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UAA defense hurting.

Here is the key to this weekend's series. UAA's top defenseman are banged up and a couple of their top defenseman have not even played yet this eason. UAA because of the injuries have had to rely on less experienced defenseman in the line up. It will be interesting to see how UND does on it's first road trip of the season.

Seawolves notes

• Already hurting on the blue line -- literally -- the Seawolves could again be down to five defensemen tonight, as they were in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Robert Morris in Fairbanks. Teams generally dress six defensemen.

Shyiak said senior defenseman Nils Backstrom (wrist) remains out and has not been practicing. Senior Trevor Hunt (wrist surgery) is listed as questionable -- he's practicing with limited contact. And Shyiak lists junior Luka Vidmar (groin/hip) as doubtful.

Backstrom and Hunt have yet to play this season and Vidmar missed the loss to Robert Morris. Those three have a combined 221 games of college experience and all three play on special teams, so the Seawolves are hurting without them. [ADN.COM]

Yawn! Its UAA week.

I have been a little under the weather this week and I kind of feel that blah, you know, that late fall yuck that I get every year before winter comes. I don't know if it's the changing of the seasons or what. Actually, that’s how I feel with this season’s matchup with the UAA Seawolves. This year like last season we are blessed with the opportunity to be able to see both away games on channel 23 on FSSN in Grand Forks, ND.

One of the biggest teams in College Hockey

A lot have been made about the Seawolves being the biggest team in college hockey. I say so what and big deal. I have referred to the Seawolves ‘as being a perennial WCHA doormat team, a big, slow, lumbering team, with little recognizable talent.’ The last four seasons UAA has finished a consistent 10th, 10th, 10th and 9th , looking at those finishes I think perennial WCHA doormat team would be an accurate assessment. I also predicted that Michigan would run UAA out of the building during their own tourney and I was correct.

On the flip side of the equation I have seen a lot of wide eyed pontifications from the UAA back bencher on how his mediocre team that lost to RMU is going to sweep UND. This is the same team that is missing two of its defensive cogs senior defensemen Nils Backstrom and Trevor Hunt who would probably be on most teams top six defensive parings.

UND is 6-1-1 in it's last 8 games against UAA. In Anchorage last season UND also beat UAA 2-1 in overtime in a very close game the first night then ran them out of their building 6-1 the second night.

Prediction

I predict a series Split; Anchorage is a tough place to play, while I think UND should and could sweep, I am going to say the lose Friday and win on Saturday. Please prove me wrong.

Keep your head up.

Former Fighting Sioux hockey star Joanthan Toews gets clocked by former Wild and Current Vancouver Canuck defenseman Willie Mitchell during last nights games. No word yet on Toews's status. There is an interesting discussion over on Kuklas Korner on a player made a legal hit and smoked a guy and now he has to fight. I would be willing to bet that Toews wil be a little more careful next time he is skating through the neutral zone.

Weekend Match Ups (Sioux 7)

This weekend will be the first weekend in which everyone is playing a WCHA schedule.
The early season will tell us how is going to be a contender and who are the pretenders. Some teams already need to get wins this season for instance the UW-MSUM series, both went winless in WCHA play last weekend. So with that lets look at the WCHA standings and this weekends tilts.


WCHA STANDINGS
...........................GP... W-L-T
1 Minnesota-Duluth.......2... 2-0-0
2 Colorado College........2... 1-0-1
2 North Dakota............2... 1-0-1
4 Minnesota...............2... 0-1-1
4 Wisconsin...............2... 0-1-1
6 Alaska-Anchorage......0... 0-0-0
6 Denver...................0... 0-0-0
6 Michigan Tech..........0... 0-0-0
6 St. Cloud State.........0... 0-0-0
6 Minnesota State........2... 0-2-0


#4 Denver(0-0-0) @ #11 Minnesota(0-1-1)

The Pioneers shut-out Ohio St and then got shut-out last weekend, splitting their series in Columbus. The Gophers received one point last weekend by salvaging a tie against UND in Grand Forks.

The Pioneers lose Joe Colborne to a broken finger for what appears to be couple of weeks, since he had to have surgery on it. All of us here at GOONS WORLD wish Joe a speedy recovery. Minnesota can ill afford an effort like last Friday and risk falling into an early season hole. The Gophers have a tough schedule to open the season, UND, DU, UAA, and UW. Then after Christmas break they spend much of that time on the road. Denver is fortunate that they have depth up front, losing Colborne is big, but they have others that can pick up the slack. DU's offense will look to avenge their being shut-out by putting up some goals this weekend. The Gophers gave up 43 and 34 shots on goal last weekend and will need to lower those numbers this weekend. The Gophers top weapon, Schoeder didn't get a point last weekend, so UM definitely wants him to get his game going this weekend. You can't afford to be giving up 30+ or 40+ shots a game in the WCHA, that's flirting with disaster.
DENVER takes 3-pts


Michigan Tech(0-0-0) @ #19 Colorado College(1-0-1)
The Tigers took a big bite out of Bucky Badger's behind last weekend. In the Badgers defense, those where their first games of the season. The Huskies from Houghton were off last weekend and should be ready to rumble in the Rockies this week.

Both teams were picked to finish in the bottom of the standings this year. This series could serve as proof if they end up splitting and setting both on the path of mediocrity. However, if one team gets a sweep that will definitely help them in the this years early standings. Last season CC won the series 3-0-1 against MTU, but this is a new season.
SPLIT


#18 Minnesota-Duluth(2-0-0) @ St. Cloud State(0-0-0)
The Bulldogs started the season strong with a sweep of the Mavericks at the DECC. Meanwhile a couple of hours south of Duluth in St. Cloud the Huskies took three points from the Union Dutchmen(ECAC) in a pair of non-conference games.

Duluth will be out to prove they can win without Stalock in net, and last weekend wasn't a fluke. St. Cloud will being looking to get their top scorers rolling this weekend. Look for Roe and Lasch to put up some offensive numbers this weekend, as both were held in check last weekend (Roe 1g, Lasch 1g, 1a). Last year the teams split their series 2-2-0. This should be a good series and don't expect a blow out by either team. After looking at some of last weekends numbers, expect to see some offense in these dog fights. I'm going a puppy a piece, SPLIT.


#2 North Dakota(1-0-1) @ Alaska-Anchorage(0-0-0)
The Sioux ran their home winning streak to 16 games (13-0-3) by taking three points from the Gophers. The Seawolves beat Rensselaer on Friday and lost to Robert Morris on Saturday in the Alaska Gold Rush Tournament.

UAA has got the toughest schedule to start the WCHA seasons, UND, @UM, DU, and @UW. Makes my wonder what UAA did to deserve a schedule like that to start the season, probably just bad luck. Coach Shyiak and the Seawolves will look to make his own luck, with hard work and determination, over those four weeks. UAA will be a battle hardened team by mid November with that schedule. Last year the Sioux sweep the Seawolves in Anchorage, and the teams split in Grand Forks. Even with 10 freshmen in the line up the Sioux have good depth through all four lines. The Seawolves will try to use their size to their advantage, but with an Olympic size sheet of ice it doesn't help their style of play. The faster, quicker Sioux will need to move their feet, that should result in UAA taking a few penalties, and UND power plays. The Seawolves will most likely play a more defensive style game and keep the scoring chances low. I'm going with a Sioux Sweep in this series.


#17 Wisconsin(0-1-1) @ Minnesota State(0-2-0)
The Badgers have now played two games this season and will continue to build off of last weekends series against Colorado College, after getting only one point at home. The Mavericks lost both games last week to UMD at the DECC, but will be looking to get in the W column this weekend.

With UW and MSUM going win-less last weekend in league play both teams will be looking to get some valuable league points this weekends. Playing four league games and coming away with only one or two points is putting yourself in peril to start the season. Last year MSUM took 3-pts at home against UW and UW swept MSUM in Madison. The Badgers gave up only one goal on Saturday, on a 5-3 power play. I think it's safe to say UW has it's defensive game intact from last year. UW might have last seasons problem too, they only scored one goal themselves on Saturday. MSUM put up two goals each night last weekend, but gave up five and three goals. It looks to be a good series between these two teams this weekend, which makes it like all the WCHA series, tough to pick a winner. With that, they are both winners, SPLIT.

College Hockey fan behavior

This is an article that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.

My dad sent me an account of a Gopher fan’s experience at Ralph Engelstad Arena this past weekend. Was I sitting in a different arena this past weekend?

Sioux Gophers and idiots on both sides.
I was at the Sioux/Gopher hockey games this weekend. The games were in Grand Forks and I was wearing Gopher gear on Friday night. Our tickets were also in the student section. We sat on the very far side of the student section. There were some Gopher fans in front of us who were clearly from the U. They were receiving a bit of heckling, and for the most part it was all in good fun, but there were a few weekend warriors” that went over the line from the UND side of things. They were invading some personal space and getting face to face with the kids from the U. Lots of you are a bitch. and you suck balls. Luckily for everybody involved where I was at, the Gopher kids stayed very chill about these 2 or 3 idiots getting too close to them.

The UND kids clearly had had way too much to drink. The problem was they kept coming back trying to instigate more and more each time. It could have turned bad pretty easy. Check out the story below. On Saturday night we also had student section tickets. I was not looking forward to the abuse again.

The night before there was a very drunk kid behind us who fell into our seats a few times. We were standing each time, but my wife got kicked once. He’s lucky he did not catch the 4 year old girl with a foot. So we got lucky Saturday nights, while we were waiting in line to get into the game some kids from the U said they had normal tickets but wanted to sit in student section. I overheard this and we traded our 4 student tickets for their 4 normal tickets. It was a much better game Saturday and we did not have to get kicked by drunk 19 year olds. All around a better experience.

While this weekend I didn't see a lot of this stuff going on, I have witnessed this type of behavior first hand in the past at venues like the Final Five at the Xcel Energy Center. Who uses this type of language when talking to another fan from a different team in front of young children? These people should have their mouths washed out with soap. That does cross the line of what is considered acceptable behavior at a sporting event. If I brought my two year old daughter to the game I don’t want her to have to listen to this kind of vile stuff. Just because you’re a college student doesn’t give you the right to act like an ass. There is no birthright to sit in that seat at the arena; if you can’t behave, I am sure the REA management can sell that prime seat to someone will be able to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner.

Not to pick on the college students there are many examples of adult fans, both Sioux and Gopher fans, getting out of hand and acting like imbeciles as well. I heard from a friend that a female Gopher fan who happened to be pregnant was heckled and jostled at the arena this past weekend. Who the heck does that kind of a thing? Imagine your girlfriend, wife or mother having this happen to them.

In yesterday’s Grand Forks Herald there was a letter to the editor in which a person described an experience where someone dumped a beer on a Gopher fan’s head from the upper deck. That kind of behavior is unacceptable and only a moron would defend behavior like this. People like this are going to ruin it for the rest of us that like to enjoy a beer without having the game ruined by drunk, belligerent idiots. I can foresee a time where the REA might ban beer sales to college students and or everyone. These types of incidents do not paint a positive picture of Grand Forks, ND, the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota or the WCHA. As fans collectively we must behave better, we don’t want to look like a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.

I know, call me old-fashioned, but some of the stuff that happened this past weekend seems to be borderline criminal or at least anti-social behavior and should be deemed as inappropriate and unacceptable. None of us should have to be a witness to this type of crap. To top off the weekend, we had an incident between two fans that could be classified as felonious with one person ending up in the ICU wing of Altru Hospital. There is nothing about this series that should lead any of us to start throwing punches at each other.

I am as pro-Fighting Sioux hockey as they come: I am all for a loud arena and an intimidating atmosphere, but some of this stuff is atrocious behavior and unfit for television. My boss who is new to the area went to a Sioux hockey game for the first time and I am sure she was impressed with the F’ the Gophers cheer, way to go UND. Remember there is friendly acceptable back and forth banter and then there is crossing the line. I also have friends that are Gopher fans, and some of them won’t even come up to Grand Forks anymore based on the type of treatment they have received from our fans.

I have to wonder if it is time for college hockey to institute a fan code of conduct for its fans like some NFL teams have. Eventually the University of North Dakota is going to have to address the behaviors of its fans at the REA.

Fan code of conduct

"The National Football League and its teams are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all fans, both in the stadium and in the parking lot. We want all fans attending our games to enjoy the experience in a responsible fashion. When attending a game, you are required to refrain from the following behaviors:
» Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature.
» Intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behavior.
» Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
» Interference with the progress of the game (including throwing objects onto the field).
» Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.
» Verbal or physical harassment of opposing team fans.
"Event patrons are responsible for their conduct as well as the conduct of their guests and/or persons occupying their seats. Stadium staff will promptly intervene to support an environment where event patrons, their guests, and other fans can enjoy the event free from the above behavior. Event patrons and guests who violate these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and loss of ticket privileges for future games."

Like another hockey fan suggested from DU, I like the NFL fan code of conduct policy and I am all for this if being enacted at REA. If you’re an unruly fan and you can’t act in an acceptable manner, your ticket should be taken from you and you will no longer be allowed to be able to attend events in the arena. Attending college hockey is a privilege, not a right. If you can’t act like a member of the human race, do not bother coming to the arena. Someone else will gladly pay a handsome fee for that ticket and act in a respectful manner in your place.

More bad news for the Bruins.

When I first read this new clip I thought it was a joke, now the Bruins have Lucic and Savard on the long term injured reserve. Savard is the Boston Bruins best forward and it will be hard to the team fill the void left by Savard's injury. I am just hoping the Bruins can keep their record close to 500 until after the first of the year.

BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has placed forward Marc Savard on long term injured reserve (broken left foot) and has recalled forward Trent Whitfield from Providence on an emergency basis.

Savard is expected to miss four to six weeks with the injury. He has led the Bruins in scoring each of the last three years and currently leads the team in scoring this year, with 4-3=7 totals in seven games. In 2008-09, Savard played in all 82 games with a 25-63=88 line.

Wild getting wounded back.

Some really good news for the Wild who have a depleted lineup right now. Marian Gaborik clone Marty Havlat is going to play tonight and Sykora is due back soon. Some of these players need to toughen up a bit.

Guess what? I had today off but ran into Marty Havlat and his girlfriend at a restaurant in Minneapolis. He hopes to play Wednesday against the Avalanche. He practiced today (Tuesday) but said he does want to test his groin at Wednesday's morning skate before a final decision is made.

I talked to Rachel Blount, who covered practice today. She said Petr Sykora (groin) skated again on his own and coach Todd Richards said they're hoping he can rejoin practice any day. He's still day-to-day and won't play against Colorado.

Chay Genoway is your Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.

Fighting Sioux All-American Defender Chay Genoway was given the Defensive player of the week in the WCHA. Genoway was a major factor in the Fighting Sioux getting three out of four points this past weekend.

Chay Genoway, a veteran defenseman at the University of North Dakota, has been chosen as the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 20-26, 2009 asa result of his outstanding play in a weekend series against league rival Minnesota. Genoway A 5-9, 174-pound senior and team captain from Morden, Manitoba, Genoway scored three goals – all on the power-play – in helping
No. 4 North Dakota gain three of four WCHA points from No. 9 Minnesota last weekend in Grand Forks. He is currently the top scoring defenseman in the WCHA with six points (3g, 3a) in four games.

Genoway’s three goals matched his output from the entire 2008-09 season, when he was a secondteam All-American and the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. In last Friday’s (Oct. 16) 4-0 win over UM, Genoway scored a PPG goal in the third period to give the Sioux a 3-0 lead and seal the game. He was also a +1 and was named the game’s No. 3 star by the media. Last Saturday (Oct. 17), Genoway scored two more PPGs, both in the second period, and was named the game’s first star. Genoway quarterbacked a UND power-play that went 4-for-12 (25%) in the series and anchored a penalty-killing unit that thwarted all nine UM power-plays. Also nominated were: Joe Howe, G, CC; and Marc Cheverie, G, DU.
[Official Press Release]

More hockey Links.

Andy Bagott had a neat blog post today with a few tid bits in it that are worth reading. Big loss for the DU Pioneers, Colborne is a big talented forward that hopefully be playing in Boston next season.

Line men: The Bulldogs aren't real deep up front, but their unit of senior left winger Jordan Fulton, sophomore center Jack Connolly and junior right winger Justin Fontaine looks pretty lethal. They've combined for 50 shots on goal in four games, led by Fontaine with a WCHA-best 23. Connolly (4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points) and Fontaine (6-3-9) lead the league in scoring.

That will hurt: Denver will be without center Joe Colborne indefinitely after the sophomore suffered a broken finger against Ohio State, an injury that required surgery. Colborne was a first-round NHL draft pick of Boston in 2008.

Travel alert: Preseason title favorite Denver heads to Minnesota, where coach George Gwozdecky is 5-8-1 going head-to-head with Gophers counterpart Don Lucia. Meanwhile, Wisconsin plays at Minnesota State-Mankato, where the Badgers are 1-7-2 since Mike Eaves took over as coach in 2002.

Stat of the weekend: Minnesota center Jordan Schroeder, arguably the best all-around player in the WCHA, didn't register a shot on goal during a 4-0 loss to North Dakota. [Wisconsin Hockey Blog]

Sounds like Gopher goalie Alex Kangas won't be getting as many starts as he has in the past. Looks like Patterson will get a few more starts.

Outstanding for the Gophers was sophomore goalie Kent Patterson . Lucia said he had planned all along to split this series between Kangas and Patterson, and after making 31 saves Saturday night, that will likely continue.

“That’s kind of a week-by-week [decision], but obviously Kent, the way he played tonight, earned himself more playing time,” Lucia said. “That’s the way it should be, performance should dictate play.” [MN Daily]

There was some question where the UAA games being televised and where they would be shown. Brad clears it up with this [blog post].

The games will be carried live on all Fighting Sioux Sports Network cable systems, including Midcontinent Communications and all other independent FSSN affiliates. (This means all Midco stations will have the games).

Grand Forks -- Midcontinent Communications
Fargo -- Cable One
Devils Lake -- North Dakota Telephone
Bemidji -- Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone
Thief River Falls -- Sjoberg's
Minot -- SRT Communications
Minot -- Vision Systems
Park River, N.D. -- Polar Communications
Langdon, N.D. -- United Telephone Mutual Aid
Perham, Minn. -- Arvig Communications
Perham, Minn. -- Loretel Cablevision
Steele, N.D. -- BEK Communications
Jamestown, N.D. -- Cable Services
Dickinson, N.D. -- Consolidated Cablevision
Carrington, N.D. -- Dakota Central Telecommunications
Ellendale, N.D. -- Dickey Rural Networks
Halstad, Minn. -- Halstad Telephone Company
Maddock, N.D. -- Maddock Cable TV
Enderlin, N.D. -- MLGC, Inc.
Ray, N.D. -- Northwest Communications

Poll Monday (Sioux 2nd in all polls)

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
1 Miami (46) 3-0-1 994 1
2 North Dakota ( 1) 3-0-1 940 4
3 Boston University ( 2) 0-1-0 820 2
4 Denver 2-2-0 801 3
5 Michigan 1-1-0 784 5
6 Cornell 0-0-0 701 6
7 Vermont ( 1) 2-1-0 650 11
8 Yale 0-0-0 589 8
9 Notre Dame 2-2-0 554 7
10 Princeton 0-0-0 530 10
11 Minnesota 0-1-1 454 9
12 Nebraska-Omaha 3-0-1 366 16
13 Mass.-Lowell 1-1-0 363 14
14 Boston College 0-1-0 273 12
15 Alaska 3-0-1 253 17
16 Bemidji State 2-0-0 243 15
17 Wisconsin 0-1-1 205 13
18 Minnesota-Duluth 3-1-0 175 NR
19 Colorado College 2-1-1 160 NR
20 Quinnipiac 3-0-0 150 18
Others Receiving Votes: Massachusetts 136, St. Cloud State 107, Northeastern 74, New Hampshire 48, Michigan State 31, Alabama-Huntsville 22, Harvard 21, Northern Michigan 18, Ohio State 12, Lake Superior 8, Union 8, St. Lawrence 6, Providence 3, Ferris State 1 [Link]

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's preseason poll
[Oct. 19, 2009]
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week's rank
1 Miami University (Ohio) (33) 3-0-1 509 1
2 North Dakota 3-0-1 465 4
3 Boston University 0-1-0 388 2
4 Michigan 1-1-0 386 5
5 Denver 2-2-0 378 3
6 Cornell 0-0-0 319 6
7 Vermont 2-1-0 295 11
8 Princeton 0-0-0 245 9
9 Yale 0-0-0 226 10
10 Notre Dame 2-2-0 221 7
11 Minnesota 0-1-1 139 8
12 Massachusetts Lowell 1-1-0 126 13
13 Nebraska Omaha 3-0-1 113 15
14 Minnesota Duluth 3-1-0 59 NR
15 Boston College 0-1-0 42 12
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska (Fairbanks), 39; Bemidji State University, 30; University of Massachusetts, 28; Colorado College, 24; University of Wisconsin, 18; Quinnipiac University, 15; St. Cloud State University, 6; Northeastern University, 4; U.S. Air Force Academy, 3; University of Alabama Huntsville, 1; University of New Hampshire, 1.

INCH Power Ranking (just for laughs)
1.) Miami
2.) UND --- Defenseman Chay Genoway entered his senior season with 16 career goals. He scored three against Minnesota this weekend, all on the power play. 3-0-1 (1-0-1 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Minnesota, 4-0; T vs. Minnesota, 3-3 ot. THIS WEEK: at Alaska-Anchorage, at Alaska-Anchorage
3.) UMV
4.) DU
5.) BU
6.) Michigan
7.) Cornell U
8.) Princeton
9.) Notre Dame
10.) UNO
11.) Yale
12.) UMASS - Lowell
13.) Alaska
14.) Minnesota
15.) BSU
16.) B.C.
17.) SCSU
18.) UMASS
19.) C.C.
20.) Wisconsin
Dropped out: Union, Michigan State
Bubble-licious: Michigan State, Quinnipiac, Minnesota Duluth, Alabama-Huntsville

More on the Bruins and Wild trade.

Here is what the Boston Bruins beat writer had to say about the trade of former Boston College Eagle star Chuck Kobasew to the Minnesota Wild. I think that the Wild got the better end of this deal.

Even before the Bruins’ 4-1 loss Saturday in Phoenix, a game in which Boston showed zero fight once the Coyotes made it 2-0, Peter Chiarelli was not pleased with the atmosphere surrounding his players.

They were too comfortable, believed the general manager. Too sleepy. Too full of themselves following an Eastern Conference regular-season crown. Too confident that with a flick of a switch, they could turn things on and revert to the 2008-09 version - which, considering its regular-season achievements, fell short of expectations.

“We won one playoff round,’’ Chiarelli said. [Boston Globe]

From the other side of the equation, the Wild free up 625,000.00 of dead weight that had no value what so ever to the Minnesota Wild. Craig Weller was another one of Doug Risebrough's horrible blunders, seriously, I think the Wild could have gotten more value out of a bag of pucks and a truck load of carbon fiber sticks than playing this guy.

Losing Weller is a coup. Wild doesn’t have to pay his $625,000 salary anymore in Houston. So, if you assume Fletcher can eventually acquire a second-round pick to replace this second, this was Fallstrom for Kobasew. We’ll know how that works out in about five years. Is Fallstrom a bust, or is he the second coming of Tomas Holmstrom? We will see.

As for Kobasew, who’s hit the 20-goal plateau in three of the past four years, I know a lot of people in Boston, and the scouting report from a bunch is this: “Good skater, works hard, drives to the net relentlessly, plays bigger than his size, has some skill, generates a ton of scoring chances for others but needs many scoring chances for him to be the scorer, is streaky undersized for the way he plays, which is very gutsy. Just goes to the net, plays hard on the wall. Because of that, he does get injured often. Best fit as a third-liner on a good team, but can be a second-liner on a bad team. Teammates love him. Reporters love him. Well-spoken, great guy.”

Talked to Shane Hnidy, who played with Kobasew the past two seasons in Boston.

He said his cell phone rang, and “I was like, Why’s Chuck Kobasew calling me? I wonder if we just traded for him.” [Russo's Rants]

Wild and Bruins make deal.

Former Boston College Eagle Chuck Kobasew is leaving Boston for the State of Hockey. I have to wonder what the Boston GM is thinking? Is it possible that the Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is clearing out some cap space to make room for a bigger trade? The Bruins have banked a bunch of draft choices from the Leafs in the Kessel trade and now another second round draft choice from this one. The Bruins have some bargaining chips.

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has acquired a second round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the rights to unsigned draft choice Alexander Fallstrom and forward Craig Weller from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Chuck Kobasew.

Fallstrom, selected in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, began his freshman year at Harvard University in September, 2009. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, he played for Brinken, Lindigo and Djurgarden in Sweden before moving to Minnesota where he attended Shattuck St. Mary’s School from 2007-2009. A senior captain at Shattuck St. Mary’s in 2008-09, Fallstrom led his team with 40 goals and 87 points (40-47=87) in 52 games. In his first season with Shattuck he had 67 points (20-47=67) in 62 games.

Weller, a fifth round selection of the St. Louis Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (167th overall), has played in 95 NHL games with the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild and has 4-10=14 totals with 127 penalty minutes. This season, Weller has played five games for the Houston Aeros (AHL) and has one assist and seven penalty minutes. Last season, Weller played in 36 games for the Wild and earned 1-2=3 totals and 47 PIM's.

Kobasew was acquired by the Bruins along with Andrew Ference from Calgary in exchange for Brad Stuart, Wayne Primeau and a fourth round draft pick in 2008 on February 10, 2007. This season he has appeared in all seven of the Bruins contests, tallying 0-1=1 totals and 2 penalty minutes. In total, he appeared in 158 games for the Bruins, with 44-40=84 totals. His career NHL totals are 368 games, 78-77=155.

So now we are a bunch of rubes?

This is the kind of crap that I get tired of hearing/reading when the Golden Boys from Minneapolis come to town look at what the Gophers beat writer referred to one of the fans as a "rube". This is supposed to be journalism? Why not refer to the person as a fan?

A 60-some lady named Grace gave me and 40 others a tour of Ralph Engelstad Arena. Cheap entrainment for me, only $3. One rube actually said, "It's only three dollars."

Grace offered a little history of the Ralph. She said that in Dec. of 1998, Engelstad, a former UND alum who made millions in real estate and a Las Vegas casino, the Imperial Palace, pledged $100 million for a new arena. It took 21 months to build and he watched the progress.
[Red Star and Sickle]

Scores Saturday, October 17, 2009

WCHA

Minnesota State 2 at Minnesota-Duluth 3
Minnesota 3 at North Dakota 3 ot
Colorado College 1 at Wisconsin 1 ot

Analysis: UMD sweeps the MSU-M Mavericks. UND takes 3 points from Minnesota, kudos to the Fighting Sioux defense kept Jordan Schroeder off the score board all weekend. The Badgers get one point on the weekend and it will be interesting to see how C.C and Wisconsin respond after this weekend's play.

Non-Conference

Union 1 at St. Cloud State 3
Army 3 at Merrimack 6
Michigan State 3 at Maine 5
Miami 5 at New Hampshire 5 ot
RIT 3 at Clarkson 5
Connecticut 1 at Ferris State 6
Bentley 2 at Quinnipiac 3 ot
Mercyhurst 3 at Western Michigan 4
Nebraska-Omaha 4 at Colgate 1
Canisius 0 at Lake Superior 3
Niagara 3 at St. Lawrence 4
Alabama-Huntsville 4 at Air Force 2

Analysis: SCSU finally gets a win against a non-conference opponent and their nonconference record stands at 1-2-1 after two weekends of play. UAH beats AFA twice and now the Falcons are 0-4 on the season after being swept by BSU last weekened. Merrimack College evens their record to 2-2 after getting a sweep against Holy Cross. Dean Blais’ UNO Mavericks gets a win and a tie against ECAC opponent Colgate. Miami University another good weekend as they get a win and a tie against UNH.

Alaska Goal Rush

Rensselaer 1 at Alaska 1 ot [Alaska wins in shootout 1-0]
Robert Morris 5 vs. Alaska-Anchorage 3

Analysis: Good win by Robert Morris as they beat the UAA Seawolves. Here is my question; so did UAA take RMU for granted by thinking they were a cupcake or RMU is a pretty good hockey team. I am thinking maybe a little bit of both. The other Alaska school wins another tourney in Alaska.

Sioux 3 Gophers 3.

They say that getting a tie against your heated rival feels like kissing your sister. Actually, I think the Sioux got away with some sloppy play in their own end and lost a lot of battles to the puck. I don’t like to be negative when the Sioux got three out of four points against a decent opponent in their building before January 1st and three points is three points. On the goaltending blunders that I saw tonight, someone has go to work with Brad Eidsness about covering the post correctly, Eidsness over played the puck when he didn’t need to. Stay in your net and let the puck come to you. If Eids doesn't’t play that puck there is a chance the Sioux win. Also, Jake Marto made a huge save at the end of the game to keep UND in the game.

The Fighting Sioux defensemen were a step slow tonight and they need to win the races to the puck if the Fighting Sioux are going to be successful. The forwards have got to pick up their man in the defensive zone as well. I thought in the third period and the overtime that the Fighting Sioux defenseman and forwards did a better job getting in the passing lanes than the first half of the game.

Hobey Chay

I thought that senior defenseman Chay Genoway who had three points on the weekend (3g-0a-3pts ) was awesome with the puck in his own end and made all of the right decisions, and if I could have a vote he would be my choice for defensive player of the week in the WCHA. I think this season that Genoway will have a legitimate shot at being a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist at the end of the season, if Chay  keeps his level of play at a high level consistently. If he keeps playing like this he should be in consideration. I noticed that I am not the only one with this opinion.

Solid performers for the Weekend.

Mario Lamoureux (1g-1a-2pts)
Danny Kristo (0g-2a-2pts)
David Toews (0g-2a-2pts)
Chay Genoway (3g-0a-3pts)
Brad Eidsness (1-0-1) 1.44 GAA SV % .927
Sioux defense kept Jordan Schroeder off the score board all weekend.

From the Minnesota hockey beat writer/homer.

 North Dakota defenseman Chay Genoway fell on the ice to try to block Barriball's shot as he neared the Sioux net. Barriball went high and beat Eidsness on the glove side.

With 3 minutes to go, those two got tangled up behind the Sioux net and both received penalties. Barriball for diving, Genoway for unsportsmanlike conduct, presumably for mocking how easily Barriball fell to the ice. In the penalty box, Genoway kept chirping and several times demonstrated the form on a front dive.

I don't know if anyone else feels this way but in my opinion Ryan Flynn is one of the biggest hacks in the WCHA, there is only one bigger hack and he was sitting in the stands this weekend, Brian Schack. Flynn and Lucia were begging for a beat down and deserved one.
[Box Score]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MIN 1 - 0 6x6 Jay Barriball (1) (unassisted) 6:20
MIN (+): 26,19,16,4,20,G35 NDK (-): 7,29,5,24,17,G31
NDK-1 Chris VandeVelde (2-Boarding) MIN 0x1 10:13
MIN-1 Zach Budish (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 13:40
NDK-2 David Toews (2-Slashing) MIN 0x2 16:00
MIN-2 Aaron Ness (2-Holding) NDK 0x2 16:27
MIN-3 Jay Barriball (2-Diving) 17:03
NDK-3 Chay Genoway (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 17:03

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

MIN-4 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Patrick White) NDK 1x3 1:17
NDK 1 - 1 6x5 PP Chay Genoway (2) (Danny Kristo, Chris VandeVelde) 2:46
NDK: 5,7,29,17,27,G31 MIN: 22,28,13,10,G35
MIN-5 Nico Sacchetti (2-Roughing) 4:53
MIN-6 Nico Sacchetti (2-Roughing) 4:53
MIN-7 Cade Fairchild (2-Roughing) 4:53
MIN-8 Tony Lucia (2-Roughing) 4:53
MIN-9 Jake Hansen (2-Roughing) 4:53
MIN-10 Aaron Ness (2-Roughing) 4:53
NDK-4 Joe Gleason (2-Roughing) 4:53
NDK-5 Joe Gleason (2-Roughing) 4:53
NDK-6 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) 4:53
NDK-7 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 4:53
NDK-8 Evan Trupp (2-Roughing) 4:53
NDK-9 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Roughing) 4:53
MIN-11 David Fischer (2-Tripping) NDK 2x4 5:45
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Chay Genoway (3) (Danny Kristo, David Toews) 6:55
NDK: 5,8,7,10,18,G31 MIN: 2,16,22,4,G35
MIN-12 Jake Hansen (2-Tripping) NDK 2x5 10:27
MIN 2 - 2 5x6 SH Mike Hoeffel (1) (Taylor Matson) 11:23
MIN (+): 11,9,28,4,G35 NDK (-): 5,17,29,27,7,G31
MIN-13 Jake Hansen (2-Interference) NDK 2x6 13:44

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

NDK-10 Jake Marto (2-Slashing) MIN 0x3 3:06
NDK-11 Mario Lamoureux (2-Cross-Checking) MIN 0x4 6:23
MIN 3 - 2 6x6 Mike Hoeffel (2) (Patrick White, Ryan Flynn) 11:52
MIN (+): 11,7,22,20,5,G35 NDK (-): 9,24,27,5,11,G31
NDK 3 - 3 6x6 GT Jake Marto (2) (Darcy Zajac, Mario Lamoureux) 13:10
NDK (+): 25,11,9,3,27,G31 MIN (-): 19,26,28,20,16,G35
MIN-14 Ryan Flynn (2-High-Sticking) 13:45
MIN-15 Ryan Flynn (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 13:45
NDK-12 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) 13:45
NDK-13 Brett Hextall (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 13:45
Timeout - Minnesota 17:30

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (5:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game --- Sister kissing

CHA Argument.

Here is my latest column at the Illegal Curve.

I was thinking about the CHA and its 11 years of existence. Unfortunately the CHA will disband after 11 seasons of play. With the CHA disbanding, BSU will head to the WCHA, Niagara University and Robert Morris University will head to the AHA, and the University of Alabama Huntsville will head to the independent ranks after being snubbed by the CCHA with what appears to be some flimsy reasoning.

To show the CCHA they made a horrible mistake, the Chargers went out and beat the Fighting Irish to open the season. You know, the same Notre Dame that has been sitting at the top of the CCHA with Miami and Michigan. Question: is Notre Dame overrated or is UAH that good? I want to believe that UAH is that good. Notre Dame got a little pride back the next night as they beat the Chargers 3-1. UAH followed that loss with a victory against Air Force Academy last night 4-2. So hockey fans are you paying attention? UAH is not just going to go away.

I know it’s early, but UAH is 2-1 after beating Notre Dame and Air Force Academy. Maybe getting snubbed by the CCHA has lit a fire under their collective butts. The Air Force Academy Falcons, who were the favorite to win the AHA league title in the AHA preseason, are an unimpressive 0-3 so far thi season. All of Air Force Academy’s losses have come against CHA teams. Do I dare start the CHA is better than the AHA argument again? Maybe we should ask Notre Dame, they are 1-2 in their last three games against CHA teams going back to last season. That loss to UAH is going to leave a mark on Notre Dames PWR numbers, which is used to help select teams for the NCAA tourney in the middle of March.

Also my UAA vs Michigan prediction was spot on. [Illegal Curve] I said 7-2 but the score was 6-2. So I was off by one goal.

Scores from 10-16-2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Non-Conference

Providence 3 at Notre Dame 2
Denver 2 at Ohio State 0
Analysis: Marc Cheverie gets the shutout for the Pioneers in goal. Notre Dame loses for a second weekend in a row this time against Hockey East’s Providence College.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Hockey East

Boston University 2 at Massachusetts 3
Analysis: Probably not the start that BU wanted to have in losing to their cross state rival.

WCHA

Minnesota State 2 at Minnesota-Duluth 5
Colorado College 3 at Wisconsin 2
Minnesota 0 at North Dakota 4

Analysis: The Sioux put the boot to the Golden Gophers in the opener of the WCHA play for the Fighting Sioux. I went back and watched the game again and this game wasn’t even close. If Kangas hadn’t played as well as he did it would have been an 8-0 game. Alex Kangas is 1-4-1 against the Sioux for his career. You have to wonder if Lucia will consider starting Kent Patterson against the Sioux tonight. Wisconsin starts sophomore goalie Brett Bennett but the Badgers lose to the Tigers in Madison.

Non-Conference

Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Colgate 1 ot
Holy Cross 1 at Merrimack 3
Canisius 4 at Lake Superior 5
Alabama-Huntsville 4 at Air Force 2
RIT 1 at St. Lawrence 3
Mercyhurst 1 at Western Michigan 5
Providence 0 at Notre Dame 2
Denver 0 at Ohio State 4
Miami 6 at New Hampshire 3
Bentley 2 at Northeastern 3
Connecticut 1 at Ferris State 2
Niagara 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Union 3 at St. Cloud State 3 ot
Michigan State 5 at Maine 3

Alaska Goal Rush

Rensselaer 0 vs. Alaska-Anchorage 3
Robert Morris 2 at Alaska 4

Analysis: The odds on favorite to win the WCHA title by the league coaches this fall is now a Mediocre 2-2 after four nonconference games and Split with the OSU Buckeyes. Adam Murray started for the Pioneers in net and is 0-2-0 on the season has a GAA of 4.72 and a save percentage of .836.

UAH is 2-1 on the young season, maybe getting snubbed by the CCHA has lit a fire under their ass. Air Force Academy Falcons the favorite to win the AHA league title is 0-3 so far on the season and has lost all three of their games to the soon to be defunct CHA teams.

The SCSU Huskies have yet to win a game this season and are 0-2-1, let’s hope the Huskies win tonight and regain some pride. The Miami RedHawks paste UNH 6-3; the RedHawks will probably remain number one this week unless they fall apart tonight.

Exhibition

US Under-18 Team 7 at Bowling Green 2
That is unimpressive for Bowling Green.

Sioux 4 Gophers 0

The Fighting Sioux were dominating in all zones of the ice last night as they outshot the Gophers 43-22 and shutout the Gophers 4-0. Brad Eidsness got his second shutout of his college hockey career. The Sioux defense beat the Gophers to the puck all night they were able to limit quality shots on net, and the Gophers did get a shot on net Eidsness was sharp in goal for the Fighting Sioux. After struggling on the power play the weekend before the Sioux scored two power play goals and a shorthanded goal.

The Fighting Sioux played a stifling defense all game and when Joe Gleason received a five minute major for checking from behind with about four minutes to go in the game the Sioux held the Gophers to no shots on net while the Sioux managed to put two shot on net.

The Sioux have put together a pretty impressive run against the Gophers as of late as they are now 9-2-1 in the last 12 games against the Golden Gophers. According to the Grand Forks Herald UND is 27-4-4 at home since 2008. The Sioux are also unbeaten in 15 games at the Ralph that is a 13-0-2 record.

Props to Golden Gopher goalie Alex Kangas: as Charles mentioned in the comments section, you can't blame junior Goalie Alex Kangas for the Gophers loss, the goalie doesn’t check or cycle the puck out of the defensive zone. In this game the Gopher defenders need to take ownership for their non support in the game, they also looked like a bunch of pylons. Incidentally, Alex Kangas is 1-4-1 for his career against the Fighting Sioux and the Score could have been 6-0 or 7-0 is Kangas hadn't have held the fort down for the Gophers.

Some profounds words from Golden Gopher Coach Don Luica.

"You've got to score some goals to get some momentum," Lucia said.

And to score goals a team needs the puck: North Dakota usually had it. The Sioux won the faceoff battle, 42-26.

"If you don't start with the puck, it seems like you are chasing it all night," Lucia said. [Red Star and Sickle]

[Box Score]
--------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------
MIN-1 Seth Helgeson (2-Hooking) NDK 1x1 1:30
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP GW LL Jason Gregoire (2) (Chris VandeVelde, David Toews) 2:17
NDK: 17,29,18,7,5,G31 MIN: 9,3,12,10,G33
NDK-1 Brett Bruneteau (2-Interference) MIN 0x1 4:24
MIN-2 Jake Hansen (2-Checking from Behind) NDK 1x2 10:31
--------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------
NDK-2 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Tripping) MIN 0x2 3:20
NDK 2 - 0 5x6 SH Derrick LaPoint (1) (Evan Trupp, Brad Malone) 4:21
NDK (+): 3,19,22,25,G31 MIN (-): 12,13,3,10,16,G33
NDK-3 David Toews (2-Tripping) MIN 0x3 9:03
MIN-3 David Fischer (2-Hooking) NDK 1x3 11:15
MIN-4 Sam Lofquist (2-Roughing) 12:49
NDK-4 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 12:49
MIN-5 Ryan Flynn (2-Roughing) 15:09
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 15:09
MIN-6 David Fischer (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 1x4 17:19
NDK-6 Brett Hextall (2-Interference) MIN 0x4 18:44
--------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------
MIN-7 Zach Budish (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 1x5 3:47
MIN-8 Ryan Flynn (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 4:26
NDK-7 Brett Hextall (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 4:26
MIN-9 Tony Lucia (2-Tripping) NDK 2x6 5:30
NDK 3 - 0 6x5 PP Chay Genoway (1) (Evan Trupp, Joe Gleason) 5:56
NDK: 5,19,20,22,18,G31 MIN: 11,19,28,24,G33
NDK 4 - 0 6x6 Mario Lamoureux (1) (Darcy Zajac, Carter Rowney) 8:18
NDK (+): 9,11,27,24,5,G31 MIN (-): 28,19,26,11,4,G33
NDK-8 Joe Gleason (5-Checking from Behind) MIN 0x5 15:57
NDK-9 Joe Gleason (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Michael Cichy) 15:57
--------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------

A couple more links.

Brandon from Sioux Yeah has an interesting blog post on the rivalry, I am sure he isn't going to endear himself to the Badgers fans. :)

My prediction last week on a certain big team came true. [Illegal Curve]

Dan Myers of tis is the WCHA predicts a split for the Gophers and Sioux this weekend. [This is the WCHA]

TCHB ask if the BSU Beavers are for real. My answer is that of course the Beavers are for real, or AFA is overrated because the Beavers hung ten goals on AFA and swept the Falcons last weekend. Note to various hockey bloggers, the teams in the CHA are not bad hockey teams that are competitive and the CHA is 3-1 against playoff teams from last season. Taking it further Notre Dame is 1-2 in its last three games against CHA teams. I would imagine that Notre Dame wouldn't think they are overrated.