe, individual chiefs could later have a change of heart but the treaty still stands.
Why is it so easy for the ND State Board of Higher Education to change their agreement to allow the ND Sioux Tribes until November, 2010 to approve or disapprove the UND nickname? Is it because treaties are made to be broken?
We want to be remembered by our grandchildren and great grandchildren as Dakota Sioux who fought for the right to be proud of our name in spite of the vicious onslaught by people who let their prejudice overwhelm their sense of pride and dignity. We encourage all of our youth to strive for an education so that they can help their people and become true representatives of the “Fighting Sioux."
The ND State Board of Higher Education will make the ultimate decision regarding the continued use of the “Fighting Sioux“ nickname and logo. The settlement agreement between the State and the NCAA says that the two ND Sioux Tribes must give their approval in order for the University to retain the name and logo. This decision can only be made by the people of Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes and no one else. The news media has given far too much attention to the outcries of a small group of disgruntled faculty and Native students at UND who are neither Sioux nor from the Spirit Lake or Standing Rock reservations.
We would like to take this opportunity to convey our thoughts and feelings to our brothers and sisters of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. We support the right of the people at Standing Rock to be heard and we support their efforts to have a say in the Fighting Sioux name and logo debate.
The Spirit Lake Nation Tribal Council respected the wishes of their people and understood that this issue was far too big and far too personal for just a small group of people to decide. This issue is not a political pawn. This issue is a very personal and individual matter that requires the input of each member of the tribe.
The vote at Spirit Lake gave our people an opportunity to tell the world how the Fighting Sioux name and logo makes each individual tribal member feel. The people of the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe clearly told the world they feel good about the Fighting Sioux name and logo.
No matter what side of the issue they were on, almost unanimously, the people of Spirit Lake Sioux tribe are grateful for the opportunity to voice their opinion and respect the outcome of the people’s vote. We ask for our many relatives at Standing Rock to be given the same opportunity. Let’s put this issue to rest once and for all and get on with the task of tackling the real issues that impact us in Indian country.
Our people are a people of consensus and the only way for this matter to be resolved is to give the people a chance to voice their individual opinions on this very personal matter. We are willing to live with the results of such a vote, whatever the result may be.
This letter was also signed by Spirit Lake Committee for Understand and Respect members Demus McDonald, Frank Black Cloud, Oliver Gourd, Eunice Davidson, Alex Yankton and Renita DeLorme.
Schroeder's father John is paying the shot for him to attend the Canucks camp to protect his NCAA eligibility. Schroeder, 19 on Sept. 29, is determined to get his (dad's) money's worth.
"I wanted to come here and show the organization that I'm very interested [in them] and to pay my dues even though it cost our family," he said. "Paying our way up here was worth it. Seeing the city and getting to know all the prospects was definitely worth it."
Schroeder will almost certainly return to the Golden Gophers for another season and, if so, he won't be attending full rookie and main camp in September. After that, who knows? The Canucks could come calling with a contract offer at any time.
[ The Vancouver Sun]
"I'm not worried about that, though. I don't think it will be a problem."
Gaborik scored 13 goals in 17 games for the Wild while missing most of last season with a labrum injury that was surgically repaired on Jan. 5 by Dr. Marc Philippon. Entering what should be his prime years, the 27-year-old winger has scored 123 goals in 207 games over the last four years. That equates to an 82-game pace of 49 goals.
"I'm very confident that the problems with my health are in the past and that if I'm healthy, I can produce the way I expect to," said Gaborik, who traveled here from his home in Trencin, Slovakia, to search for an apartment in Manhattan.
"This is going to be a big change for me after only playing in Minnesota for [eight] years, but I'm very excited about the challenge. I'm going to try to do what I do best, which is to try to make a difference on the ice every time I'm out there.
"I try to be the best player every game." [New York Post]
WILMINGTON - Most of the interest that NCAA teams showed in Matt Dalton disappeared when the goalie’s self-admitted “academic issues’’ came to light.
“Being from Canada, my high school classes weren’t going to work,’’ said the Clinton, Ontario, native. “I didn’t find that out until my second-to-last year of juniors. So I had to do a full year of university while I was in juniors just to get eligible for NCAAs. That scared a lot of schools off. I was talking to a lot of schools at the time. Once all the academic issues came out, it was like they all quit talking.’’
As Dalton prepares for his first year as a pro goalie, it appears he’s getting the last laugh on the spooked schools.
Dalton has been one of three goalies at Ristuccia Arena this week for development camp (Adam Courchaine and Michael Hutchinson are the others). The 23-year-old is in the Boston fold for the next two seasons, aiming to become the latest unorthodox netminder to make it in Black-and-Gold. Like Tim Thomas, Dalton isn’t committed to following the butterfly style that has become the norm.
“A modified butterfly goalie, maybe?’’ Dalton said. “I don’t think I’m a true butterfly goalie like a lot of the French-Canadian goalies. But I do butterfly quite a bit.’’
The 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound Dalton considers himself more of a track-and-react goalie. This week, Dalton has put his style to the test against the prospects’ shots. Dalton holds his glove up and out (Courchaine and Hutchinson keep their catchers closer to their bodies) and tries to make himself as big as possible.
“I think I play my best when I’m tracking the puck well and reacting,’’ Dalton said. “More reacting than dropping down into a butterfly. It’s different with every person. It’s something that I found works well for me.’’
