David Koci boards Mike Green and fights John Erskine

In my opinion this was another dirty hit and will be the on the next installment of the Colin Campbell Wheel of Justice. I am thinking 2-3 games for this one. I have to give Erskine credit he came right to the aid of his fellow teammate after he was checked through the boards with a downright dirty hit. Koci is nothing more than a cement head.

I do have to agree with some of the posters on Hockey Fights the Capitals really don't have a heavy weight to protect their star players. Sounds like the Captials head coach Bruce Boudreau was not impressed with the hit; rightfully so.

The game was marred by a major boarding penalty by Avs enforcer David Koci to star Washington defenseman Mike Green in the second period, a hit from behind that left Green down for a few minutes, bleeding from the head. Koci almost surely will face a suspension from the NHL over the hit, and Washington coach Bruce Boudreau was livid over it.

"Please, the guy's got one goal in six years. He couldn't play in the American League," Boudreau said. "I've faced David Koci an awful lot, he might be a nice guy, I have no idea. I'm glad he's making a living, but if this is any game, he gets on the ice for the first three minutes, he gets into his fight with the guy and then he sits at the end of the bench, so what good is he?


[Read the rest of the article]

Wisconsin and North Dakota pack them in...

Here is an impressive article on attendance for college hockey. Interesting how bad the Desert Dogs are drawing in Phoenix that three NCAA teams are out drawing them. I would imagine that the poor economy and high tickets prices of the NHL might be affecting some of the attendance numbers on Long Island and Phoenix.

Welcome, one and all, to USCHO.com’s newest blog. I hope to use this resource to address noteworthy material that falls outside the scope of my weekly ECAC Hockey column (though many of my readers would argue that over the years, precious little has qualified as falling out of range of a carefully crafted tangent).

Turnstiles do the Talking
Thanks to USCHO reader Vic Berardelli for noting this little nugget of college hockey information: the games are popular.

No, really. Three WCHA teams (Wisconsin, North Dakota and Minnesota) have out-drawn the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes in per-game attendance, and the Badgers are edging the New York Islanders as well. Wisconsin leads the nation in attendance with 12,638 per game, while UND (11,605) and the U (9,889) also draw quite well. (Michigan and New Hampshire rank fourth and fifth, but fall more than 3,000 short of Minnesota.)

The Coyotes, on the other hand, pull up dead last in the National Hockey League at 9,825 … which is to be expected from a team with high lame-duck potential. The Islanders – despite top pick John Tavares – only pull 12,429 through the gates at Nassau County Coliseum, and rumors are flying that they, too, could soon be on the move.

But it’s not just the pitiful that the WCHA troika is trouncing: they each topped the American Hockey League’s best draw, the Hershey Bears (8,906). Berardelli’s perspicacity also led him to note that in Lowell, Mass., the local UMass-Lowell River Hawks have walloped the AHL’s Lowell Devils by better than a two-to-one margin … while playing in the same building. Up in Rochester, RIT drew more than 7,400 against Colgate at the Blue Cross Arena, home of the AHL’s Rochester Americans. It took the “Amerks” three home games combined to equal that total. (Thanks to editor Ed Trefzger for that note.) The UNH Wildcats sit over 1,500 more per game than the Manchester Monarchs down the road.

Expanding the scope, 22 of the NCAA’s 58 Division I programs are beating the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s 3,202 per-game average. Wisconsin and UND are ahead of the Quebec Remparts’ 11,175, a figure that is more than doubling all other QMJHL teams. [USCHO.COM]

I could only wish: Kovy trade to consider

This was over on John Buccigross blog at ESPN and I while I realized that it's nothing more than mere speculation, and just a pontification I would hope the Bruins are considering a move for offense or a deal similar to this one. In their current state the Bruins aren't going to win many a series games against the better teams in the NHL like Washington or Pittsburgh.

Kovalchuk ($6.3 million cap number going forward) is a pending unrestricted free agent who has yet to sign an extension with the Thrashers. If he doesn't soon, Atlanta will have to trade him. I really believe the Thrashers will make the playoffs in the East as long as their health holds up and goaltending stays solid. And they can make the playoffs whether they trade Kovalchuk or not.

I do think there is a trade to be had with the Bruins because of their young assets and juicy draft picks. If I am the Thrashers, I look for a goal scorer, goalie and the 2010 No. 1 draft pick (from Toronto) that the Bruins own, and that roughly equals Blake Wheeler (restricted free agent after this season), Tuukka Rask and the pick, which should be a No. 4 to No. 12 overall pick. The standings are too close to call right now. Wheeler would be a nice complement to Evander Kane for the next five years. With more ice time and power-play time, Wheeler looks to have 25-30 goal potential. I don't think he is designed to play in a Claude Julien system.

Rask appears to be a potential high-end goalie with an outstanding contract (a $1.2 million cap number for two years after this season). That alone might keep the Bruins from trading him. If the Bruins deem Rask untouchable, Atlanta may still have an interest in Marco Sturm. Sturm and Wheeler would really give the Thrashers great depth at forward. Also, the Thrashers are set up very well cap-wise going forward.

From the Bruins' perspective, this trade makes sense if they can get Kovalchuk to sign an extension (nine years, $63 million?). The cap numbers for Wheeler ($2.8M) and Rask or Sturm roughly equals Kovalchuk's $6.3 million cap number. Wheeler is a good player who will have a long NHL career, but he's not a player of Kovalchuk's caliber.

The No. 1 draft pick is a valuable chip, but it's a chip that likely won't materialize for a few years; if it's not a top 3 pick, and I don't think it will be, the chances of that player being an elite NHL star drops. Sturm would be missed, especially if Wheeler also goes, but it's an easy choice, especially at $3.5 million again next year. Rask is a tough choice; Tim Thomas has not been great and he potentially has a bloated, cap-killing contract if he doesn't return to last season's form. Thomas has a $5 million cap number until the 2012-13 season, when he'll be 39.
[ESPN.COM]

Team Canada WJC Roster.

Hockey Canada released their roster for the WJC and there isn't any NCAA influence on the Canadian team. There was a chance that Harvard’s Louie Leblanc and Minnesota-Duluth's Dylan Olsen would make the team but they were cut by team Canada. The Wild's 2008 draft choice Marco Scandella made the team while Wild draft choice Tyler Cuma did not.

Goalies

1 Jake Allen, Fredericton, N.B./N.-B. Montreal (QMJHL) STL '08
31 Martin Jones North Vancouver, B.C./C.-B. Calgary (WHL) LA '08 (FA/JA)

Défense

2 * Colten Teubert, White Rock, B.C./C.-B. Regina WHL) LA '08
3 Travis Hamonic, St. Malo, Man. Moose Jaw (WHL) NYI '08
5 Marco Scandella, Montreal, Que./QC Val d'Or (QMJHL) MIN '08
6 * Ryan Ellis, Freelton, Ont. Windsor (OHL) NSH '09
22 Jared Cowen, Allan, Sask Spokane (WHL) OTT '09
24 Calvin de Haan, Carp, Ont. Oshawa (OHL) NYI '09
27 * Alex Pietrangelo, King City, Ont. St. Louis (NHL) STL '08

Forwards

4 Taylor Hall,Kingston, Ont. Windsor (OHL) 2010 Dft/Rep.
7 Gabriel Bourque, Baie-Comeau, Que./QC Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) NSH '09
9 Nazem Kadri,London, Ont. London (OHL) TOR '09
10 Brayden Schenn, Saskatoon, Sask. Brandon (WHL) LA '09
12 Adam Henrique, Burford, Ont. Windsor (OHL) NJ '08
14 * Jordan Eberle, Regina, Sask. Regina (WHL) EDM '08
15 Brandon McMillan, Delta, B.C./C.-B. Kelowna (WHL) ANA '08
16 Greg Nemisz, Courtice, Ont. Windsor (OHL) CGY '08
17 Brandon Kozun, Calgary, Alta./Alb. Calgary (WHL) LA '09
19 * Stefan Della Rovere, Maple, Ont. Barrie (OHL) WAS '08
20 Luke Adam,St. John's, N.L./T.-N.-L. Cape Breton (QMJHL) BUF '08
26 Jordan Caron, Sayabec, Que./QC Rimouski (QMJHL) BOS '09
28 * Patrice Cormier, Cap-Pelé, N.B./N.-B. Rimouski (QMJHL) NJ '08
[Link to team Canada Roster]

Check out the Don Cherry clip.

This is the latest dust up involving Don Cherry. Last week Dr. Charles Tator said that “He’s (Don Cherry) was a negative influence, the aggressive, lack-of-respect hockey that he preaches — we need to get that out of the game.” The audio is the response to a reporter that was trying to get him to talk about the incident. I don’t blame Cherry for responding that way at all.

Caution there is some raw/coarse language in this clip.
[Click to listen to the audio here]

An apology from Don Cherry for telling a Toronto radio reporter to “f-off” during a profanity laced tirade on Sunday is highly unlikely.

Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, says Cherry is not to blame for the incident and in fact was incited by the reporter who was overly aggressive.

“I think the apology should go the other way,” Moore said in an email.

Moore went on CFRB radio in Toronto today at noon and stated the network is throwing its full support behind Cherry. Moreover, sources confirmed there will be no apology from the Hockey Night In Canada commentator.

In another development, 680 News reporter Colin D’Mello, who attempted to interview Cherry on Sunday, may be suspended by the station.

His main offence was posting Cherry’s expletive filled rant on Facebook and also Twittering it. The clip was picked up by The Globe and Mail and posted. You can also hear the clip on this website at the bottom of this piece.

D’Mello was attempting to get a reaction from Cherry regarding neurosurgeon Charles Tator’s assertion that Cherry has been a negative influence on the game by promoting fighting and the so-called “rock em, sock em” style of hockey. Tator’s concern is concussions in hockey.
[Read the rest of the article]

Lack of ‘O’ a problem for Bruins

Props to Rusty of the Illegal Cruve. Earlier this season I predicted the Bruins would be hard pressed to score goals and were stupid not to resign Phil Kessel. I said it was crazy to suggest that Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron were going to pick up the slack left by Kessel. Also, David Krejci has been a disappointment so far this season. Looks like I was right in predicting that the Bruins would be hard pressed to score goals this season.

Key veteran offensive guys - like Marco Sturm, Michael Ryder and Mark Recchi - are posting below-average numbers. Youngsters like David Krejci and Blake Wheeler are not having the kind of years hoped for. The most important offensive player, Marc Savard, has missed almost half the season due to a foot injury and has yet to really get going.

Against the Flyers, Savard had no shots and was a minus-3.

“We’ve got to get better, I’ve got to be better,” Savard said. “I’ve got to start getting results. I’m not getting any of those.”

The obviously frustrated Savard was blaming no one other than himself, but the fact is he needs better wingers to center.

With all due respect to Byron Bitz, as hard-working and honest a player as you’ll find, his stint as a first-liner should be finished. Wheeler hasn’t been able to relocate the scoring touch that produced 21 goals last season.

“That line wasn’t very good for us,” coach Claude Julien said. “Savvy’s got to take some of that responsibility, but it’s not a one-man line. He needs his wingers, and his wingers weren’t there, either. That line was very average for us. It needed to be better.” [Boston Herald]

Wild not on TV. No Commi Tonight.

The Wild game is not on TV tonight, damn VERSUS. I guess I won't be able to watch Mike Commodore play as well. I am so sick and tired of the Versus situation.

Lastly, in order to keep the VERSUS ratings at its usual monster numbers, tonight's Wild-Jackets game won't be televised in either market. Both Minnesota and Columbus gets the shaft because it falls into VERSUS' exclusive window. [Russo's Rants]

Someone please explain where the penalty is...

I want to be clear; the refs didn’t cost the Fighting Sioux the game on Saturday night. That is not the intention of this blog post; my point of this blog post is to hammer home a point that the leagues officials are incompetent and there needs to be a change in the WCHA. Here is a very clear video of the alleged CFB penalty at the end of Saturday's game. Please tell me I am seeing things and that a WCHA on ice official didn’t stop a potential scoring attempt to call a penalty on a legal hip check. Second, Hextall didn’t check the Badger player it looks like Malone did.

Oh yeah the email address for the WCHA Commissioner is bmccleod@du.com

Poll Monday

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[December 14, 2009]

1 Miami (48) 13-2-5 998 1
2 Denver ( 2) 11-5-2 900 2
3 Colorado College 11-4-3 841 6
4 Cornell 7-2-2 805 5
5 Boston College 10-3-2 717 10
6 North Dakota 9-6-3 672 3
7 Wisconsin 11-5-2 657 11
8 Quinnipiac 13-3-1 639 7
9 Yale 7-3-2 609 8
10 Bemidji State 13-4-1 594 4
11 Ferris State 13-3-2 556 13
12 Minnesota-Duluth 11-6-1 434 12
13 Michigan State 12-6-2 419 14
14 Mass.-Lowell 10-6-1 418 9
15 Massachusetts 10-5-0 365 15
16 New Hampshire 8-6-3 209 19
17 Alaska 9-5-4 183 16
18 Union 8-3-5 164 20
19 St. Cloud State 8-7-3 120 17
20 Notre Dame 8-8-4 71 18
Others Receiving Votes: Maine 42, Vermont 32, Michigan 23, Minnesota State 11, Colgate 7, Lake Superior 6, RIT 4, Minnesota 3, Nebraska-Omaha 1
---------------------------
USA Today
[December 14, 2009]
1. Miami (33)
2. Denver (1)
3. Colorado College
4. Cornell
5. North Dakota
6. Boston College
7. Wisconsin
8. Yale
9. Bemidji State
10. Quinnipiac
11. Ferris State
12. UMass-Lowell
13. Michigan State
14. Minnesota-Duluth
15. UMass
Others receiving votes: University of New Hampshire 18, University of Michigan 7, University of Alaska 5, St. Cloud State University 3, Union College 3, Rochester Institute of Technology 1.

Something to think about...

These comments were posted on the Herald's site. While I don’t think there is a conspiracy per see, I do think the league office has a perception problem with some of the member schools fans, whether they intended to or not.

Just to clear up the record McLeod did come to WCHA office at DU from UMD. I am going to make a prediction, the WCHA office will be moved out of Denver University in the future. Just a hunch… This isn’t the first time I have heard this kind of talk and there are a few fans that are upset with the way things have transpired in the WCHA.

kb I. ----Grand Forks, ND 12/13/2009 10:34 AM
Dang, here is your WCHA:

*Commissioner Bruce McCleod. His office is on Denver's campus and his email bmccleod@du.com

*Assistant Commissioner of Operations Carol LaBelle-Ehrhardt In 2003, LaBelle-Ehrhardt was awarded the (2002) Tourism Ambassador Award for St. Paul, Minn. Prior to joining the conference full-time, LaBelle-Ehrhardt was an Assistant to the Athletic Director at the University of Denver for five years. A graduate of the University of Denver, LaBelle-Ehrhardt and her husband, Mark Ehrhardt, live in Colorado.

*Associate Commissioner Sara R. Martin Prior to assuming her duties with the WCHA, Martin worked at the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department from 1990-99. She began as an administrative assistant to the associate athletic director and moved into the department of facilities and events in 1995. In 1997 she became the Event Manager at the Kohl Center. Martin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1990 and a Master of Arts in Sports Administration from Minnesota State University in 1993.

*Supervisor of Officials Greg Shepherd Shepherd was a 36-year employee of Xcel Energy, in St. Paul, Minn. He was a former City Council person in West St. Paul, Minn. Greg and his wife, Nancy, live in West St. Paul.

*Associate Commissioner for Public Relations Doug Spencer Prior to coming to the WCHA, Spencer had tenures as an Assistant SID at Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Wisconsin. He and his wife, Caroline, live in Madison .

*Assistant to the Commissioner Jeff Sauer Sauer recorded 655 victories while heading up the teams at both Colorado College and the University of Wisconsin.

*Women's Public Relations Bill Brophy He spent five years covering college hockey for the Duluth News-Tribune. Brophy served as the University of Wisconsin beat reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison before serving as the State Journal sports editor. He also served as the radio analyst on Badger hockey from 1991 until 2003. Brophy was the communications director for the Diocese of Madison. A native of Minneapolis, Minn., he makes his home in Madison, Wis. HEY! WHERE IS NORTH DAKOTA'S REPRESENTATION?
[Grand Forks Herald Comments]

Badgers, and the W.C.H.A., Assert Themselves

Check out this article in the New York Times hockey blog. Seems like North Dakota keeps popping up in the New Yorks Times a lot lately.

After a few dormant years, the Western College Hockey Association appears to be back on track as a dominant force in college hockey. The conference entered this past weekend’s action with six of the top 17 teams in the national polls, led by the mainstays Denver, North Dakota and Colorado College all hovering around the top five in the polls.

Add another team to the mix, as 11th-ranked Wisconsin went on the road for a pair of games in Grand Forks, N.D., and came away with an impressive 3-point weekend and a revelation in net. Backed by the junior goalie Scott Gudmandson, making back-to-back starts for the first time in his career, the Badgers made a statement in a tough road environment at Engelstad Arena: the W.C.H.A. isn’t as top-heavy as it might appear.


Wisconsin’s big weekend is a testament to the depth of the W.C.H.A., and an indication that the Badgers are ready to compete with the heavyweights in the conference and around college hockey. Earlier this season the Badgers picked up a pair of blowout victories against Hockey East-leading New Hampshire, but earning a tie Friday and a win Saturday against the Fighting Sioux was a new high.

Gudmandson stopped 27 shots in a 3-3 draw Friday, a game in which the Badgers twice gave up two-goal leads to a resilient Sioux club that pulled even on a late power-play goal from Danny Kristo. The first night’s effort from Gudmandson was strong and his play the next night earned him more rave reviews. The goalie turned away 31 shots to help his team come away with a 4-3 win and take three huge points from North Dakota.

The senior center Ben Street appreciated his goalie’s performance, telling The Capital Times: “He’s not going to crack under pressure, that’s for sure. These last two nights have been some pretty high-pressure games and he’s come up big and that’s huge to show your teammates that.”

Gudmandson typically splits time in net with Brett Bennett, who is nursing a dislocated left shoulder. The junior took advantage of the situation, propelling his team toward victory with a great showing Saturday, including seven saves on an extended first-period 5-on-3 for the Sioux.
[Read the rest of the article]

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)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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]