How long will Wild fans tolerate this?

This clip sums up the Wild season so far. Donna from Running with the Dogs inspired this question; how long with the 18,568 screaming, adoring fans put up with this crap and stop coming to the games? I said I wouldn’t walk across the street, buy cheap tickets from a scalper and sit in the upper deck to watch this crap.

Then I had an epiphany, it just came to me. I want to know if Richards and Fletcher are playing for the number one overall draft choice in hopes of getting a Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin or even a John Tavares. Based on the talent the Wild have this season it probably wouldn’t be that hard, there is also a lot of dead weight on this team. First round bust(s) Beniot Pouliot (1g-2a-3pts) actually got an assist tonight, and then he acted like he has scored a goal during the Stanley Cup playoffs. James Sheppard (0g-0a-0pts) has another unproductive night and again put up a goose egg on the score sheet. Why are these two clowns still here?

Positives +

I was happier than hell when the Wild scored three goals on four shots during the second period, it brought tears of joy to my eyes. Brent Burns got things rolling as he scored a nice goal on the power play, Cal Clutterbuck scored a beautiful goal on a slap shot and that goal was followed by a gritty workman like goal that was also a thing beauty as the Irish man Owen Nolin power the puck past the Predators goalie. The Wild were rolling and then they quit.

Wild Fans how long to we put up with this crap?

Teen's death hits Blake hard.

Former Fighting Sioux hockey player and current Maple Leaf Jason Blake apparently knew the 13-year-old hockey player Evan Frustaglio that died from H1N1 last week. This young kid was healthy and yet this virus took his life, it breaks your heart. I think this really puts things in perspective. I just hope that we can beat back this damn virus.

The death of 13-year-old Evan Frustaglio from the H1N1 flu virus hit hard for one Toronto Maple Leafs player.

Two years ago, Leafs forward Jason Blake was new to the team and the city and struggling to deal with the news he had chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare but treatable form of cancer. However, the little boy next door who loved hockey always made him smile.

“‘I can’t imagine what they are going through,” Blake said Wednesday morning of his former Etobicoke neighbors, the Frustaglio family, two days after Evan died from the flu. “They are a great family with great kids. Evan was a hell of a hockey player.

“It’s tough. My prayers and thoughts go with them.”

Blake, his wife Sara and their three children lived in the house next door to the Frustaglios for the 2007-08 season, his first in Toronto after signing a five-year $20-million (U.S.) contract with the NHL team. It was a difficult year for Blake, as his illness weighed heavily on his play. While the disease was treatable with regular medication, Blake went from 40 goals the season before with the New York Islanders to 15 with the Leafs.

Things were a little better at home, though, as Paul and Ann-Marie Frustaglio welcomed the Blake family to the neighbourhood.

“We became good friends with them,” Blake recalled as the Leafs got ready to play the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. “They showed us the ropes when we got to town. They were our next-door neighbours, their kids came over and played driveway hockey. We had dinners together.
[Globe and Mail]

Big Shocker: Gaborik doubtful for Wild game

Honestly, you just can not make this stuff up; this is unfolding into a pretty good drama. Some might say that this is poetic justice that Marian Gaborik is doubtful for the game against the Wild. I would love to be at the game and be able to boo Gabby as he skates out on the ice at the Xcel Energy Center.

NEW YORK — Minnesota Wild fans anticipating the return of erstwhile superstar Marian Gaborik on Friday night likely are in for a disappointment.

The first-year Rangers right-winger will travel to Minnesota for his team's only game in 2009-10 at Xcel Energy Center, but a leg injury threatens to ruin the homecoming.

Gaborik injured his leg late in Tuesday night's 5-2 victory over Phoenix, a game in which he scored two goals and added an assist.

He and the team emphasized the problem is unrelated to his hips or groin muscles, which have plagued him most of his career. Gaborik will not play tonight against the Islanders and his status for Friday is doubtful.

Gaborik, the Wild's first draft choice who played eight seasons in Minnesota, signed a five-year, $37.5-million contract with the Rangers after Minnesota declined to make him an offer upon becoming a free agent July 1.

In the Big Apple, he is off to his best start in seven years. Gaborik is tied with Anze Kopitar of Los Angeles for the league lead in goals with 10, and his 18 points are second only to Kopitar's 21.

The always colorful interview that is New York Ranges head coach John Tortorella, I wonder how many times Torts has taken Larry Brook’s head off.

Gaborik came out of the trainer's room at the Garden late Monday night and said the injury was unrelated to the hip and groin ailments that have bothered him in the past, and John Tortorella stressed that again Tuesday while saying that he wasn't overly concerned with the injury.

"It was a little sore, so we just kept him off the ice," the coach said. "It has nothing to do with any of his (past) injuries."

Asked to confirm whether it was a lower-body injury, Tortorella said, "It's a body injury."
Read more: [New York Daily News]

Grand Forks Man Hurt in Sioux-Gopher Hockey Fight Moved to Rehab

Sounds like the Jason Smith's condition is improving.

A Grand Forks man hurt in a fight after the Sioux-Gopher hockey game is still in the hospital but has been moved to Altru's rehab center.

34-year-old Jason Smith of Grand Forks was severely hurt in the fight.

Police say 28-year-old Peter Chwialkowski (fee-uh-cuss-key) hit 34 year old Jason Smith of Grand Forks.

Chwialkowski faces an aggravated assault charge.

He has been released after posting $1,000 cash bond.

According to Jason Smith's caringbridge site, during the fight he fell to the ground, hitting his head on the concrete.

The site says Smith had surgery to remove pieces of shattered skull and doctors inserted plates and 65 screws.

It says he will now have physical therapy, speech therapy and respiratory therapy for 8 hours each day. [WDAZ]

WCHA coming down on CFB's?

It would appear that the WCHA is going to be cracking down even harder on the checking from behind infractions this season [props]. Wisconsin's forward Craig Smith got an additional game suspension on top of his game disqualification that he received during last Saturday night's game against the Mavericks. Smith checked Mavericks player Geoff Irwin from behind, causing an undisclosed upper body injury. Irwin is out of this weekend's line up as a result of the violent check from behind. I think this ruling sets a good precedent; if a player tries to plant an opposition player into the boards with a bush league illegal checking from behind play, that player should be punished accordingly. I wish this policy would have been in play earlier.

Smith originally received a major penalty and game disqualification for checking from behind against Minnesota State-Mankato Oct. 24. That meant Smith would have to sit out Friday's series opener.

But Eaves said he was notified by the WCHA that Smith has had another game added to that punishment. Eaves didn't disagree with the action because Smith didn't appear to slow down when he crosschecked Mankato left winger Geoff Irwin into the boards in the third period of a 3-2 loss.
[Madison.Com]

Gabby hurt again.

As a Wild fan I almost snicker at the thought. Say it isn't so, Marian Gaborik the "Glass Groin" Czech is hurt again. Of course Rangers fans say that they aren't worried. You should be, should we review the [list of injuries again?]

"It's nothing related to my groin or hip or torso," Gaborik said afterward. "We'll see how everything is in the morning. I collided with one of their players, but it's nothing major. It happened with about five minutes left and the game was pretty much over."
[Blue Shirt Banter]

After further review the Wild really suck.

After watching the Minnesota Wild being dismantled and beaten for the eight time in eight games on the road I am have come to the conclusion that the Minnesota Wild suck worse than I thought they would or possibly could.

Blame to go around

First round busts James Sheppard (10 games, 0g-0a-0pts) and Benoit Pouliot (1g-1a-2pts) both are still with the team and contributing nothing on the ice or on the score sheet. I would bet that James Sheppard is now more untouchable; reason, no one would want this useless waste of a uniform on their team. Again, please remind me why this kid was selected in the first round? If the Wild had to trade Sheppard they probably couldn’t get a late 7th round draft choice for his worthless butt. The Minnesota Wild’s off season acquisition Peter Sykora (11 games, 0g-1a-1pts) and is also a defensive liability at -8. I would love to be able to make a million dollars at my job offering little productivity.

The earth shattering off season acquisition of former Blackhawk Martin Havlat has been an utter disappointment and very unimpressive (1g-4a-5pts) and -10 in 9 games. Last season free agent acquisition Owen Nolan has looked old and is contributing very little (11 games, 1g-2a-3pts) and is also a -5. It won’t be long before the boo birds will be raining down on the Wild from the 18,000+ loyal fans that pay too much to watch a team suck this bad. Nice to see Russo asking questions about player performance. [Wild Player stats]

James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot will be back in the lineup after being forced to sit with us lowly know-it-all scribes the other night.

Coach Todd Richards wants more from both players. He wants physicality, skating, crashing the net and battling.

Sheppard was real good this morning talking: "It gives me a chance to react and make a positive from a negative."

He said watching from upstairs was like watching a video game, which is what I always say. You don't appreciate the lack of time and space the guys have on the ice from up in the pressbox. Everything's in slow motion, but it does give you a good ability to watch and see how plays develop.

I asked Richards about "why Pouliot?" It does seem the underachiever is finally showing some life, but that isn't enough for Richards. He said when he goes into the corners, he better no longer turn away from bodies and better start finishing checks. Funny, but I pointed that out in LA that Pouliot cost the Wild the winning goal bailing out on a check, and I got a bit lambasted for that observation. But he's been a lot better lately. A lot more physical. [Russo's Rants]

Mercyhurst interested in the CCHA.

This is an interesting turn of events. Wouldn't that be a huge slap in the face to UAA if actually accepted Mercyhurst after denying admission to UAH. Of course that would open up a spot for UAH in the AHA. Mercyhurst must want to bump up its scholarship threshold, the AHA doesn’t fun a full 18 scholarships like the big four conferences do. Also, the soon to be defunct CHA does fund a full 18 scholarships.

Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Apparently, the idea of an 11-team league is too great a temptation to resist.

Word came to me recently that Mercyhurst was interested in joining the CCHA. At first I thought this absurd, until I remembered the lesson learned from the offseason Big Ten talks, of Wisconsin playing with the idea of jumping ship to the CCHA.

So I did some poking around by e-mail.

According to Aaron Kemp, associate director of athletics and director of compliance at Mercyhurst College, the Lakers are “exploring membership opportunities with the CCHA” but have “not submitted a formal application to the league.”

Kemp added that Mercyhurst is “very happy with the Atlantic Hockey Association and [is] proud to be affiliated with its member institutions.”

CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said that he doesn’t know whether or not Mercyhurst will submit an application, and that since it takes the CCHA “the better part of a year to review an application and complete [its] due diligence before admitting a new member,” the league is going ahead with an 11-team schedule for 2010-11.

That schedule will likely include some clustering of some kind, said Anastos, and the Big Ten certainly may factor into it. “Having the BT teams clustered together is certainly an option we are looking at,” said Anastos, “as it will maximize competition between Big Ten schools and allow for more content to be available to air on the Big Ten Network.”

Anastos said that such scheduling isn’t money-driven, that it’s about content and exposure for the CCHA and college hockey.

As for Alabama-Huntsville after the 2010-11 season — a drum that I apparently can’t avoid beating — Anastos said, “Never say never.” [USCHO]

Scott works Conboy like a clown.

This is a fight that happened this past weekend between Former SCSU Husky Tim Conboy and former MTU Husky John Scott. What in the heck was Tim Conboy thinking? Scott treated Conboy like a rag doll and worked Conboy like he was a punching bag.

Hakstol on the 2-1 loss.

I really think Siouxtra is an awesome thing for providing information to Sioux hockey fans. Checkout Tim Hennessey's post game interview with Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol. Hakstol doesn't mince words, and give his unvarnished opinion on what the Fighting Sioux hockey team didn't do during the game. Sounds like the Guys are dinged up, which seems kind of odd after only three weeks of play.

Poll Monday (Sioux 3rd and 2nd)

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
[26 October, 2009]
1 Miami (26) 4-1-1 925 1
2 Denver (20) 4-2-0 899 4
3 North Dakota ( 1) 4-1-1 867 2
4 Boston University 1-2-0 760 3
5 Michigan 2-2-0 697 5
6 Cornell 0-0-0 627 6
7 Yale ( 1) 0-0-0 562 8
8 Notre Dame 3-3-0 523 9
9 Mass.-Lowell 3-1-0 507 13
10 Vermont 2-2-0 467 7
11 Princeton 0-0-0 466 10
12 Nebraska-Omaha 3-0-1 437 12
13 Boston College 1-1-0 427 14
14 Bemidji State 3-0-1 327 16
15 Colorado College 4-1-1 309 19
16 Alaska 3-0-1 291 15
17 Massachusetts 3-0-0 179 NR
18 Quinnipiac 3-0-0 133 20
19 Wisconsin 1-2-1 117 17
20 Michigan State 4-2-0 109 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota 106, St. Cloud State 91, Minnesota-Duluth 75, New Hampshire 64, Western Michigan 41, Harvard 22, Ferris State 20, Providence 16, Northeastern 10, Merrimack 2, Holy Cross 1, Lake Superior 1, St. Lawrence 1, Union 1

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's preseason poll
[Oct. 26, 2009]
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week's rank
1 Miami University (Ohio) (22) 4-1-1 490 1
2 North Dakota 4-1-1 446 2
3 Denver (11) 4-2-0 433 5
4 Boston University 1-2-0 407 3
5 Michigan 2-2-0 368 4
6 Cornell 0-0-0 294 6
7 Yale 0-0-0 256 9
8 Massachusetts Lowell 3-1-0 220 12
9 Princeton 0-0-0 203 8
10 Vermont 2-2-0 201 7
11 Notre Dame 3-3-0 193 10
12 Boston College 1-1-0 129 15
13 Nebraska Omaha 3-0-1 117 13
14 Colorado College 4-1-1 80 NR
15 Bemidji State 3-0-1 53 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska (Fairbanks), 49; University of Massachusetts, 40; University of Minnesota, 26; Quinnipiac University, 20; University of New Hampshire, 14; St. Cloud State University, 11; University of Minnesota Duluth, 10; Western Michigan University, 9; U.S. Air Force Academy, 4; University of Alaska Anchorage, 3; College of the Holy Cross, 1; Ferris State University, 1; Michigan State University, 1; University of Wisconsin, 1.

Analysis:Awesome to see BSU getting some deserved love in the national polls. I wonder if the WCHA can take credit for UNO and BSU for this season if they make the NCAA's? I think it's a big joke that Cornell lost the USDT Under 18 team and hasn't played a game year and is listed as high as 6th in a few polls.

INCH Power Rankings

For your weekly perusing and a good chuckle the INCH Power Rankings
1. Miami
2. North Dakota — Fighting Sioux freshman goalie Aaron Dell pulled off a unique feat against Alaska Anchorage Friday, shutting out the Seawolves in his first career start and notching an assist to boot. 4-1-1 (2-1-1 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Alaska-Anchorage, 5-0; L at Alaska-Anchorage, 2-1. THIS WEEK: Off
3. Denver
4. Boston University
5. Michigan
6. Vermont 3
7. Cornell
8. Princeton
9. Notre Dame
10. Nebraska-Omaha
11. UMass Lowell
12. Yale
13. Alaska
14. Bemidji State
15. Boston College
16. Massachusetts
17. St. Cloud State
18. Colorado College
19. Michigan State
20. New Hampshire
Dropped out: Minnesota, Wisconsin

Bubble-licious: Quinnipiac, Wisconsin

Brock Nelson a coup for the Sioux?

Nice props to Fighting Sioux recruit Brock Nelson but I don't think you can really count Brock Nelson committing to the Fighting Sioux as being a coup since his uncle Dave Christian played for UND. Also, UND assistant coach Cary Eades was the head coach in Warroad from line 1995 till 2004 so maybe just Eades still has some connections to the Warroad High School. Geographically UND is closer to Warroad than Minnesota.

Warroad (Minn.) High School power center Brock Nelson recently committed to the University of North Dakota, and the Fighting Sioux can really count this one as a coup in smuggling the emerging star out of state right from under the noses of the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Nelson, who is currently playing this fall in the Midwest Elite League until the local high school season starts in about six weeks, is one of Red Line's favorite early line sleepers for the 2010 Draft. Not many scouts outside of Minnesota have ever heard of him, and he didn't blossom until last season, so he's never been a part of the whole U.S. select process. So he may suffer from underexposure for now, but that won't last much longer.

Nelson, 6-2/205, with a great stride and powerful shot, also has a very strong bloodline in the sport. His uncle is Dave Christian, one of the key scoring cogs on the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning squad. Christian is also a former UND All-American and won a national championship with the Sioux before launching an NHL career that spanned over 1000 games and nearly 800 points, so he likely had some influence on young Nelson's decision. [USA Today]

Grand Forks Herald Publishers' Phony Call for Civility

Cross Posted From Say Anything Blog, where I make my home.

The one thing I didn't say when I first posted this is that I agree with Goon and even Jacobs that there's no reason to be profane. (Nor is there any reason to be rude to a visiting fan.)

Then again when I bring the kids to the game and they do the brilliant original chant, I tell the kids they're saying "Puck the Gophers."





The Grand Forks Herald's editor and publisher had an column calling for civility to be shown during hockey games. When I read this I thought that I was in another world.

Now it's true that the UND students have gotten a bit profane during the games against the Minnesota Gophers. But then again it's been that way for years and other efforts to do better have been fruitless. So a call by the old radical, Mike Jacobs, isn't probably going to change much.

On the other hand, Mike Jacobs has control of what his reporters say about members of the public. How about some civility from them Mike?

About two weeks ago, his reporter, Tu Uyen Tran referred to people in the Tea Party movement by an obscene act. I haven't seen Mike Jacobs condemn the lack of civility to people living in the same community as he publishes in.

Some may say that it was only on Tran's blog. That's not an excuse because the area voices and the Herald are the same entity and the Herald regularly links to Trans blog on their front page.

I guess when it comes to people like Mike Jacobs civility is something that doesn't count when a liberal is talking about a conservative.

Jacobs misses the point again.

If the Grand Forks Herald ever wonders why they lose subscriptions they might want to take a look at the editor. Seriously! Crappy articles like this stinker probably don't help circulation very much. This is the reason why newspaper circulation is failing nationwide. This is the reason potential readers are discontinuing their subscription and turning away from purchasing your local rag. This is also why newspapers failing as a daily source of information. I already dropped my newspaper back to three days a week and I am this close to cancelling it all together. The only reason I read the newspaper is for the Fighting Sioux Hockey coverage. I am definitely not reading the Grand Forks Herald for its coverage of city hall politics or the oversight of the Alerus Center.

In his latest debacle, the Editor of the Grand Forks Herald is attempting to say that the pre-game videos are disrespectful to the Fighting Sioux’s opponents and hence might cause the opponents to not respect the Fighting Sioux name. Holy Cow! That is some very flawed logic. How did Mike Jacobs ever become the editor to the Grand Forks Herald?

During yearly questioners at the Final Five, the WCHA’s 10 captains are asked various question and one of them is about the best conference logo and many years the Fighting Sioux logo has been listed as one of the best or most awesome logos in the WCHA. Also, the Hockey News also recently had a jersey tourney and the Fighting Sioux logo won the over-all contest. Jacob's letter to the editor would probably meet my defintion of tripe. It's definately a poorly written editorial and definately worthless because it misses the point.

The editorial raised a second issue, suggesting that the arena’s own special effects contribute to this suspension of civility.

Hodgson, and most of those who commented on Thursday’s editorial, rejected this idea. The in-your-face video highlights that the arena presents after the opposing team is introduced are standard fare in most arenas, I’m told.

Perhaps so.

But the reaction to the highlights reel raises an issue particular to UND, one related to the name and logo. UND’s opponents won’t respect the name and logo if their players aren’t respected here. The chants and taunts at UND hockey games show a lack of respect, and invite reciprocation.

I’ve been in several college rinks and half a dozen professional arenas, but it’s been a few years since I’ve been to a hockey game outside Grand Forks, so maybe I’m not in a position to know — but I still think it’s not sportsmanlike to taunt an opponent. [Grand Forks Herald]

The problem is that Jacobs is anti-logo and has been for some time and he probably looked at this as another opportunity to pile on and spew his anti Fighting Sioux logo rhetoric. I think Jacobs should stick to running the newspaper albeit poorly and writing stories about birds. So in this instance we can say a swing and a miss Mike.

Also, the arena’s ‘in-your-face video highlights that the arena presents after the opposing team is introduced’, has to remain and should not be looked at as a cause for bad behavior or disrespect for the Fighting Sioux name. The reason we had poor behavior in the arena is a issue that must and will be addressed but maybe we will leave the decision to the people that know what they’re doing. If you can't run a newspaper what makes you think you can solve a more complex problem such as this.

Here is a reader comment to another article that I really like and it hits the right message.

[Randy L. --- East Grand Forks, MN]
I wonder why so many commenters seem to missing the fact that this "topic" is actually 2 separate issues. The first is the vulgarities and message of the crowd chants, and the second is are choices of individuals in settings outside the game (in the concourse, outside the venue, etc.). There is no reason the crowd can't get loud, raucous, and in the face of the opposing team and fans without being physical or vulgar. Do chants, sing songs, show the opposing player in the penalty box with a smart-aleck sign behind him. All of those things can easily be accomplished "cleanly" but still be intimidating. Some of the earlier posters who defend the hockey history and experience are right in the sense of the atmosphere. If you dont' like it rowdy at a Divison 1 college hockey game, don't go. But that same atmosphere doesn't have to be truly offensive. Chant "Shoot the Gophers" - it doesn't have to be F***, does it? It's the same message.

Richards will not be suspended.

Flyers forward Mike Richards will NOT BE suspended for his hard hit on David Booth. In looking at this hit initially I had incorrectly thought it was a dirty hit but after further review I think it was the classic example of a player skating across the blue line with their head down skating and getting pummeled by the opposition. A player needs to know where they are at all times in reference to the opposition. You can not skate with your head down accross the oppostion's blue line, that is a cardinal sin.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly had informed him that Mike Richards would not face any discipline for his hit on David Booth of the Florida Panthers last night. [Puck Daddy]

UAA 2 - UND 1

On Thursday I made the prediction that UND would split the series with the UAA Seawolves, I had the games mixed up but I predicted the final outcome of the series. The reason I made that prediction of a split was, no matter where UAA is sitting in the WCHA standings, UAA is a tough place to play at, it’s a historical fact. While I still think UND should have and could have swept the Seawolves, they didn't. It doesn't take much to figure out that the Sioux are defiantly a better team. Honestly, I not too disappointed with a series split.

Silver lining time: Even with the loss UND is 7-2-1 in the last 10 against the Seawolves. UND is also 3-1-0 in its last four games in Anchorage. I am sure with the win some fan with a press pass soiled himself after the Fighting Sioux lost to the UAA Seawolves. With the loss UND is 4-1-1 going into the Bye week. If I remember correctly UND was 2-4-0 after six games at this point last season.

Here is what the Sioux have done the last five years in Anchorage. [props]
2004-05 Season Split in Anchorage
2005-06 Season Split in Anchorage
2006-07 Season Were swept in Anchorage
2007-08 Season Didn't play in Anchorage
2008-09 Season Swept in Anchorage
2009-10 Season Split in Anchorage

Here is what College Hockey News had to say about the game last night. I can also confirm that UAA is big and slow and if the officials allows them to get away with their obstruction tactics they are hard to play against. This scheme can still be beat by keeping the feet moving and getting pucks deep. There were also a lot of questionable penalties called during last night's game. Andrew MacWilliam is UND's new version of Matt Greene who was punished by the officals for throwing legal checks.

CHN: Big and slow -- that's been the knock on UAA, and it looked like it Friday in a 5-0 loss. But the Seawolves were able to slow down North Dakota in this one, and use their strengths to their advantage this time. The Sioux only mustered 23 shots on goal in losing for the first time this season. UAA got two goals in the second, and didn't allow one until the closing minutes. “We gave up that first goal in the first minute of the period,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “We spent a majority of the second killing three minor penalties that happened right in a row. That killed any type of a chance we had at gaining momentum. It allowed (Anchorage) to build momentum and keep it.”

Positives +

Insignificant senior forward Darcy Zajac continued his solid play and had (1g-1a-2pts) for the weekend.

Local boy Mario Lamoureux (1g-1a-2pts) on the weekend. Mario Tied for seventh in the the WCHA for scoring (2g-2a-4pts) also tied for seventh in the WCHA in scoring are teammates Dacry Zajac with (1g-3-a-4) and Chay Genoway (4g-0a-4pts).

Freshman goaltender Aaron Dell getting the shutout in his first career start on Friday night, I still wonder why Hakstol didn't come back with him last night. There are going to be choices in net for the Fighting Sioux and I personally like Dell’s stand up style play better than the out of control butterfly goaltending of Brad Eidsness.

While his game does have some flaws, statistically Brad Eidsness is ranked 12th nationally in goaltending.

Negatives -

The last three of four goals scored against Brad Eidsness have been scored on his glove side/weak side while he failed to cover the post. These weak untimely goals can't not happen all the time, a weak goal deflates a hockey team and that first goal killed UND momentum, before the goal in question they were taking it to UAA. Seriously, someone needs to work with Brad Eidsness on staying square to the puck and positioning. There is also no reason to be lying down on the ice all of the time.


[Box Score]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

AKA-1 Craig Parkinson (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 6:23
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Kneeing) AKA 0x1 15:37

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

AKA 1 - 0 6x6 LL Kevin Clark (4) (Lee Baldwin, Josh Lunden) 0:29
AKA (+): 9,7,16,21,22,G49 NDK (-): 17,5,29,7,24,G31
NDK-2 Ben Blood (2-Holding) AKA 1x2 4:21
AKA 2 - 0 6x5 PP GW Kane Lafranchise (1) (Tommy Grant, Daniel Naslund) 6:06
AKA: 4,16,7,21,40,G49 NDK: 11,5,2,9,G31
AKA-2 Josh Lunden (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 7:32
NDK-3 Jason Gregoire (2-Tripping) AKA 1x3 8:05
NDK-4 Mario Lamoureux (2-Elbowing) AKA 1x4 12:47
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Roughing) 15:12
AKA-3 Kevin Clark (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 15:12
NDK-6 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Interference) AKA 1x5 18:05

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AKA-4 Trevor Hunt (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 13:14
AKA-5 Curtis Leinweber (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x4 15:16
NDK 1 - 2 6x6 Darcy Zajac (1) (Mario Lamoureux, David Toews) 18:34
NDK (+): 11,9,18,5,25,G31 AKA (-): 36,4,17,11,14,G49

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

Richards smokes Booth.

The NHL want to do away with dangerous head shots like this. Check out the hit, Flyers forward Mike Richards smokes David Booth with a shoulder to the head, you have to wonder if Richards will get between 3-5 games for this check. The Florida Panthers aren't happy with the incident.

“I thought it was a late hit and I thought it was a dirty hit,” Panthers general manager Randy Sexton said. “He tracked him from behind and you could see it clear he put his shoulder right to his face, to his head, and then he followed through.”

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren defended Richards and called out Sexton, saying, “Randy should watch more hockey games.”

“It was a good hit,” Holmgren said. “I don’t see how they can (suspend him). Mike was doing his job. He was back tracking, he caught up to the play. His feet never left the ice. David Booth turned his head or it would have been a shoulder on shoulder hit. It’s a physical game and sometimes these things happen.

“Everybody in the league knows Mike isn’t a dirty player. He’s a player every team in the league covets.” [Courirer post]

Feeling Minnesota.

This is the latest NCAA Round up column that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.

I was reading the Star Tribune’s write-up this morning about another Gophers loss (0-2-1) and I got to thinking how long before the Gopher faithful want to throw head coach Don Lucia under the bus? For my amusement, I decided to check out the comments section of that very same article. Holy cow! Wow! It sounds like there is a full blown lynch mob down in Minnesota already. That’s right, three games into the young season and the not-so-Golden Gophers have been shut out twice, outscored 10-3 and now there very well may be an angry mob pounding at the door of Mariucci Arena.

Lets break this down further; three games into the season and the Gophers' top forward, and pre-anointed Player of the Year in the WCHA, Jordan Schroeder has no points whatsoever, nix, nada, nay (0g-0a-0pts) and he is a minus -2.

I am wondering how long it will take before the rumors about Vancouver not being happy with Schroeder’s development start surfacing? Last night I watched the DU and Minnesota game and Schroeder, on numerous occasions, took the puck up the ice in an attempt at an end-to-end rush only to lose the puck to a Denver player in the defensive zone. The result, of course, was a turnover and a rush up ice in the other direction. This type of play was kind of reminiscent of another former Gopher player that was run out of Boston and now resides in Toronto.

If anything, the Gophers' start to the season makes makes me scratch my head and wonder how a team stacked with at least 10 NHL draft choices can be 0-2-1. It hasn’t been pretty, in the first three games the Gophers have been outshot by an astounding 111 - 71 margin. Of the team's 71 shots, they have scored a measly three goals--meaning they have scored on just under five percent of their shots. On the defensive side of the equation the Gophers have given up ten goals, or just about a goal on ten percent of the opposition’s shots. Morever, their power play is clicking at an even zero percent (they are 0-12 on the power play). On top of that, they have also given up a shorthanded goal.

Coach on the Hot Seat?

The last two seasons Don Lucia’s Gophers have gone a mediocre 17-13-7 and 19-17-9. Last season they missed the NCAA playoffs altogether and now three games into this season it looks as if they could be in for another tough season.

So would it be reasonable to say that Lucia is on the hot seat?

What do Gopher fans think?

I know people have short memories and forget that that Lucia won two NCAA titles in the early 2000’s but what has he done lately?

Check out more from Eric at twitter, and the Goon’s World Blog

Tuomo Ruutu suspened for CFB.

First off I hate checks from behind and I am not a big Darcy Tucker fan but that check was unnecessary. Tuomo Ruutu has been suspended by the NHL for three games for his check from behind on Darcy Tucker. I think it's even funnier when listening to the TV announcers trying to tell us that Tuomo Ruutu is a hardnosed hockey player, in my opinion he is a hack and a thug. Then the ref rescues him before the Av’s can take a pound of flesh from him.