Patrice Bergeron out 2-6 weeks with injury.

I just saw this and it's bad news for the Boston Bruins who have had some series injury problems this season. Savard, and Lucic have been out for long periods of time this season and now Bergeron has been bitten by the injury bug. As a Bruins fan I hope this doesn't affect his Olympic status.

BOSTON -- Star center Patrice Bergeron could be out anywhere from two to six weeks with a thumb injury, a source told ESPN.com Tuesday.

The same source said Bergeron still had to see a specialist later Tuesday and that would more precisely determine his absence.

The 24-year-old Bergeron took a Dennis Wideman shot on the hand in Monday night's loss at the New York Rangers and returned to Boston on Tuesday morning for medical tests.

Bergeron is the Bruins' leading scorer and head coach Claude Julien has called him their best player since the start of the season. The Bruins have already dealt with long-term injuries to star center Marc Savard and top-line winger Milan Lucic this season.

Bergeron's injury also calls into question his Olympic participation. Team Canada named him to its team last Wednesday. Canada's Olympic opener goes Feb. 16 against Norway, exactly six weeks from Tuesday.

Do you believe? Go Team USA.

This video brings back some really good memories. There were 3 Fighting Sioux hockey players on that USA WJC roster; Brady Murray, Drew Stafford and Zach Parise.

It's been a long six years since USA has won the WJC. The Canadians are on a roll, it’s time for the Americans to stop them dead in their tracks. I hope that team USA can finally break the Canadian stranglehold on the WJC. I want to hear the American anthem at the end of the game.

No shortage of history as Canada, U.S. clash in Championship.

This is what TSN has to say about the WJC final tomorrow night. I must be theon of the only people that doesn't see USA beating Sweden as a upset. I expected it. Tomorrow night game is also on the NHL Network which is 215 on Direct TV and 307 on Midco.net in Grand Forks, ND.

Any time Canada and the United States meet at the world juniors, there's a heightened sense of importance to the game - and that even goes for the preliminary round. Make it the gold medal final with everything on the line, throw in the recent track record and long-standing rivalry between these two teams and it seems fans are in for another thrilling night of entertainment in Saskatoon.

You can see the gold medal game Tuesday night on TSN, TSN HD, and TSN.ca beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt.

Just a few days ago, on New Year's Eve, with first place in Group A on the line, Canada scored a comeback victory over the U.S., winning 5-4 in a dramatic shootout to clinch a bye into the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship. It was the highlight of the tournament thus far, and no doubt had many fans hoping for a rematch later in the proceedings.

They got their wish.

Thanks to a 5-2 upset victory over Sweden, the U.S. will indeed get another crack at the Canadians, this time for world junior hockey supremacy.

The Canucks, who beat Switzerland to lock down their spot in the final, are looking for a record sixth straight championship, but there a few potential obstacles in the way of that prize.

First of all, the last time these two countries faced off in the championship game of this tournament was 2004. The winner? The U.S.A., with a 4-3 win to claim that year's tourney in Helsinki, Finland.

It was the Americans' first world junior title, and it came at the expense of the boys in red and white.

In addition to that historical tidbit, there are roster issues as well. Canadian defenceman Travis Hamonic will miss the final as he is out 6-8 weeks with a shoulder separation.

"It's a potentially devastating loss," says TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "Team Canada loses a guy that can hammer the puck from the point on their power play. They also lose a penalty killer and they lose one of their shut-down defencemen. It's an absolutely huge loss for Team Canada, and they're a little thin on the blue line to begin with." [Read the rest of the article]

Bring on Maverick/Sioux Week! (by LGM)

Well, given that it's Maverick vs. Sioux week I figured I better make my second post on Goon's World.

My beloved Mavericks will hit the road for the long trek to Grand Forks this week to play at the always dreaded Ralph. This trip, however, is probably the only one to date where the weather is just as cold in Mankato as it is in Grand Forks. Seriously, how do you Sioux faithful put up with such dang cold weather all winter long?!?

Sadly, I will not be making the trip to Grand Forks this year. I made my first trip there last year and a return trip was just not in the cards. Sorry folks, none of you will get to yell at me in person. I'm sure my good buddy Archie will be sure to yell at me in the comments section here at Goon's World sometime this week though.

I'll start out my first post of the week (if you're lucky there will be more than one) with the Top 5 reasons it's better to be a Maverick Fan than a Sioux Fan.

#5 We don't have to rely on racists jerks to build us an arena. We go at it the old fashioned way with a local tax and naming rights to a wallet gouging cell phone company.

#4 While Jutting is ugly and a poor coach, at least he remembers to take the coat hanger out of his suit jacket before wearing it and occasionally smiles. This can not be said about Hak!

#3 It takes more pride and effort to be a Maverick fan than a Sioux fan. You have to pay more money for Maverick wear and it's not the "only" hockey team around to really cheer for. (Fargo doesn't count because it's new) The Mavs struggle at times and it takes a lot of heart to stand behind a team that doesn't get all of the top players. Face it, it's easier to jump on and off the Green and White bandwagon...just like the Maroon and Gold one!

#2 Year in and year out, the Mavericks always bring an intense and physical game to the ice. That makes for some excellent hockey watching!

#1 We do not have a hostile and abusive mascot. To date, there have not been any lawsuits or complaints from any Mavericks that are offended by us using them as a mascot!

*this is humor people....roll with it before you totally flip out at me!

Oh and the SUPER #1 reason it's better to be a Maverick fan. Well, hello...ME. It's all about me:)

That's it for now Sioux dwellers....I'll hopefully be back to razz you some more this week and give you a break down of what to expect from the Mavericks. From the Sioux I'll be expecting...um, ice packs and crutches? Seriously, is anyone on your team not injured?!? YIKES! I feel your pain, really...the Mavs had a horrible injury season a few years back. It sucks.

P.S- anytime you Sioux fans want to be Maverick haters, I'm pretty sure most of you were the biggest Maverick fans several times in the past years when we beat on the Gophers or when their dirty hack Brian Schack attacked LGM favorite Channing Boe and loser Lucia defended it. Just remember those times people.

Poll Monday (Sioux 5th)

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[January 4, 2010]

1 Miami (45) 13-2-5 995 1
2 Denver ( 5) 13-5-2 952 2
3 Colorado College 12-5-3 848 3
4 Wisconsin 12-5-3 778 7
5 North Dakota 10-6-4 718 6
6 Yale 8-3-3 714 9
7 Boston College 10-5-2 638 5
8 Cornell 8-4-2 627 4
9 Michigan State 14-6-2 605 13
10 Bemidji State 14-4-2 578 10
11 Ferris State 14-4-2 515 11
12 Quinnipiac 13-4-1 481 8
13 Minnesota-Duluth 12-7-1 423 12
14 Mass.-Lowell 11-7-1 276 14
15 St. Cloud State 10-7-3 235 19
16 Massachusetts 11-7-0 192 15
17 Union 10-4-5 184 18
18 Maine 10-7-2 166 NR
19 Vermont 10-6-2 156 NR
20 Alaska 9-5-4 142 17
Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire 128, Notre Dame 93, Lake Superior 30, Minnesota State 14, St. Lawrence 5, Michigan 4, Northern Michigan 2, Minnesota 1
--------------------------------

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Jan. 4, 2010]
1 Miami University (Ohio) (33) 13-2-5 509 1
2 Denver (1) 13-5-2 477 2
3 Colorado College 12-5-3 409 3
4 Wisconsin 12-5-3 377 7
5 North Dakota 10-6-4 344 6
6 Yale 8-3-3 328 8
7 Cornell 8-4-2 297 4
8 Boston College 10-5-2 265 5
9 Michigan State 14-6-2 262 13
10 Bemidji State 14-4-2 227 9
11 Quinnipiac 13-4-1 157 10
12 Ferris State 14-4-2 145 11
13 Minnesota Duluth 12-7-1 111 14
14 Massachusetts Lowell 11-7-1 65 12
15 St. Cloud State 10-7-3 27 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Maine, 20; University of Vermont, 19; University of Massachusetts, 14; Union College, 8; University of Alaska, 8; University of New Hampshire, 6; Lake Superior State University, 3; University of Notre Dame, 2.

INCH Power Rankings

As always for a good laugh I include the INCH Power Rankings.

First off Yale has not business being ranked higher than Wisconsin. Yale is not a better team than Wisconsin, sure they tied this weekend but the Badgers have three players in Saskatoon for the WJC (Ramage, Derek Stepan, Jake Gardnier). Cornell sitting at 6th, yeah. Yawn!

1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Yale
4. Wisconsin
5. Colorado College
6. Cornell
7. North Dakota 1 How did former Sioux star Jonathan Toews, now the toast of Chicago as the Blackhawks' captain, spend New Year's Eve in the Windy City? Dining with his brother, David, and the rest of the NoDak hockey team, in town for Notre Dame's Shillelagh Tournament. 10-6-4 (6-6-2 WCHA) RECENT GAMES: W vs. Niagara, 3-1; T vs. Notre Dame, 3-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota State, vs. Minnesota State
8. Boston College
9. Michigan State
10. Bemidji State
11. Quinnipiac
12. UMass Lowell
13. Ferris State
14. Minnesota Duluth
15. Massachusetts
16. Union
17. Maine
18. Alaska
19. St. Cloud State
20. New Hampshire

Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Lake Superior State, Notre Dame, St. Lawrence, Vermont

Sioux 3 Irish 3

The Fighting Sioux ended the game in a 3-3 tie; the tourney was then decided by the most exciting way to break a tie in hockey, the shoot out. Unfortunately the Shootout went to the Fighting Irish. Like coach Hakstol said, the shoot out really means nothing as far as national stats go. If you listen to the post game interview you will hear Coach Hakstol say that he liked the way his team played tonight, he thought they put up a good effort.

Tonight on the radio broadcast Tim Hennessy said, ‘What the Sioux got out there isn’t doing that bad.’ I think that is a good way to summarize this weekend. Think about it; our best forward Danny Kristo is at the WJC in Saskatoon. Our best defensive forward Darcy Zajac is out with an injury and in addition to that our All American Defenseman Chay Genoway is on the shelf and we still get a win and a tie in a holiday tourney. I think I will dwell on the positive and not focuse on the negatives.

I by nature don't stay mad long or like a lot of negativity, I think there is a lot to be positive about, this team has a lot going for it. I also think UND is sitting pretty well nationally, the Fighting Sioux sit at 10th in the all important Pairwise, the Fighting Sioux have an out of conference record of 4-0-2. The Fighting Sioux still have a chance to move up in the standings and get home ice for the WCHA playoffs.

During the pre-game of tonight’s radio broadcast Zajac kind of predicted that there is a good chance he might be back for this next weekend series. I would have to think there is about a 50-50 to 60-40 chance the Fighting Sioux have his services for next weekend. That would be a huge lift on the penalty kill.

[Box Score]

--------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Mario Lamoureux (2-CTH ROUGHING) NDM 1x1 3:13
NDM 1 - 0 6x5 PP Ben Ryan (4) (Ian Cole, Nick Larson) 3:59
NDM: 19,28,26,4,9,G32 NDK: 3,19,22,25,G31
NDK-2 Brad Malone (2-Holding) (Served by Michael Cichy) 10:01
NDK-3 Brad Malone (10-Misconduct) 10:01
NDM-1 Sean Lorenz (2-Cross-Checking) 10:01
NDK-4 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) NDM 1x2 11:43
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (6) (Jason Gregoire, Derrick LaPoint) 16:54
NDK (+): 29,17,20,21,25,G31 NDM (-): 15,17,24,26,28,G32

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

NDM-2 Brett Blatchford (2-Interference) NDK 1x1 0:24
NDM-3 Teddy Ruth (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 1:54
NDK 2 - 1 6x4 PP Brett Hextall (8) (Jake Marto, Joe Gleason) 2:15
NDK: 26,25,20,17,19,G31 NDM: 2,9,28,G32
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Tripping) NDM 1x3 5:18
NDM-4 Nick Larson (2-Goaltender Interference) NDK 1x3 5:52
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 Brett Bruneteau (1) (Mario Lamoureux, Carter Rowney) 8:47
NDK (+): 13,9,3,24,27,G31 NDM (-): 2,6,15,24,27,G32
NDM 2 - 3 6x6 Kevin Deeth (2) (Ryan Guentzel, Brett Blatchford) 12:22
NDM (+): 21,27,3,22,33,G32 NDK (-): 3,9,13,25,27,G31
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-CTH ROUGHING) NDM 1x4 14:04

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

NDM 3 - 3 6x6 GT Billy Maday (7) (Christiaan Minella, Joe Lavin) 1:36
NDM (+): 17,15,16,3,28,G32 NDK (-): 8,18,20,21,24,G31
NDK-7 Ben Blood (2-GRASPING THE FACEMASK) 3:57
NDM-5 Kevin Deeth (2-Roughing) 3:57
NDM-6 Kevin Deeth (2-Boarding) NDK 1x4 15:47

--------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (5:00)
--------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

Blackhawks don't back down vs. Blues

Here is what Toews had to say about his fight with Backes last night.

''I still don't think I won,'' Toews said with a smile of his second NHL fight. ''I'm not going to argue that, but I did a little better than the first one [against the Phoenix Coyotes' Martin Hanzal on Nov. 18, 2008].

Toews and Backes fight

For the ten people that haven't seen this fight, here is the video from the Toews and Backes fight. A Maverick and a Sioux getting after it. After tonight the Fighting Sioux favorite dance partners come to town.

The German scores; Bruins win 2-1 at Fenway.

I thought I would include this video of the goal that helped the Bruins beat the Flyers in the Holiday Classic. I thought it was a nice goal to end a relatively boring game. What an effort by Patrice Bergeron to get the puck on net where it was tipped into the Flyer net by Marco Sturm. Its plays like this; is why Bergeron is going to be on the Canadian Olympic team.

John Scott and Matt Greene.

This fight was from the other night when the Wild were beat at home by the LA Kings. Actually, to call this a fight is kind of a stretch, it was more of a hug feast between former MTU defenseman John Scott and former Fighting Sioux star Matt Greene.

I think this video illustrates they only reason John Scott is playing with the Wild is because he can Fight and shows a willingness to drop the gloves. Now that the Wild have Clayton Stone on their roster who is more talented than Scott and can fight; we will probably see Scott sent back to Houston. On the flip side Greene is in the NHL because he has the talent to play in the NHL and will fight if he has too.

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.
-------------------
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)