Sioux 5 - Warriors 2

The Fighting Sioux got a very solid effort from all four lines as the Fighting Sioux beat the Merrimack Warriors 5-2. This was the first time I got to see the new line up live and I was really impressed with the efforts of David Toews 1-1-2, Chay Genoway 0-2-2, Michael Cichy 0-2-2. If last year’s team was well balanced, then I have got to think this year is even more balanced. Team speed wise I think the Sioux are faster with the addition of Cichy, Kristo. David Toews had a really good start tonight.

Also, I hope I am not the only one that is impressed with freshman Joe Gleason, I thought he made a very strong case for staying in the lineup as Joe played a very well with the puck and was smart defensively. Gleason also chipped in with an assist.

I thought the Sioux got sloppy in the offensive end at the end of the first period that led to two untimely goals. It's not good to let the opposition score a goal at the end of a period, it can be a serious momentum killer. The forwards have got to be aware when Chay Genoway pinches in the offensive zone a forward has got to pick up the point. That didn't happen and Eidness let in a goal on a breakaway.

More to follow tomorrow.

[Box Score]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Jason Gregoire (1) (Chay Genoway, Danny Kristo) 0:39
NDK (+): 17,5,7,24,29,G31 MER (-): 11,4,25,20,7,G35
MER-1 Karl Stollery (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 2:22
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 David Toews (1) (Darcy Zajac) 12:31
NDK (+): 18,11,25,24,8,G31 MER (-): 17,20,4,25,11,G35
MER 1 - 2 6x6 Justin Bonitatibus (1) (Francois Ouimet, Joe Cucci) 15:20
MER (+): 17,21,14,4,7,G35 NDK (-): 5,24,22,19,26,G31
NDK-1 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Holding the Stick) MER 0x1 16:32
MER-2 Joe Cucci (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 17:21
MER 2 - 2 6x6 Chris Barton (1) (Joe Cucci, Pat Bowen) 19:35
MER (+): 23,14,4,27,26,G35 NDK (-): 5,29,17,7,26,G31

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-2 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Michael Cichy) MER 0x2 8:03
NDK 3 - 2 6x6 GW LL Chris VandeVelde (1) (Chay Genoway, Michael Cichy) 10:16
NDK (+): 29,5,8,17,24,G31 MER (-): 3,5,16,18,17,G35
NDK 4 - 2 6x6 Corban Knight (1) (David Toews, Michael Cichy) 10:57
NDK (+): 10,18,8,2,20,G31 MER (-): 15,18,22,26,10,G35
MER-3 Kyle Bigos (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x3 12:30
NDK-3 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) MER 0x3 17:13

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MER-4 Pat Bowen (2-Holding) NDK 0x4 3:14
MER-5 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Justin Bonitatibus) NDK 0x5 5:25
MER-6 Bobby Kramer (2-Roughing) NDK 1x6 13:59
NDK 5 - 2 6x5 PP Brett Hextall (1) (Evan Trupp, Joe Gleason) 14:51
NDK: 26,19,20,22,3,G31 MER: 3,23,27,26,G35

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday afternoon Links

My yard work isn't getting done with me sitting at the computer but there were a few interesting items out there to read about in the hockey world.

Pat Quinned was fined for saying this:

"I don't understand the players of today," Quinn said. "If that had happened in the old days he would have got hit over the head with a stick right after. It was a pretty dirty play in my opinion. He poked his feet out and then piled on top of him. Somehow they never deal with that ... and they won't let the vigilante stuff happen to deal with it. It's disappointing." [NHL.COM]

The Redwings just got some really bad news when one of their top forwards Johan Franzen will be out for at least four months. Looks like former MSU Star Justin Abdelkader will be getting another shot at playing in the NHL.
One man's loss is another man's gain.

Bad news on the Johan Franzen injury front: The Red Wings just announced that the big forward will be out a minimum of four months after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Thursday’s 3-2 win over Chicago.General manager Ken Holland said the team has recalled Justin Abdelkader from Grand Rapids (AHL).
[Abel to Yzerman]

Predict the score of this game between UAA and Michigan, I am predicting a 7-2 ass whooping. Nothing like a game against Michigan to lower those save percentages and raise the goals against averages.

It will be interesting to see how optimistic some remain after the Seawolves play like a big, slow, untalented, lumbering team, with little recognizable talent. I predict that UAA will get beat to the puck up and down the ice and will get into penalty trouble as soon as the Seawolves realized they can’t keep up more talented and fleet of foot Michigan Wolverines. Being an early season game the ref will be out to prove a point and there will be a parade to the penalty box.

Both of their goalies played in their exhibition win. Jon Olthius got the start and made 7 stops in a little over half the game. Bryce Christianson stopped ten pucks in the second half of the game. Christianson was the better of the two a year ago, with a 2.60/.893 to Olthius's 3.43/.877. [The Blog that Yost Built]

According to the New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella they are not playing rund and gun hockey. Sounds like they need to work on their defense.

John Tortorella wasn’t so thrilled with what he saw on the tape from the Pittsburgh game, or with what he saw on television from one of his players: “The biggest thing that we need to address tonight is puck support. If we’re going to be aggressive as far as defending, trying to jam the neutral zone, pinching in the end zone when we have opportunities, we need to have some support coming back, and I think we lost ourselves a little bit there” - most glaringly on Sidney Crosby’s go-ahead goal, with Marc Staal caught behind the play and no one helping out.

“I even heard one of our players say on a TV program or something like that before last night’s game, ‘Run-and-gun.’ This isn’t run-and-gun,” the coach went on. “This is pressure defense, pressuring the puck, defense first with support, allowing us to be aggressive, it’s not run and gun. These are the things we have to curb and make our team understand, because we gave up too many odd-man rushes. … Some was due to us just blowing up with the puck.” [The Blueshirts blog]

So is Wild forward Benoit Pouliot playing his way out of the line up in Minnesota? I don't know but I hope so, I just don't see anything that leads me to believe that Pouliot is going to be anymore than a fourth line player.

Benoit Pouliot’s got some work to do if he wants more than the five-minutes of fourth-line work he got Tuesday against Anaheim.
“He can play as high as the second line because he has that skill, but he needs to be a reliable player in his own zone and provide some energy and physical play,” Richards said.

Richards was displeased with the goalie interference penalty Pouliot took with the Wild down 3-1 in the third period. Pouliot nullified a power play he had drawn.

“He did a great job moving his feet to draw the penalty and then put himself in a position to take a penalty. You can’t do that,” said Richards. [Russo's Rants]

Cornelius Hardenbergh from the Hockey Blog Adventure was not impressed with the play of the Boston Bruins last night against the Ducks. I DVRed the game but I haven't had the displeasure of watching that game yet and if I do I might just vomit as well. I made the mistake of looking ahead of time on line to see what the score was and 6-1 kind of ruined it for me.

The Bruins powerplay sucked so hard that I was hoping the Bruins would take a penalty just to even the numbers of players on the ice. The PK managed to let old man teemu to bury 2 goals. If Tim Thomas is going to be a sieve every other game maybe the Bruins should look at this promising Rask kid soon. I expect him to play sometime this weekend, but I'm no NHL coach. [the Hockey Blog Adventure]

Patrick Kaleta smokes Petr Prucha

Holy Cow! What a hit. That was right on the line of being a questionable hit, it probably would be classified as interference because it looks like the puck isn't on Prucha's stick when he gets smoked.

More Merrimack Links.

Here is what Mike McMahon had to say about the Sioux in his blog post this morning. Sounds like the Sioux are going to be in for a very physical series this weekend.

Scouting The Sioux
To put it bluntly, North Dakota is an excellent hockey team. They have a lot of team speed that will challenge the Warriors, who will almost certainly utilize a trap in an attempt to bottle it up and shut down a very impressive Sioux offense, which scored an eye-popping 3.40 goals per game last season. Merrimack has been able to do this in the past to speedy teams — they beat UNH on their home sheet (Olympic size) last season — but doing so against an unfamiliar North Dakota team will prove to be a challenge.

Brad Eidsness was impressive in net as a freshman last season (2.56, .906) guiding the Sioux to a WCHA Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. In some UND games I caught on television last season (and watching them in Manchester at the NCAA’s) I was impressed with forward Evan Trupp, who scored 20 points as a sophomore (7-13–20) last season. He’s small (5-8, 164) but shifty and always seemed to be around the net.

As for the Warriors, don’t expect them to try and skate with the Sioux – they can’t – so defense will be a priority. I’d expect to see Merrimack sit back in the neutral zone and wait for their opportunities to attack on offense, sending one forechecker to force the pucks to the walls and create turnovers. The key is that the Warriors will need to capitalize when they get chances, because there might not be very many.

Also, hitting guys tends to slow them down. If MC can force pucks to the walls, they’ll also be able to bang some bodies. I’d expect a very physical, defensive Merrimack team for two games this weekend.

And remember, this is a non-conference games in a WCHA rink. Not as bad as the CCHA, for sure, but expect the Warriors to have to kill somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 penalties in the two games is my guess.
[Warrior Rink Rat]

Weekend Match ups (Sioux 7)

The opening weekend games feature non conference games and a tournament. So lets start off with the weekend series first. Three series are against Hockey East teams, Vermont, Northeastern, and Merrimack. There is also one CCHA series, and then the Superior Showcase, with two WCHA and two CCHA teams. These non conference games can give us a good indication of where the league stands as a whole against the other top conference.


St. Cloud State at Miami
The RedHawks of Miami had a great run last year in the playoffs and just came up short of a national title. The question will be, can they do it again this season? The Huskies will be trying to win and show that they are going to a force to be reckoned with this year. I'm betting we will see freshman goalie Mike Lee in net both nights. I see this series being a split, UM on Friday and SCSU on Saturday.


Vermont at Denver
I'm not up to snuff on the Catamounts, but if history can be used, they have been a good competitive team in years past and the fact they are rated #14 to start this season. The Pioneers being ranked #1 will have a big target on them this weekend as they look prove they are deserving of the pole position to start the season. I think conditioning and altitude might factor into UV's game plan, but in the end I think DU will come out on top. I'm picking DU to get a win and tie, this weekend.


Merrimack at North Dakota
The Warriors invade the Ralph this weekend in hopes of pulling of an upset win. UM was picked to finish last in their conference, ouch. Meanwhile the Sioux where picked to finish second in the WCHA and are ranked #6 to start the year. UND has 10 freshman this year in the line up and only 3 seniors, yeah, they are a young team. The Sioux are use to have many youngsters in the line up with the numberous defections to the NHL before the player graduates. I think the Warriors will put up a fight but the skill of the Sioux will win out in the end. SIOUX SWEEP.


Bowling Green at Minnesota State
I'm sure many people didn't realize that Ohio has two hockey teams, but BG has a team. The Falcons haven't had that much success in recent seasons past, but are looking to move up the CCHA standings. If I'm not mistaken they have a new head coach this season, so this could be a little bit of a transition year too. The Mavericks gave their head coach Jutting a contract extentsion, so he will be the bench boss in Mankato for years to come. The Mavericks are always tough team to beat and the Falcons will find that out this weekend. MAVERICKS SWEEP.


Northeastern at Colorado College
The Huskies invade the Tigers home this weekend for a pair of tilts. CC has many questions to answer, goalie and offense are the main ones... Northeastern finshed last season with a 25-12-4 record, pretty darn good in any league. The Tigers will have their hands full with these doggies. But don't count the Tigers out just yet, they have suprised us before. I'm hedging my bet and going to call this a SPLIT.


Superior Showcase

Lake Superior at Minnesota-Duluth
The Lakers take on the Bulldogs since this is a round robin tourney I'm going with Dogs at home over the Lakers.

Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech
This is an old WCHA rivalry, I remember when the Wildcats played in the WHCA. The Huskies are going to have to be on their A-game to get wins this season, and I don't see them starting with a win over their Upper Penisula rivals. Wildcats Win.

Lake Superior at Michigan Tech
I think the Huskies will drop this game by one goal to the Lakers.


Northern Michigan at Minnesota-Duluth
This game is a tough one to call, but hey its only speculation, right...Bulldogs Win.


Kendall Hockey Classic
Mercyhurst at Alaska-Anchorage
The Seawolves are looking to start the season with a win, and to do that they will need to beat the Mercyhurst Lakers from Atlantic Hockey. The Lakers where 8-11-1 away form Erie PA last year, and the Seawolves were 5-8-4 at home last season.
I think the Lakers will handle their first road/airplane trip of the season well and will hand the Seawolves a loss.


Michigan at Alaska-Anchorage
Lets just let this one be. #3 Michigan wins.

A goal worth seeing. (Kyle Okposo)

I am not much of a Islanders fan but this is a really nice goal by former Golden Gopher Kyle Okposo. That is a power forward move. This kid could still be playing in college if he hadn't left 1 1/2 years into his college career.

Check out this scrum.

I saw this game's highlights on TV tonight and I thought it was worth a look. The the Broad Street Bullies are up to their old tricks again. Check out this scrum at the end of the Flyers and Penguins game. Edit: It was Mike Richards that ran over the Penguins goaltender, now that is a bush league move. I wonder if they league will review this tape.

Update on Warrior's Da Costa.

Here is the latest from Mike McMahon of the Warrior Rink Rat. Looks like Da Costa won't be playing this weekend. That is a tough break for the Warriors.

Stephane Da Costa traveled with the Warriors to Grand Forks on Thursday, but will not participate in either game against North Dakota this weekend while he waits for the NCAA to rule on his eligibility.

It was originally thought that the NCAA would make its ruling this week, however, now one isn’t expected to be handed down until at least next week.

The NCAA has cleared Da Costa to practice, and he has been practicing with the team since they began sessions. He also participated in the Blue-Gold game on Monday. [Warrior Rink Rat]

St Louis Blues turning the corner.

It would appear that the St Louis Blues hockey team is headed in the right direction and should be a force to be reckoned with this season. Personally, I really enjoy watching great young American players like Erik Johnson (UMN) David Backes (MSU-M) and T.J. Oshie ( UND) play hockey.

Fans haven’t been this jacked up since the old President’s Trophy days, when the Blues finished first overall in 1999-2000 and then reached the Final Four the following spring.

Those were heady times. Blues fans believed Bill and Nancy Laurie and their big Wal-Mart dollars would power this franchise to its first Stanley Cup.

But the Lauries lost tens of millions of dollars during their Cup quest. They threw their support behind the NHL lockout, then decided to abandon the team when the league resumed play.

Now Blues fans are hopeful again. They are a bit uneasy about David Checketts’ quest for an NFL team, since his ownership group hasn’t quite finished its job with the Blues.

Otherwise, all is well in Blues Nation. This team commands league-wide respect again. Kariya’s return adds star power to an already entertaining group.

The franchise has developed its best corps group of young players since the Bernie Federko/Brian Sutter days. Johnson is legit, as are David Backes, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and Roman Polak.

If Chris Mason falters in goal, Ty Conklin will be a worthy stand-in. Our Town’s Ben Bishop offers huge long-term potential in the nets and numerous other top prospects are toiling for the team’s AHL affiliate this season.

The hockey operation is in great shape. Good organizational depth extends to the low minor league, junior hockey, the college ranks and Europe. The Blues are good now and they should remain good for many years to come.
[stltoday.com]

The first round bust known as Benoit Pouliot.

In the off season I was very disappointed to find out that the Minnesota Wild had decided to keep their first round bust Benoit Pouliot, instead of finding someone else to take his place on the roster in Minnesota. Drafted in the first round of the 2005 NHL entry draft Pouliot is another reminder of the players selected in 2005 that the Minnesota Wild could have had instead of the dead weight known as Benoit Pouliot (52 games 7g-7a-14pts).

Let’s take a quick look at the players who were drafted behind Beniot Pouliot in the first round of the 2005 entry draft, Anze Kopitar 11th by the LA Kings (81g-128a-209pts), Marc Staal 12th New York (5g-22a-27pts), Tuukka Rask 21 by Toronto and T.J. Oshie 24th by the St Louis Blues, 59 games (14g-26a-40pts). I am sure that Kopitar, Staal, Rask and or Oshie would look a much better in a Wild jersey than the slacker currently wearing number 67. Frankly I find that Pouliot is a brutal reminder of the horrible first round draft choices that now departed Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough made during his ho hum tenure in Minnesota. Another reminder is the first rounds busts as James Sheppard I wonder how much longer we are going to have to watch James taking up a roster spot on the Wild.

A line that Kurt Russell immortalized in the 2004 movie, “Miracle,” and a line that fits perfectly with the crossroads that Benoit Pouliot’s career is at.

Drafted 4th Overall in the 2005 Entry Draft, Pouliot was drafted as the Minnesota Wild’s “Next Big Thing.”

Taken just three spots behind Sidney Crosby and ahead of names like Carey Price, Devin Setoguchi, and Anze Kopitar, Pouliot was expected to give the Wild the scoring punch beside Marian Gaborik that they had needed for so long.

Entering his fourth pro season, Pouliot has yet to live up to those lofty expectations.

In 52 NHL games, he has tallied just 7 goals and 14 points. After an impressive rookie campaign with the

 Houston Aeros in the 2006-07 season, one that saw him tally 19 goals and 36 points as a rookie, Pouliot was expected to contend for a roster spot on the big squad the following season. He was even given the opportunity to play pivot between Gaborik and Pavol Demitra in what would form the team’s top line.

Unfortunately, Pouliot didn’t quite make the cut. He did, however, earn a late season call up that saw him get a couple goals in the last eleven games of the season. [Bleacher Report]

Fighting Sioux coaches show.

Check out this week's Fighting Sioux coaches show that aired on 10/07/2009. Coach Hakstol and Tim are on at with 29 minutes left to go in the broadcast.

[click to listen]

Wild not as boring this season.

I know it's only one game and it was the first Wild game that I have been able to watch this season, however, after only one game I can say that the Wild are going to be a much more exciting brand of hockey to watch then they were last year under the defensive minded former coach Jacques Lemaire.

Personally, I don't watch hockey to see the neutral zone trap, I want to see attacking and counter attacking hockey and that was what the Wild did as they pushed the puck up and down the ice and created offensive opportunities all night.

This season with the Wild playing a more up tempo offensive style of play it will cause a higher risk/reward. There were a few instances last night where the Wild got caught up ice focusing on offense and not remembering where the defensive zone was.

Last night I thought defenseman Brent Burns had a poor game and looked like a pylon as there were numerous times he was caught up ice on turnovers in the neutral and offensive zone. None the less, I liked what I saw last night and it was a lot more exciting hockey to watch and I expect more of the same.

Helluva night in the Twin Cities, eh? I’m not about to compare tonight’s comeback at the X in Game 2 of an 82-game season with the Twins’ finish to win the division and advance to the playoffs, but if you happened to be one of the fans that actually attended this doubleheader, man, you won’t ever forget this night.

Wild down 3-zip. Playing absolutely hideously. Coughing up pucks. Giving up 2-on-1’s and 3-on-2’s and even an astonishing 4-on-1. Getting zero done in the offensive zone.

And then … a couple choice words during the second intermission and a fight, and the first-ever Wild comeback from three goals down in the third for a W.

Yes, I know there are people who hate fights, but tonight, there was an example about what a fight can do to a hockey game.

Kinda like when Stephane Veilleux got goaded into fighting Dion Phaneuf in Calgary once when the Wild was ahead 3-0, George Parros decided to fight John Scott. Well the 6-foot-8 Scott absolutely clocked the experienced fighter with a right uppercut. He went down, and for the first time in the game that wasn’t Carlos Gomez scoring at the Metrodome, the Wild fans had reason to cheer.

And, said Todd Richards, “It stirred up some emotion on the bench.” [Russo's Rants]

Da Costa’s Eligibility In Question

Merrimack collge hockey beat writer Mike McMahon has an update on their star freshman's status for this weekend's games. His status is still in doubt. Sounds like if this kid couldn't play this season it would be tough pill to swallow for Merrimack. I can't even remember the last time I seen someone from France playing in college hockey.

Freshman forward Stephane Da Costa has not made it through NCAA clearninghouse as of Tuesday afternoon.

Merrimack officials are currently awaiting word on his status, which is expected to come from the NCAA later this week. The Warriors open the season on Friday night in North Dakota, where they’ll take on the defending WCHA Champions.

Da Costa, who comes to Merrimack from Paris, France, finished fourth in the USHL in scoring last season. [Warrior Rink Rat]

Merrimack Links

Merrimack College hockey beat writer Mike McMahon gave me a few links on this weeks opponent the Merrimack College Warriors.

[Merrimack Overview]

Returning leaders: Chris Barton (9-14—23), Jesse Todd (7-16—23), Joe Cannata (2.35 goals-against average, .918 save percentage)

Coaches poll: Merrimack was picked to finish last for a sixth straight season. The Warriors avoided the Hockey East basement last season, finishing ninth ahead of Providence. The last time the Warriors made the Hockey East playoffs was the 2003-04 season, when the Warriors finished seventh overall and lost to Maine in the first round. The 2004-05 season, the last under former head coach Chris Serino, snapped a streak of nine straight years in which the Warriors made the postseason.

Here is the scouting report on the Merrimack Warriors. This is Mikes words on what the Sioux are going to experience. They sound like your typical WCHA team. Looks like Hexy will have someone to jaw with as well.

They're a big, hard-hitting group - especially some guys on defense. Ryan Flanigan is a pest and sure to be hated by the ND fans quickly. Kyle Bigos (6-5, 240) is a frosh defenseman who was picked by EDM in the draft and is going to be VERY good, I think. He's a big-time physical presence, too.

Here is the link to the [Merrimack Hockey Message Board]

Here is a preview on the Merrimack College hockey team. Sounds like the Warriors are big, physical, play defense first hockey teams. The Sioux will have to have their head on a swivel and be ready to be hammered into the boards. Also, Sioux forwards are going to need to get their feet moving and get the puck deep to defeat the NZT. Should be a couple of good hockey games this weekend.
[Warriors hope scoring machine is eligible]
EDIT: Just for the record; Merrimack lost 14 games by one goal last season — the most in the nation. So the Sioux cannot over look.

Scott knocks down Parros

Check out former MTU Husky and current Wild goon John Scott as he knocked the snot out of former Princeton star and current Duck goon George Parros. Looks like John Scott is going to do what ever it takes to stay in the line up. This was also the turning point in the hockey game as the Wild came back to win 4-3 in overtime. Mark me down; guilty as charged, I relish a fight. [props]
EDIT: Check out what the Ulitmate officials had to say about this fight.

p.s. I remember working games with John Scott, playing for Michigan Tech, and he was HUGE. I mean, he was a MONSTER. I thought, "If you do anything, I literally will jump on your back." (note: he was pretty gentle back then...it took hanging around Boogaard to turn him into a beast. IALTO).

Sioux 3rd in INCH preseason WCHA poll.

Interesting read. I was wondering where Jess Meyers of INCH was going to pick UND to finish this season. I think the WCHA could be very close race again this season. I also predict that you will see 5 - 6 teams in the NCAA playoffs this season. There is going to be a lot of exciting players in this league this year.

1. Denver The Pioneers have everything in place, talent-wise, to finish on top. They also have the jinx of being the consensus favorite, which means they almost certainly will not.
2. St. Cloud State Add a hot freshman goalie to the likes of Lasch, Roe, and Raboin, and all of the pieces are in place for the Huskies to make another run at the NCAAs.
3. North Dakota After wave upon wave of eye-popping offensive talent coming from the Ralph, the duo of Genoway and Eidsness are prepared to do it with defense this season.
4. Minnesota Gopher players expect to be better. With trips to North Dakota and Wisconsin and a home duo with Denver among the first eight games, we’ll know soon.
5. Wisconsin Goaltending is a question in Madison. Although with the array of blue line talent
wearing red this season, you or I could be competitive in goal there.
6. Minnesota Duluth An exciting crop of freshmen, and an even more exciting run last March, has Bulldog fans expecting home playoffs in the DECC’s final full season.
7. Minnesota State The last two teams we’ve picked for seventh have won the MacNaughton Cup. If the senior-laden Mavs find goaltending, they could make it three.
8. Colorado College The schedule gods are smiling on the Tigers, who play 11 of their first 15 games at home. But the holes to fill on offense and in goal are considerable.
9. Alaska Anchorage A respectable 7-10-3 post-holiday record last season gives Seawolf fans confidence that the days of fading away in February are over.
10. Michigan Tech The duo of Jordan Baker and Brett Olson combined for 50 points last season. Those two, and better team health, provide hope in Huskyland.

Here was something that I agree with Jess about, the WCHA has to be better in non-conference play this season. Last year was not a good season for the WCHA. This season I think the WCHA is going come back with a vengence and kick some non-conference foes ass. It starts this weekend with DU vs UVM, MTU vs NMU, C.C. vs NE, SCSU vs MU, MSU-M vs BGSU, UMD vs LSSU, and UND vs MC. It's time to make a statement.

The 10 (soon to be a dozen) coaches of the WCHA might haven take a moment to look around the Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. last April, noticed the dearth of league members there, and realized that we’re a long way from Columbus.

You’ll recall that the 2005 affair in central Ohio was the notorious all-WCHA Frozen Four, which was cheered nearly everywhere west of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, and jeered pretty much everywhere else. In sharp contrast, for just the fourth time in Frozen Four history (1993, 1998 and 1999 being the others) there was no WCHA team at the 2009 Frozen. Although the strongest league backers will claim future member Bemidji State’s run to D.C. ought to count. Not likely.

But the 2008-09 doldrums went beyond a rough patch in rounds one and two of the NCAA playoffs. As evidenced by the fact that just one WCHAer (league MVP Jamie McBain from Wisconsin) made the list of Hobey finalists, and the fact that for the second year in a row the MacNaughton Cup champion (this time, North Dakota) ended the season on a 0-3 streak. It was clearly a down year for the WCHA.

Bruins resign Lucic to three year deal.

The Boston Bruins have resigned their tough guy Milan Lucic. Since his arrival in Boston Milan Lucic has developed a cult following with his monster hits and great fights. Last week he brutalized Jay Harrison from the Carolina Hurricanes. I am sure Bruins fans are relieved that Lucic has been locked up for three more seasons after this one. Just off the wire: According to TSN Lucic According to TSN, the deal is worth $12.25 million, giving Lucic a $4,083,333 annual cap hit. Lucic will still be a restricted free agent at the end of the contract. [TSN]

BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed forward Milan Lucic to a three-year contract extension through the 2012-13 NHL season. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

The 21-year-old Lucic set career highs in all major statistical categories last year after recording 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points, in addition to tallying 136 penalty minutes and a +17 rating. He netted his first career hat trick and a career-best four points on October 25, 2008, after a 3-1=4 performance against the Atlanta Thrashers.

During the 2008-09 postseason, the 6'3'' 228-pound winger had three goals and six assists and a team best +12 plus/minus rating in 10 games.

In his rookie year in 2007-08, Lucic registered 8-19=27 totals and 89 penalty minutes in 77 contests. Lucic earned the team's "Seventh Player Award" for his efforts, an award voted on by the fans and given to the Bruin who performs above and beyond expectations. He also contributed two goals in seven postseason games.

Lucic has skated in both games during the 2009-10 season and has notched one assist and five penalty minutes.

Matt Gilroy scores his first NHL goal.

Former BU Terrier star defenseman Matt Gilroy scored the first NHL goal of his young career last night as the Rangers beat the Devils 3-2. In my opinion this is a nice story and I hope this kid does really well for the Rangers. Assiting on Gilroy's first goal was former Wild player Marian Gaborik. Former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac scored for the New Jersey Devils, Parise and Clarkson assisted on Zajac's goal.

Genoway makes CHN's first team.

Some nice gee whiz reading for Sioux fans. Chay Genoway is getting some serious love from the college hockey sites. Here is the preseason first team from CHN. Chay was also made the first team of the Inside College Hockey 2009-10 Preseason All-America Team. One might have to start the Hobey Chay campaign.


First Team
F David McIntyre, Sr., Colgate
F Louis Caporusso, Jr., Michigan
F Jordan Schroeder, So., Minnesota
D Ian Cole, Jr., Notre Dame
D Chay Genoway, Sr., North Dakota
His defense has been consistently strong, and he's continued to become more involved in the offense, with 32 points last season. He was WCHA Defensive Player of the Year last season.
G Zane Kalemba, Sr., Princeton

Fighting Sioux ranked 6th in first USCHO poll.

Six WCHA teams are ranked in the first USCHO poll of the season.
1 Denver (20)
2 Boston University (17)
3 Michigan ( 2)
4 Miami (5)
5 Notre Dame (2)
6 North Dakota
7 Cornell
8 Yale
9 Minnesota
10 Princeton
11 Mass.-Lowell
12 Boston College
13 Wisconsin
14 Vermont
15 St. Cloud State
16 New Hampshire
17 Ohio State
18 Minnesota-Duluth
19 Air Force
20 Northeastern
Others Receiving Votes: Northern Michigan 72, Bemidji State 66, Harvard 35, Colorado College 25, St. Lawrence 23, Massachusetts 17, Minnesota State 11, Clarkson 10, RIT 10, Mercyhurst 6, Union 4, Alaska 1, Alaska-Anchorage 1, Dartmouth 1, Ferris State 1, Maine 1, Quinnipiac 1