Russo's slight?

After reading one of Russo's articles about the USA Olympic roster selection yesterday I realized that he had left out Zach Parise's college "UND" after mentioning a few area players and where they had gone to school. I was going to make a blog post about it but decided against it because I like Russo's work; I doubt that Russo would do it maliciously.

Parise, a Minneapolis native, former Shattuck-St. Mary's player and current Devils star, will be one of the Americans' go-to scorers. He finished third in the NHL last season with 45 goals, and he's scored 42 points this season and leads the league with a plus-21.
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Besides Parise and Langen- brunner, six other Olympians have Minnesota ties: Devils defenseman Paul Martin is a former Gopher and Elk River High standout; St. Louis defenseman Erik Johnson hails from Bloomington and is a former Gopher; St. Louis winger David Backes is a former Spring Lake Park High and Minnesota State, Mankato standout; Tampa Bay winger Ryan Malone played at St. Cloud State and lives in Plymouth; Toronto's Kessel is a former Gopher, and Los Angeles defenseman Jack Johnson played at Shattuck-St. Mary's. [Russo's Rants]

Apparently one of our fellow Sioux fans noticed the slight (it was probably unintended) and took issue with it because here is what Russo put in one of his blog posts today. You have to love Russo's humor.

Lemaire nuggets; Burns traveling; Gushing about the Devils, and hatred of the Sioux

As usual, Lou Lamoriello's put together another great room with guys like former UND star Zach Parise (labeling it that because a reader today accused me of hating UND, and in actuality that we at the Star Tribune have a "policy" of not naming UND when a player played there. Being the longtime Minnesotan that I am, he's right. I have an immense hatred for the Fighting Sioux. It keeps me up at night. I have a dartboard with Jonathan Toews' face on it), two of my favorite players that I've ever covered, Brian Rolston and Rob Niedermayer, Brodeur, Jamie Langenbrunner, etc., etc, etc. I'll write a lot about Rolston for tomorrow.
[Russo's Rants]

Time for the "what-if" calculator

You can go over to the what if calculator and make your predictions for the final WCHA standings. I was goofing around with the numbers on the "what if" calculator and this is what I think the Fighting Sioux can do. I preface this with the assumption that the Sioux will get Chay Genoway back soon for the second half and will pull off one of their historical patented second half runs.
["What if" calculator]

WCHA Final
Team GP Pts
Denver 28 39
UND 28 38
CC 28 37
UW 28 35
SCSU 28 30
UMD 28 29
Mankato 28 27
UMN 28 22
AA 28 16
MTech 28 7

Sioux skate past Purple Eagles 3-1.

There were a couple of themes to this game. It was the first time the Sioux had played a meaningful game in 21 days and the boys might have been a little rusty. It was also the first game Matt Frattin had played since Northeast Regional Semifinal game against UNH on March 28th 2009.

Frattin has rejoined the Fighting Sioux this week after satisfying Coach Hakstol’s expectations and changing his off ice behavior(those are my words that I inferred from listening to everyone involved talk this week). Frattin had been suspended indefinitely or basically expelled from the team pending further review at a later after being arrested last summer for two alcohol related incidents in very short period of time. That review at a later date ended up being this week, so Frattin had been given a life line by the Fighting Sioux coaching staff. It's up to him to make the best of it and to keep his nose clean and out of trouble. I am hoping Frattin can chip in 5-10 goals in the second half of the season.

Not burying the shots?

I read on line were some people are worried about the Sioux getting more goals after putting 40 shots on the opposition net. Sometimes an opposition goalie gets hot and it’s impossible to get a few more shots past him, as we know from the past UND has a target on it’s back every time they play. Everyone wants to take a piece of the Fighting Sioux. That’s the way it is, look how many times the Wild’s goaltender Niklas Backstrom has held the Wild in a game when they should have lost or had no business winning.

As I write this blog post, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made easy work of EZAC opponent Colgate smoking them 5-2 in the other semi final game so the Fighting Sioux will play the Fighting Irish tomorrow night in the championship game of the Shillelagh Tournament.

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

NIA-1 Jason Beattie (2-CTH ELBOWING) NDK 1x1 7:48
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Brett Hextall (7) (Evan Trupp, Jake Marto) 8:05
NDK: 26,19,20,22,25,G31 NIA: 5,7,9,22,G33
NDK-1 Ben Blood (2-Interference) NIA 0x1 8:53
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 GW Carter Rowney (1) (Brett Bruneteau, Mario Lamoureux) 13:50
NDK (+): 13,9,4,20,27,G31 NIA (-): 3,19,24,27,28,G33

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

NDK-2 Corey Fienhage (2-CTH ROUGHING) NIA 0x2 3:12
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) NIA 0x3 9:29
NDK-4 Michael Cichy (2-Boarding) NIA 0x4 14:02
NIA-2 Marc Zanette (2-O-HOLDING) NDK 1x2 17:06
NDK-5 David Toews (2-Hooking) NIA 0x5 18:16

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

NIA-3 Egor Mironov (2-Charging) NDK 1x3 8:31
NIA 1 - 2 6x6 Ryan Olidis (10) (Chris Moran, C.J. Chartrain) 11:04
NIA (+): 11,21,12,4,10,G33 NDK (-): 2,4,9,13,27,G31
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 Evan Trupp (5) (Brett Hextall) 16:49
NDK (+): 19,26,2,22,24,G31 NIA (-): 4,7,19,23,24,G33

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

Their press release said what?

Check out the title to this game summary. Please! The Sioux bombed your goalie for 40 shots and you were lucky it wasn’t 6-1 or 8-1. Maybe the Niagara goalie should sue his defense for non support, because they left him out to dry all week. The game wasn’t as close as the score would indicate and I didn't think that the Purple Eagles would get back into the game or win it.

No. 6 North Dakota Squeaks By Men's Hockey, 3-1
HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. - A third period rally by the Niagara men's hockey team (3-11-2, 1-3-1 CHA) fell a tad short, dropping a close 3-1 decision to the No. 6 North Dakota Fighting Sioux (10-6-3, 6-6-2 WCHA) in the opening round of the 2010 Shillelagh Tournament.

With Niagara down 2-0 halfway through the period, the Purps would dent the scoreboard to come within one. Senior Ryan Olidis (Uxbridge, Ont.) picked up a bouncing puck due to a Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) shot, spun around and fired it low past Fighting Sioux netminder Brad Eidsness to come within one. The goal extended the point-scoring streaks of both Olidis and Moran to 10 games, but it wasn't enough as the Fighting Sioux would net another insurence marker with four minutes left to round out scoring.

The Purple Eagles are back in action against either No. 20 Notre Dame or Colgate on Sunday,

Moving forward, hockey today.

The Sioux play a meaningful game for the first time in 21 days. I actually thought the exhibition against the USA WJC team was a meaningful game because it let them play at a high level before the Christmas Break.

The UND defense is ranked 7th nationally with a GA of 2.17 that is 39 goals against in 18 games.

The UND offense is ranked 20th nationally with 58 goals in 18 games for 3.22.

The Fighting Sioux are ranked 9th nationally on the power play 25/106 23.6%.

The Fighting Sioux are ranked 10th on the penalty kill 83/ 96 86.5.

In combined special teams the Fighting Sioux are ranked 9th nationally 108/202 53.5.

Unfortunately UND is ranked 1st in penalty minutes nationally. But if you look below you will see that 5 of the top ten teams are in the WCHA so that might be more of a statement of how bad the WCHA officials are.

1 North Dakota 18 385 21.4
2 Ferris State 18 384 21.3
3 Alaska Anchorage 18 372 20.7
4 Wisconsin 18 354 19.7
5 Canisius 20 374 18.7
6 Minnesota Duluth 18 329 18.3
7 Miami 20 360 18.0
8 Michigan Tech 19 330 17.4
9 Michigan 20 347 17.4
10 Mercyhurst 20 345 17.2
[College hockey stats]

Frattin Revisited

I have seen where a few people think Coach Hakstol’s reinstatement of Matt Frattin to the Fighting Sioux hockey team as an act of desperation. My response to these people is hardly. I also don't think in his six seasons of coaching the Sioux hockey team I have seen Coach Hakstol act in a desperate manner.

I believe it was a calculated move, based on an analysis of the situation. From reading the newspapers and listening to the double speak and innuendo you can see where Hakstol gave Frattin some very tough benchmarks to accomplish and Matt took the hard road. Matt could have probably just signed a contract and played in the ECHL but he chose to recommit himself to the Fighting Sioux hockey team. I would also think that Matt had to make some difficult life changing moves to become eligible to compete with the Fighting Sioux again this season. Here is why I say this. Read what Coach Hakstol said this week.

Hakstol said four months ago, he didn’t think Frattin would return this season and the door wasn’t open for him at that time.

“He changed that with his actions,” Hakstol said, “and with the method he’s gone about taking responsibility. Accountability is a big thing with this program and Matt has been very accountable to earn his way back here.”

I think we can read into responsibility as took step to address issues that they coaching staff felt he needed to take care of. I will leave it at that.

Tim Thomas on being selected to the USA Olympic team.

I have to admit that I was touched by the way the USA did the announcement of the USA Olympic hockey team today. I really liked the announcement with the kids wearing the team USA jerseys with the player’s names on the back. Let’s say that it was a cool way to announce the USA team.

It thought it was even classier to see Tim Thomas skate out onto Fenway Park field wearing his USA jersey. While I am on record as not being a big fan of the outdoor game (I have seen them all) I thought the presentation of team USA after the Winter Classic was a nice touch. That being said, the outdoor game really doesn’t work in really gold locations like the Midwest. Winters aren't as bad in Massachusetts or New York as they are in North Dakota, I know because I lived in Massachusetts. I know that I really have no urge to go to a hockey game at memorial field in Grand Forks, ND when it's -20.

While for the most part I thought today's game was a bore, the end of the game was pretty exciting as Tim Thomas made some big saves then the German Marco Strum scored the game winner and I danced around my living room, a win against the dirty Flyers no matter where it's played always feels good.

Team USA passes on Okposo.

Here is what Islander Blogger had to say about KO not making team USA. I know there are a few head scrathers on team USA's roster this year. There is no way Chris Drury deserves to be on Team USA. In my opinion I believe that Drury has done nothing this season that makes me believe he is worthy of being selected. I think two players off the top of my head that deserve to be there more than him; Kyle Olposo, T.J. Oshie.

The first thing you realize about Team USA’s decision to pass on Kyle Okposo is that Scott Gordon clearly had no say. For the last 100 games, Gordon has played Okposo in every situation and in just about every position except goal. The Islanders are not world-beaters, but Gordon coaches Okposo like he’s world-class.

I’ll just say what I told several writers on press row after the USA announcement. I’m a big fan of David Backes and Ryan Callahan. However, it is completely impossible to have watched Okposo, Callahan and Backes play this season - as Brian Burke said his committee did dilligently - and determine that Okposo was the player to keep off the team.

On the positive side for the Islanders, this will make Okposo a better and more rested player this season and a better player for years to come.
[READ THE REST]

Team USA (Parise Makes Team USA)

Jan 1, 2010 - Team USA has announced the roster for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Here's who made the cut:

Forwards:

David Backes (WCHA, MSU-M)
Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan
Chris Drury (HE, BU)
Patrick Kane
Ryan Kessler (CCHA, OSU)
Phil Kessel (WCHA, UMN)
Jamie Langenbrunner
Ryan Malone (WCHA, SCSU)
Zach Parise (WCHA, UND)
Joe Pavelski (WCHA, UW)
Bobby Ryan
Paul Statsny (WCHA, DU)

Defensemen:

Eric Johnson (WCHA, UMN)
Jack Johnson (CCHA, MICH)
Mike Komisarek (CCHA, MICH)
Paul Martin (WCHA, UMN)
Brooks Orpik (HE, B.C.)
Brian Rafalski (WCHA, UW)
Ryan Suter (WCHA, UW)

Goaltenders:

Ryan Miller (CCHA, MSU)
Jonathan Quick (HE, UMASS)
Tim Thomas (ECAC, UVM)

Here is what I predicted team USA would look like:
Goaltenders

Ryan Miller (MSU)
Tim Thomas (UVM)
Craig Anderson (OHL)

Defense

Andy Green (MU)
Ryan Whitney (BU)
Ryan Suter (UW)
Brooks Orpik (B.C.)
Brian Rafalski (UW)
Jack Johnson (UMICH)
Mike Komisarek (UMICH)

Forwards

David Backes (MSU-M)
Phil Kessel (UMN)
Dustin Byfuglien (OHL)
Patrick Kane (OHL)
T.J. Oshie (UND)
Zach Parise (UND)
Paul Stastny (DU)
Ryan Malone (SCSU)
Bill Guerin (B.C.)
Jason Pominville (QMJHL)
Bobby Ryan (OHL)
Jamie Lagenbrunner (OHL)
Ryan Kesler (OSU)
First off: Nice to see former Fighting Sioux star Zach Parise make team USA. That makes two former Sioux to be on Olympic roster for the 2010 games.

Second: I am surprised that T.J. Oshie didn’t make the Olympic team over Chris Drury. I know Drury has played in International play before but I don’t think his play this season has warranted being selected to play in the Olympics.

Apparently, LGM has connections to Team USA to know that Backes was a lock to be on team USA. I am not shocked by the selection and David has played in International competition for team USA before. I kind of felt that he would be there as well.

As a Bruins fan do we have to cheer for Mike Komisarek? I just every time I see him on the ice I vision him getting worked by Milan Lucic.

Flyers, Bruins say don't expect fight in Fenway Winter Classic

Oops, that prediction didn't pan out the way they said it would. I figured if you put these two teams on the ice there is going to be some fighting. Guess what? There was a Fighting between Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton and Flyers hack Dan Carcillo during the first period.

BOSTON -- Shawn Thornton(notes) of the Boston Bruins knew the question was coming.

"Oh God," he sighed, obviously exasperated, "here we go."

No, there has never been a fight in a Winter Classic, or the Heritage Classic for that matter. No, there's never even been anything approaching a dustup. The closest anyone has gotten is a pair of matching roughing penalties in the Heritage Classic between Francis Boullion and Jason Chimera(notes). It was real exciting stuff.

So hockey fans are waiting for that historic first fight. And the media talks about it. Dan Carcillo of the Philadelphia Flyers said his team wasn't ignorant to the talk. But that doesn't mean players are making plans to fight like it's seventh grade meeting by the flagpole at recess.

"I don't know," said Thornton. "I honestly have never gone into a hockey game thinking about fighting. This is no different. I mean, you guys can ask because it's kind of one of my roles, but other than you guys bringing it up, I don't think about it." [Puck Daddy]

Happy News Years (USA Olympic roster prediction)

Happy New Years from Goon’s World. Here is what I would like to see the Olympic hockey team look like when it is announced tomorrow.

Goaltenders

Ryan Miller (MSU)
Tim Thomas (UVM)
Craig Anderson (OHL)

Defense

Andy Green (MU)
Ryan Whitney (BU)
Ryan Suter (UW)
Brooks Orpik (B.C.)
Brian Rafalski (UW)
Jack Johnson (UMICH)
Mike Komisarek (UMICH)

Forwards

David Backes (MSU-M)
Phil Kessel (UMN)
Dustin Byfuglien (OHL)
Patrick Kane (OHL)
T.J. Oshie (UND)
Zach Parise (UND)
Paul Stastny (DU)
Ryan Malone (SCSU)
Bill Guerin (B.C.)
Jason Pominville (QMJHL)
Bobby Ryan (OHL)
Jamie Lagenbrunner (OHL)
Ryan Kesler (OSU)

Goon's ten favorite goals of the decade. (In no particular order)

1.) This Goal would have to be number one for me. The Bina goal against Gophers sieve goalie Jeff Frazee. It was one of the longest goals that I have ever seen in college hockey history.



2.) This goal doesn't require much discussion. As the Holy Cross homers said, "It's the second chance and the second effort."



3.) The Kessel return and subsequent goal in Madison after he scores for the Gophers, then cups his hand and put it up to his ear. The Wisconsin Badger fans didn't really like that one. I thought it was ballsy thing to do that in Madison, others thought it lacked class.



4.) I never get sick of seeing goal; in fact it still brings tears to my eyes. The Gophers had beaten the Sioux the week before on this sick goal.



5.) It never gets old beating the Badgers, Kozek with a beautiful goal to send the Sioux to the 2008 Frozen Four.



6.) Sparky Scores; watch this video as he goes down town against Gophers sieve  goalie Kellen Briggs for a short handed goal in the 2005 Final Five in St Paul. I wish this kid would have stayed and played for the Sioux for another two years.



7.) This has to be one of the hardest goals to duplicate, the Trupp goal. It seems like most of his goals are of the highlight variety.



8.) The Stick is hot, Alexander Ovechkin's 50 goal for a third straight season. The Tampa Bay lightning wasn't impressed but they could have stopped him.



9.) The Irish man Owen Nolan's pretty goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.


10.) The Jonathan Toews Goal vs Colorado October 19th 2007, it even sounds good in French.
[Note] There are some of the goals of the past decade that I really like, there are others that I have probably forgotten or couldn't find video of. One goal that comes to mind is the Wild's goal to win the playoff series against the Av's to send Patrick Roy is one of my favorites as well.

Phaneuf destroys Kopitar

This was the hit that everyone was talking about last night. I was watching this game last night and I came to the determination that this why some will call for the no touch icing to become the rule of law in the NHL. While Dion Phaneuf absolutely destroys Anze Kopitar and the hit looks really violent, I don’t know if a five minute major and a game misconduct was the right call. What do you think? Interference is what most are saying the call should have been.

Hakstol and Frattin speak out.

I think at the press conference Coach Hakstol and Matt Frattin do a lot of speaking around the issues but it appears that Matt went back to Canada and worked on some personal issues and accomplished some bench marks that the coaching staff set for Frattin.

I have to admit that I am excited about the prospects of adding an experienced offensive player to a lineup that is starving for goals. Let’s hope that the young man can get his act together and realize that it’s a privilege to wear the Fighting Sioux uniform. I like the fact that he is very contrite.

Oshie looking to make Team USA.

Tim Oshie sent me this in my email so I decided to put it up on the blog. It would be neat to see a few more former UND boys make Team USA. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to see quite a few former WCHA players on team USA.

For Immediate Press Release
December 29, 2009

By Jack McCarthy
Special to USAHockey.com

Warroad, Minn., may not be very large, yet it carries an outsized representation in U.S. Olympic hockey circles.

Home to 1,700 people and perched on the southwest shoreline of Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota, Warroad is home to three Olympic goal medal winners and at least five more who represented the United States on the ice.

And 22-year-old St. Louis Blues center T.J. Oshie hopes to become the latest on the list.

“There are a lot of Olympians from Warroad and they talked to me about it and told me I’d be there some day,” said Oshie, who won two Class A state championships while at Warroad High School. “Henry Boucha, he’s my cousin, he talked to me quite a bit about it and showed me his [1972] silver medal and that was pretty special.”

Warroad also is home to 1960 gold medal winners Bill Christian and brother, Roger. Bill’s son, Dave, was a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice gold medalists. The Christian family also manufactured hockey sticks of the same name in Warroad for 35 years. The town secured its first female Olympian last week when Warroad native Gigi Marvin was named to the U.S. women’s Olympic team.

Oshie has experienced a whirlwind 16 months as he jumped from college (University of North Dakota) to the pros (St. Louis Blues) and now stands poised to represent his country at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“It’s unbelievable. I never thought I’d be here, especially at this age, but I’m very proud,” said Oshie, who skated with 19 other forward prospects at the Team USA orientation camp in suburban Chicago during August. “It’s surprising with all the caliber of players here, but everyone is bonding very well and everyone gets along.”

Oshie is coming off a successful, if slightly abbreviated rookie season with the Blues.

Hampered by an ankle injury early in 2008-09, he went on to appear in 57 regular season games and made increasingly bigger contributions as the season progressed.

He closed with 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. Fourteen points came in the Blues’ final 15 games as St. Louis reached the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004. In 30 games so far this season, Oshie has 18 points (7-11).

A popular YouTube video featured Oshie’s punishing, but clean hits on Columbus winger Rick Nash last March. And he’s so popular with Blues fans that his No. 74 jersey is a top-seller, reportedly three-times better than his closest teammate.

He frequently updates a Twitter page and said prior to the orientation camp that he “hoped to make Blues fans proud.” And his Facebook page has nearly 2,800 followers. It includes a 2005 clip from Oshie’s high school days when he won a faceoff, then earned an assist on a game-winning goal in the Minnesota state championship game.

Shortly thereafter, the centerman was the Blues’ top pick (24th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

But pro play was put on hold as Oshie opted for a college career at North Dakota. He put in three seasons and 129 games for the Fighting Sioux, collecting 59 career goals and 83 assists for 142 points. North Dakota reached the NCAA Frozen Four three straight times with Oshie on board.

He also has two previous associations with Team USA, including seven games in the 2006 World Junior Championships, where he had one goal. Earlier this year, he played nine games in the Men’s World Championships, picking up one goal and a pair of assists.

“It’s great. I love the guys to death and we’re all good friends,” Oshie said. “There’s a lot of good friendships and we only get to hang out at these events, so it’s fun.”

And he’d like nothing better than to renew some of those summertime camp acquaintances in Vancouver.

Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.

Fenway ice build

Here is the Fenway Park time elapse rink build for the Winter Classic. I have to say that I never imagined a hockey game being played on the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park. I wonder if the Bruins will face the curse of the Babe?

I must admit that I have been to thirteen baseball games at Fenway Park during the late 1980’s and frankly it might be worth going to a hockey game in Fenway, just because of the history. I am also bored with the outdoor hockey games. I think the concept is a real yawner, this year the forecast is calling for 40 degrees and snow.

Toews makes team Canada.

Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews has made team Canada. [Roster]
Goalies

Martin Brodeur (NHL)
Roberto Luongo (NHL)
Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL)

Defense

Chris Pronger (A) (NHL)
Shea Weber (NHL)
Brent Seabrook (NHL)
Scott Niedermayer (C) (NHL)
Dan Boyle (NHL)(Miami University - CCHA)
Drew Doughty (NHL)
Duncan Keith (NHL)

Forwards

Sidney Crosby (A) (NHL
Jarome Iginla (A) (NHL)
Jonathan Toews (NHL)
Rick Nash (NHL)
Eric Staal (NHL)
Mike Richards (NHL)
Brenden Morrow (NHL)
Dany Heatley (NHL)(University of Wisconsin, WCHA)
Joe Thornton (NHL)
Ryan Getzlaf (NHL)
Patrick Marleau (NHL)
Corey Perry (NHL)
Patrice Bergeron (NHL)

Boggie kicks the snot out of Nick Boynton and linesman.

Derek Boogaard absolutely beats the snot out of former Boston Bruin Nick Boynton and then the ref gets hit in the ribs with a Derek Boogaard punch while breaking up the fight. My first question; is Nick Boynton crazy? What the heck was he thinking? You're taking on the Boogie man who is one of the best most feared fighters in the NHL?

This goes back to the premise of fighting someone for a checking someone. In this instance Derek Boogaard didn’t even hit the Ducks forward Dan Sexton, yet Boynton is going to stand up and fight an experienced cement head like Derek Boogaard for a non-hit. Of course Boogaard is going to Oblige. I see challenging someone for a dirty hit, a checking from behind or for a head shot. Boynton deserves to get his butt kicked.

Who's going to be on Team USA.

Well we know two of the players on "Team USA" they are Phil Kessel and defenceman Mike Komisarek. I would predict that Zach Parise, Paul Statsny, Patrick Kane, Tim Thomas, Ryan Miller, Jamie Langenbrunner are also locks to make the team.

EDMONTON – Leafs forward Phil Kessel and defenceman Mike Komisarek appear to have sewn up spots on the American Olympic hockey team.

Leafs coach Ron Wilson — who's also the coach of the U.S. team — let the cat out of the bag at Leaf practice when he was asked if the upcoming Olympic team announcements could be a distraction for players or even himself.

"Not at all. I know what the team is. To me it's not a distraction," said Wilson. "I think Phil Kessel knows pretty well and probably Mike Komisarek knows they're probably on the team. They've been talked to a lot about it.

"I think pretty much everybody on our team knows who's going, you're just waiting for an official announcement."

The Americans are set to announce their lineup on Jan. 1 as part of the festivities at the NHL's Winter Classic at Boston's Fenway Park. The Canadians are making their announcement Wednesday in Saskatoon at the world junior hockey championship.
[thestar.com]

Drew Stafford on fire.

Former Fighting Sioux star Drew Stafford was a healthy scratch in his team’s last game against T.J. Oshie and the St. Louis Blues’. Stafford took his benching to heart and responded by getting two goals and an assist, to help the Sabres over come a three goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sabres all world goalie Ryan Miller was pulled after giving up three goals.

Stafford also assisted on former Fargo resident Paul Gaustad's 8th goal of the season. So with Stafford two goals and an assist tonight Drew has(9g-10g-19pts)Stafford's two goals tonight broke a 15 game goaless streak.

Frattin back with the Fighting Sioux

The Fighting Sioux got some good news today as it was announced that Junior forward Matt Frattin has re-enrolled in school and will make a return to the Fighting Sioux line up. Frattin. Frattin was dismissed from the team last August after getting arrested for DWI in Grand Forks, ND.

This news was also on UND beat writer Brad Schlossman's twitter.com feed. This is pretty good news for UND, who have at times been offensively challenged.

Schlossman - Hakstol says Frattin returned to campus in good shape. "It's very apparent to me that he's done - not a little bit of work - a lot of work."
---------
Schlossman - Frattin will travel to Chicago, but Hakstol says it's too early to know whether he will play.
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Schlossman - Hakstol on Frattin: "To this point, he's done all the right things. It's one day at a time. He's eligible to play."
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Schlossman - Matt Frattin has re-enrolled at UND and will be at media day Thursday morning

Here is the offical press release.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - University of North Dakota head men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol announced today that junior forward Matt Frattin has enrolled in spring classes at UND and has resumed practicing with the Fighting Sioux.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Frattin is immediately eligible for NCAA competition.

Frattin was dismissed from the team in August due to a violation of team rules.

In 42 games with the Sioux last season, Frattin scored 13 goals and added 12 assists for 25 points. A fourth-round draft pick (99th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2007, Frattin has 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 85 career games at UND

Pension Plan Puppets has also picked up the story. To answer the blogger’s question, yeah its good news for Frattin because life has given him a second chance and it's time to make hay with the opportunity.

Coach Hakstol weighs in on the move: Here is what coach Hakstol had to say about Fratting being given another chance.

To this point, he’s done all the right things,” Hakstol said. “He’s eligible to play. I’m approaching it one day forward at a time. He needs to continue doing a good job day by day. If he continues to do the right things day by day, there will be another opportunity for him.

“I’m really impressed with the way Matt has handled everything right from Day One. He had other options. He probably chose the most difficult path in deciding to return to the University of North Dakota. He decided to do whatever it took.”

Frattin, a fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, had 13 goals and 25 points last season. He was the team’s third-leading goal scorer behind Ryan Duncan and Chris VandeVelde.

During the past few months, Frattin has been working out and skating near Edmonton.

“It’s tough to do things on your own, but he found a way,” Hakstol said. “It’s very apparent to me that he’s done. . . not a little bit of work. . . but a lot of work. He’s in very good condition judging by the two practices we’ve had — which were pretty competitive practices.”

Frattin is expected to address the media on Wednesday morning.

When Frattin was dismissed following a driving under the influence arrest, UND said that his status may be revisited. He has been reinstated for two main reasons.

“The program comes first,” Hakstol said, “and this is about having a good outcome for a good, young man that needed to get himself back on track.”
[Grand Forks Herald]

Head shots...

I am not sure why this doctor Dr. Charles Tator is picking a fight with Hockey personality and hockey legend Don Cherry? I have watched Don Cherry on the Coaches’ Corner for over 25 years and I have never heard him out there promoting hitting the opposition in the head. If anything I have heard the opposite, I have heard Cherry blast thugs like Ulfie Samuelsson that play the game cheap. During many shows I have heard Cherry speak against using some of the hardened equipment that players use today. Listen to video and what Cherry has to say, he isn't promoting head shots.

Recently, at the Regina workshop, I indicated that the "rock 'em, sock 'em" type of hockey espoused by commentators such as Don Cherry can no longer be the culture that dictates our game. We need to depart from the "win at all costs" mentality and return to the game when players had respect for their own bodies and respect for their opponents.

This message has been given by many others, such as the McMurtry report on amateur hockey violence in Ontario in 1974. In my book on sports and recreational injuries published last year, the cost of all sports and recreational injuries in Ontario was estimated at about $3 billion.

However, the costs in terms of grieving families and suffering athletes is much more important and of even greater magnitude than we had imagined, as demonstrated by the work from Boston University reported recently in the Star. This report included the case of former NHL player Reggie Fleming whose brain had major damage after repeated concussions.
[The Star]