INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings for those looking for a good laugh on Monday Morning. What is humorous about this week's power ranking is that Cornell and Yale are ranked so high; yet Yale would barely be in the NCAA tourney and Cornell would be on the outside looking in if the NCAA tourney started today.

1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Cornell
4. Boston College
5. Colorado College
6. Yale
7. Wisconsin
8. North Dakota 5 The Fighting Sioux gave up more than two goals once in their nine games en route to a 7-1-1 start. They've allowed three or more goals six times in the nine games since and are 2-5-2 in that stretch.
9-6-3 (6-6-2 WCHA) LAST WEEK: T vs. Wisconsin, 3-3 ot; L vs. Wisconsin, 4-3. THIS WEEK: vs. USA Under-20 Team (Ex.)
9. Quinnipiac
10. Bemidji State
11. Michigan State
12. UMass Lowell
13. Massachusetts
14. Ferris State
15. Minnesota Duluth
16. Union
17. Alaska
18. New Hampshire
19. Maine
20. St. Cloud State

Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Colgate, Lake Superior State

Illegal hits are tarnishing college hockey.

Former Fighting Sioux hockey beat writer Virg Foss has a really good article on "illegal hits." I think Virg is right; if I was a head coach in college hockey today what's to stop me from telling one of my tougher players to just go out and run the other team's top player? The refs on the ice can’t even make the right call half the time anyways. We had an official calling a player for a five minute checking from behind call when it wasn't even an illegal hit. Even if the refs do get the call right that night, you probably aren't going to pay for the illegal hit with any extra games anyways.

“If I coached college hockey,” he said, “I’d take my worst player and send him out to fight the best player on the other team, getting him out of the game,” he said. “I’d take that trade-off any day.”

He ignited a topic that has been boiling inside me for some time now, the relatively free pass given to players in college hockey who inflict grave harm upon an opponent.

It was that same anger that prompted this mild-mannered basketball coach to flip over the edge with his suggestion.

n A few years ago, Denver’s Geoff Paukovich delivered a pulverizing, illegal check from behind into the boards to UND’s Robbie Bina. The hit broke Bina’s neck, took him out of hockey for a year, and who knows what limitations he’ll face later in life.

Paukovich, not even penalized on the play, was later given a game suspension by his school, one more by the league. Big hairy deal, I say.

n Last year, Minnesota State’s Trevor Breuss slew-footed UND’s Derrick LaPoint into the end boards, snapping the leg of LaPoint and ending his season. Breuss received a slap on the wrist from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, much like Paukovich.

n This season, St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin tracked UND’s Chay Genoway the length of the ice, delivering an illegal high hit, smashing Genoway’s head into the glass and leaving him knocked senseless on the ice with a concussion.

Marvin got an additional game suspension from the WCHA. Genoway, one of the league’s most dynamic players, hasn’t played since the Nov. 13 hit. Coaches are not sure when — or if — his reported concussion will clear this season.

It bugs me to no end that players such as Bina, LaPoint and Genoway can be knocked out of action for a spell, a season, or maybe forever and the players who inflict the injuries skate away relatively unscathed.

Something’s wrong with the rules of college hockey, folks. That players can be seriously injured with little consequence to the violators alters not only their careers, but the fortunes of their teams.

A league championship, perhaps a national title, can be taken away in a blink by a reckless hit, whether intent to harm was there or not.
[Grand Forks Herald]

Some video of last night's scrum.

Someone asked me if there was any video of last night's little dust up at the end of the game between the Badgers and the Sioux, the beauty of YouTube . No one was disqualified or did anyone get more than a double minor and a ten minute misconduct. You can see Todd Anderson admiring his work, another game that gets away from him because of his incompetence.

Post game comments and Hextall's CFB.

At about 5:30 of the video you will see the penalty that Todd Anderson called on Hextal. That was NOT a checking from behind penatly. That was a good legal check. Another brutal game by Todd Anderson.

How is Todd Anderson still reffing games in the WCHA?

I think I am going to dust off an old article from the past. Tonight the UND and Wisconsin game almost ended in a line brawl. Guess who was officiating the game? You guessed it Todd Anderson.

Let’s take look at one of my favorite WCHA officials Todd Anderson and his impressive hit parade over the past couple of seasons. These ugly incidents happened in the games that Todd Anderson has worked in and the game has gotten away from him. You have to wonder if the WCHA league office is at all concerned that these reoccurring incidents usually involve a game where Todd Anderson has been one of the on ice officials. My question to the league is; how does this guy keep his job when it is obvious he isn't all that sharp and can't control a game? In fact his performance was unsatisfactory in all of these games and there is no other possible grad for him. The League office needs to man up and get rid of some dead weight. [Message to the WCHA fire Todd Anderson now]

1.) The Prpich cup check and the Dasher dance. [ND Redfrog] Todd Anderson on ice official.
2.) The dasher dance and ejection from the game. Guess who is the official? Todd Anderson.
3.) The Brian Schack incident in Mankato as Schack attacked Channing Boe. The on ice official? Todd Anderson.
4.) Goal review in Mankato.
5.) J.P. Testwuide vs Ben Gordon from the Pioneers at Gophers game on Jan 20, 2007 [Hockey Fights] Guess who the official is? Todd Anderson.
6.) Tonight end of the game between the Sioux and Badgers and a near line brawl breaks out. Guess who is reffing again? You would never guess? Todd Anderson. [Scrum end of Badgers and Sioux game]

Badgers 4 Sioiux 3

I would use three words to explain this weekend's play; UNACEPTABLE, UNDICISPLINED and LAZY. If you can't move your feet get off the ice. I swear! I wonder if next season I can just buy half a season ticket package and start showing up to the games after the first of the year because for a 6th season in a row the Fighting Sioux are just not playing up to their potential. Frankly they suck. There are many players that would give their left testicle to play for this program. The effort on the ice was non-existent.

Goaltending this past weekend by the starting goaltender Brad Eidness was HORRIBLE or another word I would use is BRUTAL. Three of the four goals that Eidness let in tonight were shot he should have and has to stop. I want someone to tell me why Eidness is always on his knees, if he isn’t on his knee is failing to cover the short side post or just out of position all together. The Fighting Sioux coaching staff needs to get a goalie coach to work with their tenders.

DISCIPLINE

Edit (the beauty of DVR): I went back and watched the game oon my DVR and the first penalty against Ben Blood in the second period was a joke it was a legit finished body check, the second penalty was a legitmate boarding call and I have seen hits like this called checking from behind. borderline checking from behind.

In conclusion: Take nothing away from the Wisconsin Badgers they are a very good hockey teams that is loaded with future NHL players. As usual Mike Eaves outcoach the Fighting Sioux staff again. Blake Geoffrion i an awesome player that would look great in green and white and I can’t understand why he isn’t already playing for a pay check in the AHL or NHL?
[Box Score]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
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WIS-1 Craig Smith (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 3:57
WIS-2 Ben Street (2-O-TRIPPING) NDK 0x2 4:30
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Brett Hextall (5) (Derrick LaPoint) 6:59
NDK (+): 26,3,2,9,11,G31 WIS (-): 13,22,11,7,55,G1
NDK-1 Ben Blood (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) WIS 1x1 7:46
WIS 1 - 1 6x5 PP Blake Geoffrion (14) (Brendan Smith, Justin Schultz) 9:28
WIS: 5,7,6,9,21,G1 NDK: 2,3,19,22,G31
WIS-3 John Mitchell (2-Hooking) NDK 1x3 12:18
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (5) (unassisted) 12:46
NDK: 29,26,17,7,25,G31 WIS: 11,5,19,17,G1
NDK-2 Darcy Zajac (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) WIS 1x2 19:04

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

WIS 2 - 2 6x6 Michael Davies (6) (Derek Stepan) 5:56
WIS (+): 9,21,55,13,7,G1 NDK (-): 7,20,19,3,22,G31
NDK-3 Ben Blood (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) WIS 2x3 6:15
NDK-4 Ben Blood (2-Boarding) WIS 2x4 6:15
WIS 3 - 2 6x5 PP LL Ben Street (6) (John Mitchell, Craig Smith) 7:55
WIS: 22,24,15,19,27,G1 NDK: 19,22,2,4,G31
NDK-5 Mario Lamoureux (2-Holding) WIS 2x5 8:24
WIS-4 John Mitchell (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 1x4 10:03
NDK-6 Andrew MacWilliam (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) WIS 2x6 19:23

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

WIS-5 Derek Lee (2-Tripping) NDK 1x5 6:13
NDK-7 Jake Marto (2-Slashing) WIS 3x7 12:40
WIS 4 - 2 6x5 PP GW Brendan Smith (8) (Justin Schultz, Derek Stepan) 13:09
WIS: 7,6,21,5,9,G1 NDK: 22,19,2,24,G31
WIS-6 Ben Grotting (2-Boarding) NDK 1x6 13:20
WIS-7 Craig Smith (2-Tripping) NDK 2x7 18:11
Timeout - North Dakota 19:23
NDK 3 - 4 6x5 PP EA Brett Hextall (6) (Jason Gregoire, Evan Trupp) 19:43
NDK: 26,17,19,22,7,25 WIS: 5,17,27,11,G1
NDK-8 Brett Hextall (10-Game Misconduct) 19:56
NDK-9 Brett Hextall (5-Checking from Behind) WIS 3x8 19:56
WIS-8 Blake Geoffrion (2-Cross-Checking) 20:00
WIS-9 Matt Thurber (10-Misconduct) 20:00
WIS-10 Ben Grotting (2-Roughing) 20:00
WIS-11 Ben Grotting (2-Roughing) 20:00
WIS-12 Ben Grotting (10-Misconduct) 20:00
NDK-10 Darcy Zajac (2-Cross-Checking) 20:00
NDK-11 Mario Lamoureux (10-Misconduct) 20:00
NDK-12 Corey Fienhage (2-Roughing) 20:00
NDK-13 Corey Fienhage (2-Roughing) 20:00
NDK-14 Corey Fienhage (10-Misconduct) 20:00
NDK-15 Ben Blood (10-Misconduct) 20:00

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End of Game
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NCAA Round Up: Half way point

Here is this weeks column that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.

Most College hockey teams have played about half of their games (somewhere between 15-17 games), so I think we can say that we are approximately half way through the college hockey season. So, as a result, I have posted the top sixteen in the Pairwise Rankings--which are a snap shot of the college hockey season to date. While the Pairwise Rankings are very fluid and can change with a team suffering a few bad losses or by losing comparisons against other teams, the PWR is interesting to look at and utilitize measure how your favorite team is doing. After taking a look, you shelf it and come take a look again a little later on in the season.

Teams per the Pairwise Rankings
1 Miami 12-2-5 (CCHA)
2 Denver 11-4-2 (WCHA)
3 Bemidji State 13-3-1 (CHA)
4 Boston College 9-3-2 (HE)
5 Ferris State 12-3-2 (CCHA)
6 Wisconsin 10-5-2 (WCHA)
7 North Dakota 9-5-3 (WCHA)
8 Colorado College 10-4-3 (WCHA)
9 Quinnipiac 12-3-1 (ECAC)
10 Michigan State (CCHA)
11 Mass.-Lowell 10-5-1 (HE)
12 St Cloud St 8-6-3 (WCHA)
13 Massachusetts (HE)
14 Minnesota-Duluth 10-6-1 (WCHA)
15 New Hampshire 8-6-3 (HE)
16 Air Force Academy or RIT (AHA) tourney winner

So far this season the WCHA has once again emerged as the pride of college hockey and if the tourney started today there would be an impressive six WCHA teams in the NCAA tournament. While there probably won’t be six WCHA teams in the top 14-15 spots of the PWR at season's end, I think there is a good chance there could be five teams; simply, the WCHA is that good. The fact is, the NCAA is probably already sweating and hoping they don’t have another all WCHA Frozen Four.

Traditional teams like Minnesota, Michigan and Boston University would be on the outside looking in. Two of the four teams from last season’s frozen four would be sitting home UVM and BU.

This is how the NCAA tourney would shake out –

6 – WCHA
4 – HE
3 – CCHA
1 –ECAC
1 – CHA
1 –AHA

Here’s the Strength of Schedule for the WCHA teams [KRACH]
2 Denver 4
3 Colorado College 15
4 Wisconsin 7
5 North Dakota 5
7 St. Cloud State 1
9 Minnesota-Duluth 11

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

Derek Boogaard vs Brian McGrattan

Check out the Boogieman's clobbering of Calgary goon Brian McGrattan. Derek made short work of the Calgary player, about a two or three punch fight.

Not only did Boogaard win the Fight against McGrattan but two Wild players scored goals last night that haven't done much this year. That means the Minnesota Wild finally beat the Calgary Flames in overtime and they beat the Flames in the Saddle Dome in Calgary. Also, Waste of a uniform James Sheppard scored the the [game tying goal] add an assist from the Sheriff Shane Hnidy and Martin Havlat. In the overtime period the overpaid and waste of a uniform Martin Havlat got his [third goal of the season]. Yep that's right Havlat is being paid 5 million dollars a year to score 13 points after 25 games. That's unacceptable but maybe he can get it going now.

Lets give Wisconsin some Credit.

While I want the Sioux to win every game they play I don’t think I am disappointed with a tie last night, really this game could have gone south the way it started.

I read where people were saying all UND could get against the Badgers was a tie. Let’s give Wisconsin some respect because Wisconsin is a very good veteran hockey team that is a little more experienced than UND. Wisconsin has nine juniors and seven seniors on their roster while the Sioux have five juniors and three seniors.

Currently on defense the Fighting Sioux have two freshman, two sophomores and two juniors. On the other side of the ice tonight the Wisconsin Badgers three juniors, one sophomores and two freshman, three of these defenseman are first round draft choices and two of them are second round draft choices. That is a pretty solid defensive corps.

With the tie UND is still ranked 7th in the Pair Wise Ranking so the Fighting Sioux are sitting in good position. [PWR] Last year at this time UND wasn't even in the top 20.

Points of interest
Here is one of these stats that stick out when you look at it.

According to Andy Baggot The Badgers failed to win an overtime game for the 19th consecutive time, but the record will show they were fortunate to emerge with a 3-3 standoff with North Dakota in their WCHA series opener at Ralph Engelstad Arena. UW is 0-6-13 in overtime affairs since the final outing of 2006-07. That's when it knocked off St. Cloud State 4-3 in the consolation game of the WCHA Final Five.[Madison.com]

Sister kissing in Grand Forks: Sioux 3 Badgers 3

When the game first started I thought that the Wisconsin Badgers were going to run the Fighting Sioux out of the REA as the Badgers scored two goals in the first period with relative ease. The Sioux looked more like the slumbering Sioux than the Fighting Sioux as many for their passes were not connecting and they were having trouble getting the puck out of their own zone. Frankly; being run out of the building wouldn't have shocked me because the Badgers had some pretty good luck in Grand Forks since the REA opened in 2001 (6-5-2, 13 games). Let’s mark it down as a substandard effort in the first period.

Fast forward to the second period, finally the Sioux got things clicking offensively and scored their first goal by Brad Malone at 1:58 of the second period. The celebration was short lived as the Wisconsin Badgers scored their third goal by Andy Bohmbach less than two minutes later. I think it would be an understatement to say that the third Badger goal was of the weak variety and it could have been a momentum killer. Let’s just say that it wasn’t Brad Eidness’ best effort.

At this point Coach Hakstol had seen enough and made a goalie change; out of the game goes Brad Eidsness and in skates Aaron Dell. Cue the Dude we got a Dell commercial. Dell had been banished to the bench since his shelling at the hands of the SCSU Huskies back in November 14th, so it was kind of a surprise because coach Hakstol doesn’t pull goalies very often. I honestly can’t remember any games during the past three seasons were the Sioux have pulled their goalie. In retrospect I am also sure that Eidsness would like to have the third goal back because it was not a good goal at all and the Sioux had just started to get the momentum going their way. Bad goals kill a team’s momentum and this goal could have killed any momentum the Sioux had picked up, but it didn’t. UND outshoot the Badgers 12-2 in the second period.

In the third period Danny Kristo got the game equalizer and it was another night goal by Kristo. Kristo finished the game with a goal and an assist and has been on a pretty good clip as of late. For the most part the play was pretty equal as the Sioux outshot the Badgers 9-8.

[Box Score]
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1st Period (20:00)
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WIS-1 Ryan McDonagh (2-Roughing) 0:51
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-High-Sticking) 0:51
WIS-2 Aaron Bendickson (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 0x1 5:18
WIS 1 - 0 6x6 Craig Smith (3) (Blake Geoffrion, John Ramage) 9:00
WIS (+): 15,5,55,24,7,G1 NDK (-): 24,3,9,29,11,G31
WIS-3 Derek Lee (2-Tripping) NDK 0x2 16:42
WIS 2 - 0 6x6 Blake Geoffrion (13) (Craig Smith, Cody Goloubef) 19:43
WIS (+): 5,15,27,24,6,G1 NDK (-): 3,9,22,11,25,G31

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2nd Period (20:00)
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NDK 1 - 2 6x6 Brad Malone (5) (Danny Kristo, Evan Trupp) 1:58
NDK (+): 22,7,19,20,3,G31 WIS (-): 9,55,22,7,21,G1
WIS 3 - 1 6x6 Andy Bohmbach (4) (Ryan McDonagh, Matt Thurber) 3:40
WIS (+): 11,12,10,17,19,G1 NDK (-): 4,10,8,25,17,G31
WIS-4 John Ramage (2-Roughing) 5:03
NDK-2 Brad Malone (2-Cross-Checking) 5:03
WIS-5 John Mitchell (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 7:49
NDK 2 - 3 6x5 PP Ben Blood (3) (Chris VandeVelde, Jason Gregoire) 9:35
NDK: 24,29,20,26,17,G32 WIS: 14,22,27,7,G1
NDK-3 Ben Blood (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) WIS 0x1 9:35
WIS-6 Blake Geoffrion (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) NDK 1x4 14:32
WIS-7 Cody Goloubef (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 1x5 16:14
WIS-8 Brendan Smith (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 17:46
NDK-4 Brett Hextall (10-Game Misconduct) 17:46
NDK-5 Brett Hextall (5-Checking from Behind) WIS 0x2 17:46
WIS-9 Craig Smith (2-Tripping) NDK 1x6 19:19

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3rd Period (20:00)
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WIS-10 Ben Grotting (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 8:50
NDK-6 Corey Fienhage (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 8:50
WIS-11 Ryan McDonagh (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 2x7 9:46
NDK 3 - 3 5x4 PP GT Danny Kristo (6) (Jake Marto) 10:14
NDK: 7,25,19,22,G32 WIS: 13,27,6,G1
NDK-7 Brad Malone (2-Tripping) WIS 0x3 12:16
WIS-12 Craig Smith (2-Roughing) 16:22
NDK-8 Ben Blood (2-Roughing) 16:22

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Overtime (5:00)
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WIS-13 Craig Smith (2-Slashing) NDK 2x8 2:21

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End of Game
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Lines for tonight's game.

Here are the lines for Tonight's game Per Brad Schlossman


UND's lines

9 Lamoureux(3-3-6)- 29 VandeVelde(4-9-13)- 11 Zajac (4-6-10)
19 Trupp(4-10-14)- 22 Malone (4-8-12)-7 Kristo(5-9-14)
17 Gregoire (8-4-12)- 18 Toews (4-8-12)- 26 Hextall (4-3-7)
8 Cichy (1-2-3)-27 Rowney (0-5-5)-10 Knight (1-0-1)

2 MacWilliam (0-2-2) - 24 Blood (2-3-5)
25 Marto (3-2-5)- 4 Fienhage (0-1-1)
3 LaPoint (1-3-4) - 20 Gleason (0-3-3)

31 Brad Eidsness (8-4-2, 1.97 GAA, .919 SV%)
32 Aaron Dell (1-1-0, 2.26 GAA, .870 SV%)

[UND STATS]

Wisconsin's lines

24 Mitchell (4-3-7) - 5 Geoffrion (12-3-15) - 15 Smith (2-10-12)
23 Lee (1-6-7) - 22 Street (5-5-10) - 14 Grotting (1-3-4)
13 Bendickson (3-6-9) -21 Stepan (5-15-20)-9 Davies (5-10-15)
11 Bohmbach (3-5-8)- 12 Thurber (1-0-1) -10 Johnson (3-2-5)

7 Smith (7-17-24)- 55 Ramage (2-4-6)
27 Goloubef (3-5-8) - 6 Schultz (1-5-6)
17 McDonagh (2-7-9) - 19 Gardiner (1-2-3)

1 Scott Gudmandson (4-2-1, 1.57 GAA, .933 SV%)
35 Mitch Thompson
[UW Stats]

Not an impressive Sioux Hockey stat...

Here is an interesting stat the Wisconsin Badgers are 6-5-1 against the Sioux in the Ralph Engelstad Arena since it opened in 2001. I wasn't aware that the Badgers had owned UND in their own rink the past 6 games. That is unacceptable stat that needs to be fixed.

Let’s hope that UND can change their fortunes against the BADgers the next two games. Wisconsin plays a very defensive game that is frustrating to play against, the BADGers recently have really activated their defense and their recent top scorers have been defenseman. They are a dangerous team and I think a split is reasonable this weekend. The defense is going to have to be alert to odd man rushes this weekend and someone needs to tie a lanyard to Eidsness so he doesn’t stray too far from the goal.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Ask around the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the toughest place to play and North Dakota will be near the top of every list.

For one thing, the team here is excellent. The Fighting Sioux have lost 36 regular-season league home games since 2000-01 — the fewest among the 10 WCHA members — and have advanced to five NCAA Frozen Fours, more than any other school during that time.

For another thing, the atmosphere is imposing. Ralph Engelstad Arena — which puts many NHL rinks to shame with its amenities — has a rambunctious student section and loud sellout crowds of 11,634 that are fueled in part by alcohol sold at the facility.
---------------------------
Of course, there’s this: The Badgers are the only visiting WCHA team with a winning record at Engelstad (6-5-1) since it opened in 2001. That includes a 5-1 mark on their last three trips here.

Asked about that stretch of success, UW coach Mike Eaves said his players seem to respond to facing a quality opponent in an intense atmosphere on an NHL-size (200x85) rink.

“It’s like a pinball machine in there sometimes,” he said. “Everywhere you turn, you’re going to run into somebody or something is happening. You have to be into the game.”

A common thread through those five wins — including sweeps in 2005-06 and ’06-07 — is that the Badgers have landed the big punch.
[Madison.com]

Hab's screwed.

Here is the latest installment of the get off your knees ref your blowing the game. Last night I was watching the Canadians and the Penguins game on the NHL network and I witnessed one of the more horrendous calls of the year. How in the heck can the ref blow the call this bad on what appeared to be a legit goal? The puck was no where near close to being frozen by the goaltender.

Friday morning links.

Here are a couple of things that are floating out there that might be of interest to you.

Both Fighting Sioux hockey games this weekend will be on channel 617 on Direct TV as well as on the NHL channel. [Fighting Sioux]

Here is an awesome blog post detailing the Leafs beat down they took at the hands of the Boston Bruins last night. [Tea Party Throw Down]

If you fas forward to 26:10 you can hear the Shawn Thornton comments on his former teammate Phil Kessel. [Toucher and Rich podcast]

Here is a summary of a few of the things that Thornton said.

Question from the hosts: We heard that you were was proud of the crowd on Saturday night; Shawn enjoyed the constant booing of Kessel for jumping ship for a couple more dollars. Peter (Chiarelli) said they offered him a pretty good contract and Kessel still chose to leave, he (Peter Chiarelli) was painted into a corner.

When asked if Thornton liked him; Shawn we weren’t that tight. It was evident that Thornton really didn’t want to answer the question but when prodded by the hosts, ‘alright I don’t like him.’

Question from the hosts: Are the Bruins are we are better off without him on the team? Thornton: For our system I don’t know if we are better off without him. It wasn’t the best fit, he is better suited to be able to wheel and deal float around and take 10 shots a night and hope a lot of them go in.

The Wild's former first round bust Benoit Pouliot has finally recovered from his injury and has now been assigned to Hamilton Bulldogs for the purpose of reconditioning. [NHL.COM]

For some Wisconsin Badgers perspective you can go to this blog site. [60 Minutes, No Alibis, No Regrets]

Here is the Badgers Nation Series Preview: No.11 UW vs. No.3 N. Dakota.
[Scout.com]

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

Notables:

UND is ranked #3 in polls, but sits in 6th place in the WCHA, just ponder that!

UM, DU, SCSU, UMD all played UND after their bye week...

The generally defensively minded Badgers put up 14 goals on MTU last weekend, and only gave up 2 goals on Friday.

UW now leads the WCHA with 47 goals scored.

UND leads the WCHA in goals against with allowing only 22.

MTU has scored the fewest goals, 23, and given up the most, 56, in the WCHA

MSU-M and UAA are now half way through the WCHA schedule of 28-games.



Current WCHA Standings

#..TEAM...............GP...W-L-T...PTS
1 Denver....................12...8-2-2....18
2 Colorado College.....12...7-3-2....16
3 Minnesota-Duluth....12...7-4-1....15
3 St. Cloud State.........12...7-4-1....15
3 Wisconsin................12...7-4-1....15
6 North Dakota...........12...6-5-1....13
7 Minnesota State.......14...5-8-1....11
8 Minnesota................12...4-7-1.....9
9 Alaska-Anchorage....14...4-10-0....8
10 Michigan Tech......12...2-10-0....4


WCHA

#2 Denver at #12 Minnesota-Duluth
The Pioneers took 3-pts from their in-state rivalry CC, and the Bulldogs got a split at home against the Sioux.

Last season they split in Duluth and DU swept UMD in Denver, then UMD blanked DU in a Final 5 semi-final game. The Bulldogs had over come 2 goal deficits in their last 3 wins. They are living dangerously with having to make comebacks, which will mostly likely burn them later. If UMD falls behind DU by 2 goals I don't think the Bulldogs will be able to comeback. However, DU did give up 2 goals in the 3rd period to CC on Saturday and the Tiger got the tie. The Pioneers are still on quarter break (Thanksgiving-New Years) so they can concentrate purely on hockey. PIONEERS SWEEP.


#11 Wisconsin at #3 North Dakota
The Badgers sweep the Huskies of MTU at the Kohl, and the Sioux split with the Bulldogs in Duluth last weekend.

Last season the split both series in Grand Forks and Madison, and then met in the Final Five 3rd place game with UW winning 4-1. This is the last "official" games for both teams until 2010 (UND has an exhibition game with the US U-20 team 12-19-09). The Badgers are a modest 3-3-0 on the road this year, and UND has only lost once at home in the past 20 home games and have a 5-1-2 record this year at home. The Sioux need to sweep the Badgers if they want to leap-frog them in the WCHA standings, which is not an easy task. The Sioux also need to stop blowing leads in the 3rd period, which they have done that past three weekend. It is safe to say that this is the start of UW's hardest stretch, after UND, in 2010 Bucky plays, @ CC, DU, and @ UMD. UW has been a good against bad teams (MTU, UAA) and has struggled some with the better teams (CC, SCSU). I have to go with my guys on this series. SIOUX 3-pts


Minnesota at Michigan Tech
The Gophers split with the Mavericks, and the Huskies were swept in Wisconsin by the Badgers.

Last season the Gophers won the series 2-1-1, with MTU getting the tie in Minneapolis and winning once in Houghton. The Gophers are a better road team than at home this year, 3-3-1 away and 3-6-0 at home. The Huskies, well, they're just bad this year, 2-4-0 at home and 1-7-0 on the road. If the Huskies can get it together this weekend and sweep the Gophers they would move up to 9th place and only be one point behind UM for 8th place. The Gophers would like to sweep the Huskies and get their WCHA record to one game below .500 at the half-way mark of the season. UM is the better team on paper, but they haven't shown it much and the first half of the season is almost over. I have to go with a SPLIT in this series.


#6 Colorado College at #17 St. Cloud State
The Tigers got a point from a pair with Denver, and SCSU sweep the Seawolves in Anchorage Alaska.

In the only series last year in Colorado Springs, SCSU won and tied the Tigers. CC is 1 game into the their big road trip, they have 8 of the next 10 games on the road. SCSU only has 8 more road games this season, and 1 is to Minneapolis and 1 to Mankato. CC has cooled off the last couple of weeks after starting hot. SCSU has played well all year and has had a murderous schedule so far and come out just fine.
I'm sticking with my guns and saying that CC is still over ranked, SCSU SWEEP.


Minnesota State at #4 Bemidji State
The Mavericks split with the Gophers, and the Beavers swept CHA foe Niagara.

BSU is a perfect 8-0-0 at home this year and MSUM is 2-4-1 on the road. I would normally go with MSUM for the whole conference thing, but after seeing both teams play it isn't that easy. I'm going with a SPLIT.


BYE WEEK - OFF
University of Alaska - Anchorage Seawolves

Shawn Thornton Doesn’t Like Phil Kessel…

The was the response that Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton gave a local radio show in Boston when asked about Phil Kessel. This really shouldn't be a shock to anyone since we have heard a lot of rumblings in the off season about Kessel. Where ever Kessel has gone there have always been rumblings. Like in this story, Kessel's draft combine wasn't pretty.

”…..I don’t like him.”

Shawn Thornton stated the obvious this morning on the Toucher & Rich morning show and admitted he wasn’t the biggest fan of Phil Kessel. ”I don’t know if we’re better off without him, but I know he wasn’t the best fit.” Granted it took some prodding from the T&R, but it was nice to finally hear it. After discussing the team’s dynamic with & without Kessel, Thornton talked about the crowd’s reaction to Phil the Thrill’s return on Saturday night. “I hope he didn’t come here thinking he was going to get cheered whenever touched the puck.” He mentioned that there are some players who love getting the hate from the crowd, but from the looks of it, Phil isn’t one of them. Pitty. Not really. [According to Cameron Frye]

Dustin Byfuglien sticks it to Gabby's team.

Check out these moves from former Roseau Minnesota Kid Dustin Byfuglien, as he wins it in overtime for the Chicago Blackhawks. I have to admit that while I haven't been a Hawk fan in the past, they seem to be a legit contender for Lord Stanley's Cup. The bonus is that Marian Gaborik’s team isn’t even in playoff contention right now. So basically Gabby is still racking up points on a team that won’t win a cup.

Blake's game winner.

Jason Blake got the game winner against the Islander last night in Toronto. The Leafs play the Bruins again tonight in Boston. The game will feature three former WCHA players, Blake Wheeler, Jason Blake and Phil Kessel.

Leafs fans want Wheeler suspended.

Some Leaf fans want Blake Wheeler to be suspended for this hit on Ian White and are upset that he turtled against Colton Orr. According to Elliot Friedman, "Bill McCreary apologized to Ian White for missing Blake Wheeler’s push from behind that sent White hard into boards." I know that the NHL wants to do away with the push checks like this.

Obviously, the fact that Bill McCreary missed the hit is mind-blowing. I won't beat around the bush, Ian White is bang on: he is very lucky. If he had been hit a half a stride or so sooner he could have woken up Sunday with a halo and paralysed from the waist or neck down. Blake Wheeler laid an absolutely filthy hit and the fact that he isn't suspended and that there was no call on the ice highlights the massive trouble the league faces in trying to cut dirty play out of the game.

The more upsetting part was that Blake Wheeler didn't stand up to Colton Orr when it came time to pay the piper. Normally, non-fighters obviously don't have to fight enforcers but 'The Code' is supposed to keep players from making those kinds of hits because they'll have to fight the Colton Orrs of the world. Instead, we saw Wheeler pull his best Claude Lemieux impression while the Bruins were rewarded with a powerplay. Of course, I don't want Orr to pull a Carcillo but is it to much to ask that Blake Wheeler man up? And if he won't, would it kill the league to dish out some punishment? I guess so. [Pension Plan Puppets]

Stand up and Cheer and make some noise.

I think this is a really good idea, its time for people to get up and make some noise. There are times when the arena can be a little dead. This will be the last time to see the Sioux play in WCHA action this year, so it’s time to set the tone going into the second half of the season. The next time the Fighting Sioux play will be on New Years weekend in the Notre Dame Shillelagh Tourney against Niagara University.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The third-ranked Fighting Sioux men's hockey program is asking its fans to take the name of the University's fight song to heart and "Stand up and Cheer" at the beginning of the first period until the first whistle of each game.
UND athletics recently solicited feedback from its fans in an effort to enhance the gameday experience at Fighting Sioux home games. Many new initiatives have already been implemented as a result and the "Stand Up and Cheer" initiative was suggested during an open forum involving UND athletics and UND students.

The "Stand Up and Cheer" initiative is similar to the longtime UND basketball tradition in which Sioux fans remain on their feet until the opposing team scores its first points of the game.

UND's men's hockey team will host WCHA rival and 11th-ranked Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The puck drops at 7:37 p.m. on Friday and 7:07 on Saturday.

- Go Sioux -