How about a lifetime DQ for WCHA leadership

For those that haven't seen this article Virg Foss hits it out of the park and is spot on in his assessment of the WCHA league office. This is another example of the where the league office miss managed another on ice incident, shall we say epic fail.

In the movie “Forrest Gump,” one of Forrest’s famous quotes is “stupid is as stupid does.”

Somehow, Thursday’s decision by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to suspend UND’s Mario Lamoureux for one game for violating the league’s rules “code of conduct and sportsmanship” brings that line to mind.

If a remake of that classic movie is ever made, I’d cast WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod and supervisor of officials Greg Shepherd in lead roles.

Simply put, the ruling by league leadership to suspend Lamoureux for one game for coming within 20 feet of St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin and NOT throwing a single punch ranks as the dumbest decision I’ve seen in my 40-plus years of following the WCHA.

Let’s set the table with this short recap. Marvin knocked UND captain Chay Genoway out — likely for the year — two weeks into the WCHA season with a violent, illegal hit from behind. His hit left Genoway struggling with post-concussion syndrome even today and who knows how long into the future.

For that, Marvin got a one-game suspension from the WCHA, just like Denver’s Geoff Paukovich did for breaking the neck of UND’s Robbie Bina a few seasons ago with another illegal hit.

Now Lamoureux, for not throwing a single punch, draws the same single-game suspension?

Marvin’s illegal hit certainly altered the direction of UND’s promising season. Worse yet, it changed the life of Genoway, a fine young man and perhaps the country’s best college player.

We all knew there would be payback coming for Marvin. Since the league doesn’t protect its players, Lamoureux was simply following the unwritten player code found throughout hockey of standing up for each other.

With the teams set up for a faceoff at St. Cloud State last weekend, Lamoureux came off the bench to replace a player lined up across from Marvin. As the puck was being dropped, Lamoureux dropped his gloves, shed his helmet and challenged Marvin to a fight.

Marvin knew payback was coming. He manned up to it by dropping his gloves and removing his helmet as well. If the officials had let that go, the matter would have been settled. Both players would have been ejected, and the deal done with. Now most certainly it will linger into next season.[Grand Forks Herald]

McLeod's incoherent statement

UND Hockey beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman, has a new article up on the Herald's web site and this is what stuck out with me. The November incident has nothing to do with last weekend's games. More bumbling buffoonery from Bruce McLeod, maybe it would be better if he didn't say anything. The comments for this article is going to be fun to watch as well.

Marvin, a Warroad, Minn., native, was suspended one game in November for that hit — the same punishment leveled at Lamoureux on Thursday.

McLeod said he didn’t want to compare the suspensions.

“I don’t want to comment on that,” he said. “That’s an apples and oranges deal. You have to take the initial suspension to Marvin into context. A lot has changed in hockey since then.”

UND is a bunch of goons?

The UAA fan blog had an interesting point on UND being highly penalized and a bunch of goons, 5 of the top 20 most penalized players are from UND. I am not shocked. If you peruse the numbers you will also notice that the highest penalized WCHA player is from the SCSU Huskies. Yep, our buddy the cheater Chris Hepp is ranked third in NCAA penalty minutes. I also expected to see more MSU-M Mavericks in the top 25. Looks like UMD brings a goon or two to Grand Forks, ND as well. Mario Lamoureux's 28 penalty minutes in one games skewed his numbers a bit.

3 Chris Hepp St. Cloud State D Jr 32 0 1 1 0.0313 94 0 0 0 0
9 Mario Lamoureux North Dakota F So 30 3 5 8 0.2667 79 1 0 0 5
11 Ben Blood North Dakota D So 30 3 5 8 0.2667 72 0 2 0 1
12 Andrew MacWilliam North Dakota D Fr 30 0 3 3 0.1000 71 0 0 0 4
15 Brett Hextall North Dakota F So 21 9 5 14 0.6667 70 0 6 0 -3
Jordan Fulton Minnesota-Duluth W Sr 30 2 7 9 0.3000 70 0 0 0 -2
17 Brad Malone North Dakota F Jr 30 7 9 16 0.5333 68 1 0 1 4
21 Kevin Clark Alaska-Anchorage F Sr 28 16 11 27 0.9643 67 1 5 2 -10
25 Aaron Marvin St. Cloud State F Jr 31 4 6 10 0.3226 65 1 0 1 0
31 Craig Smith Wisconsin F Fr 27 4 19 23 0.8519 60 0 0 0 13
43 John Kivisto Michigan Tech D/F Sr 28 4 7 11 0.3929 55 0 2 0 -14
44 Chad Huttel Minnesota-Duluth D Jr 24 1 1 2 0.0833 54 0 0 0 9
Chris Crowell Alaska-Anchorage F Fr 23 0 0 0 0.0000 54 0 0 0 -7
48 Kael Mouillierat Minnesota State F Sr 29 9 7 16 0.5517 52 3 5 0 -2
Mike Louwerse Minnesota State F So 27 5 4 9 0.3333 52 1 2 0 -5

The SCSU perspective on this suspesions.

For those that haven't seen this I included the Saint Cloud times perspective on this matter. I think McLeod has a case of wishful thinking if thinks this matter is over.

This is the second league action against St. Cloud State in three weeks and the third of the season. Motzko received a league reprimand for his actions toward an official following a 6-4 loss Jan. 30 at Colorado College. And Aaron Marvin was suspended one game for a Nov. 13 hit from behind on Sioux captain Chay Genoway that ignited the situation that resurfaced Saturday.

"Unfortunately, I can't win when it comes to talking about what happened," Motzko said on his radio show Monday when talking about the Lamoureux-Marvin conflict. "We're in a position (in the standings) where we can't afford to lose anyone. All I can say is I'm really glad Aaron Marvin is going to play Friday. It gives us a better chance to win."

Lamoureux, a sophomore forward, was suspended for “violating the WCHA Code of Conduct/Sportsmanship Rules.” Late in the first period, he tried to instigate an altercation with Marvin. The two dropped their gloves and removed their helmets to fight, only the two linesmen jumped in and pinioned their arms before the could throw any punches. Each received a double-minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minute misconduct. Both later acknowledged the intention was to settle the dispute brewing since Marvin hit Genoway, causing a concussion that has kept the latter off the ice since.

“We have addressed this with both parties,” WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said Thursday. “I know Mario Lamoureux may have said he doesn’t feel that way, but we have assurances from both teams that this is something we’re putting behind us.” [SC Times]

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

The Goon and I were at last Saturday’s game in St. Cloud. Needless to say we enjoyed the game, 8 goals, a few little scuffles, and what would have been a fight, if the linesman wouldn’t have stepped in before it started. The city of SC is fun place to visit, and we enjoyed visiting with various SC fans before and after the game. I would recommend visiting SCSU for a game, if you have the chance.

The Playoff picture is starting to clear up after last week. It appears that DU, UMD, UW, and SCSU will be at home for the first round of the playoffs. It also appears that UAA, MSU-M, and MTU will be on the road. The only question is if either UND or possibly UM can catch CC for the 5th and last home ice spot. CC has to play the Gophers this weekend and the Sioux the following weekend, so both teams have a chance to take points from the Tigers.


CURRENT WCHA STANDINGS

TEAM…………………..GP….W-L-T…PTS
1 Denver….……………......22….14-4-4….32
2 St. Cloud State…..…..24….14-7-3….31
3 Minnesota-Duluth…....22….14-7-1….29
3 Wisconsin…………….....22….13-6-3….29
5 Colorado College……...22….11-8-3….25
6 North Dakota…………...22….9-10-3….21
7 Minnesota…………….....22….8-12-2….18
7 Alaska-Anchorage…...24….8-14-2….18
9 Minnesota State……...22….6-15-1….13
10 Michigan Tech……....22….4-18-0….8


WCHA
#6 Minnesota-Duluth at #11 North Dakota
Last weekend the Bulldogs were enjoying their last bye weekend and the Sioux split a series with the Huskies in St. Cloud.

Earlier this season the Bulldogs and the Sioux split in Duluth. This will also be the 4th team the Sioux will be playing after they had a bye week. The Sioux are looking to keep the momentum going after their 8-1 stomping of SCSU. UND needs to get all the points they can to try and grab the final home ice spot. UMD also wants points to try and catch the MacNaughton Cup. I would like to think that Saturday’s win will be the turning point of the season and the Sioux will now go on a tear. The Bulldogs have cooled off as of late, going 2-4-0 in their last 6 games. I’m going to with my team this weekend, SIOUX SWEEP.


#7 Colorado College at Minnesota
Last weekend the Tigers were resting up on an off weekend and the Gophers were swept by DU in Denver. (On an odd side note, this is first week in the Chinese New Year, and it is now “The Year of the Tiger”.)

The Tigers have cooled off in league play, going 3-5-0 in their last 8 WCHA games. Meanwhile the Gophers have never really heated up this season and have gone 2-5-1 in their last 8 games. The UM has a losing record (7-8-1) at home this season, which is odd, even for this version of the Gophers. The Gophers need to sweep the Tigers if they want to catch them in the standings. Being a Sioux fan, I need to cheer for the Gophers in these games (Friday at 6pm, Saturday at 3pm, odd times…) so that UND can catch up to CC. I’m going to call this my upset special of the week, heck maybe the season and I’m probably going to regret making this call. GOPHERS SWEEP.


#4 St. Cloud State at #3 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Huskies split at home with UND and the Badgers swept the Mavericks in the Kohl Center.

Back in November these teams split in St. Cloud, with each team winning 4-1. The Huskies have only lost twice since the beginning of 2010, and are 2-2-1 in their last five games. Could it be that SCSU is starting to cool off? After this weekend SCSU will only have two games left, against MSUM. So the Huskies need points to hold off UW in the standings. The Badgers also have only lost twice since the New Year, and are 5-1-0 in their last 6 games. UW is a stellar 12-2-3 at home this season, and SCSU is 9-6-0 on the road. The Badgers are leading the league in scoring, and also goal differential (they are a +32). BADGERS 3pts.


Michigan Tech at #2 Denver
Last weekend the Huskies were taking a mid-winter break and the Pioneers swept the Gophers in Denver.

Looking at the standings this match-up might happen again come March 12th. The Huskies are a pretty solid lock for the 10-spot in the league and DU has the inside track for winning the league. DU has to take it one game at a time, and not look past MTU. DU just has to play their game and they should take all the points this weekend. For the Huskies, they need to find ways to score; they are averaging just over 2 goals per game, while they surrender over 4 goals per game. In these games of worst versus first, I’m going with first. PIONEERS SWEEP.


Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota State
Last weekend the Seawolves were on their bye week and the Mavericks were swept in Wisconsin by the Badgers.

UAA still is alive for home ice, but that dream is on life support. More likely is that UAA can try and grab 7th place in the league from the Gophers and put MSUM into 9th. The Seawolves seem to have a little trend going on this season, lose Friday and win Saturday. After this weekend UAA will only have 2 league games left, so they need to get as many points as they can on this road trip. The Mavericks have quietly slipped away from my radar. The only thing they got going for them is they are ahead of Tech. I’m going call this series a SPLIT.

WCHA suspends UND's Lamoureux, SCSU's Hepp

Here is the latest update. This is turning into a debacle; Mario and Hepp will be suspended for a game stemming from last weekend's series with the SCSU Huskies. Orginally It sounded like the league originally only wanted to suspend Lamoureux but it sounds like UND sent a tape to the league office showing Chris Hepp coming off the player’s bench to engage MacWilliam. This is basically another display of stupidity from the WCHA; this ruling by the WCHA makes them look like a Kangaroo Court. If you think I am joking look it up, This ruling just confirms how most of us feel about Shepherd and McLeod, buffoonery in action. Props to our friend 60 Minutes.

Grand Forks Herald: The WCHA has suspended UND forward Mario Lamoureux and St. Cloud State forward Chriss Hepp for one game for "their actions" during Saturday night's game.

Lamoureux challenged St. Cloud State forward Aaron Marvin to a fight in the first period. Both players dropped their gloves, but no punches were thrown.

Hepp left the bench to join an altercation in the third period.

Will Mario get suspended and not Hepp or Marvin?

This was on Brad's twitter this morning. If this is true this it’s an utter joke. The message that I got from this that it's ok to leave a bench to engage in a scrum (worthy of a 10 game suspension in the NHL) but to drop the gloves and then not even fight is worthy of a 1 game suspension? This is the same length of suspension for a CFB that caused an injury to the oppostion player. Are you kidding me? Mind you the other player involved in this discussion was more than willingly, dropped his gloves and was more than willing to fight but was stopped by the refs. Said player actually dropped his gloves a little earlier than Mario.

@SchlossmanGF Word is that the WCHA is looking to suspend Lamoureux for one game, but UND is appealing. Official decision Thursday. about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck Retweeted by you and 1 other
--------------------
SchlossmanGF : @KVSCHockey Source was uncertain about Marvin or Hepp, but thought they might be OK to play this weekend. Should know Thursday afternoon. about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck

Winnipeg not outside the realm of possibilities

For those people that keep saying that the NHL won’t return to Winnipeg, you might want to return to this article from last season. There have also been discussions about moving the NHL back to Quebec City and Winnipeg.  

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has allegedly said he would rather see the Phoenix Coyotes move to Winnipeg than Hamilton, according to documents filed in the team's bankruptcy court case.

Earl Scudder, a lawyer who works for Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes, filed an affidavit Friday that said Bettman told him this last month when told there was a buyer interested in buying the team and moving it to southern Ontario.

According to The Canadian Press news agency, Bettman allegedly told Scudder that Hamilton's Copps Coliseum isn't an ideal destination because it's over 30 years old, saying "if the team did return to Canada, it would be Winnipeg," according to the filed document.

The statement went on to say the only way Bettman would allow a second NHL team in southern Ontario was through expansion.

Winnipeg lost its NHL club in 1996 when the Jets moved to Phoenix.
[Read the story here]

North Dakota Fighting Sioux Defenseman Corey Fienhage Talks to Die by the Blade

Sophomore defenseman Fighting Sioux defenseman Corey Fienhage was interviewed by Sabres Hockey Blog. I think you will find his answers interesting.

Corey Fienhage was a 3rd round draft pick (#81 overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 entry draft. Fienhage is a defenseman for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux on the WCHA. He played in only nine games as a freshman but this season, his sophomore campaign, he has played in 21 games and has become a regular on the Sioux blueline.

Fienhage fits the profile of a fan favorite in Buffalo. He is a big body defenseman (6'3" - 215 lbs.) that isn't afraid to play a physical style. I had an opportunity to catch up with him this week and talk about his season and his future in the Sabres organization.

Diebytheblade: Let's begin by talking about this season at North Dakota. It has been kind of an up and down season for the team. Why do you think the team as been so inconsistent?

Corey Fienhage: We are playing really well now. We lost our captain early on in the season and it was tough to get going without him. At first goals were tough to come by but now we are scoring goals and it's all about the effort now.

Diebytheblade: Tell me about playing in the WCHA. It seems there is never an easy weekend in that conference. Does it ever get overwhelming knowing that every weekend you are playing against a top 10 team?

Corey Fienhage: The mentality is that we are going to win every game. It is a tough conference but that is what is exciting about it.

Diebytheblade:Do you think playing a difficult regular season schedule helps the team in the long run and when you play out of conference games?

Corey Fienhage: The East Coast teams are pretty good as well. Playing in the WCHA is a lot of fun but there are good teams in the east as well.

Diebytheblade:You chose to take the NCAA route by attending North Dakota. Was NCAA hockey always your first choice or did you consider playing Canadian major junior hockey?

Corey Fienhage: That was always what I wanted to do. I first started playing hockey in Alabama because I lived in Tennessee. Since I moved to Minnesota and started playing high school hockey, I wanted to play NCAA and I wanted to play in the WCHA. [Die By the Blade]

Little room for error.

Bruce Ciskie the radio voice of the UMD Bulldogs kind of lays out a scenario that shows how little room for error the Fighting Sioux hockey team has the rest of the way forward. The UND Fighting Sioux need a sweep this weekend and three out of four points next weekend to gain home ice. It doesn't look like UND is going to catch the Bulldogs unless they go on a late season swoon.

Heading into this weekend's two-game series at North Dakota, the Bulldogs have an eight-point lead over the sixth-place Fighting Sioux. Each team has six league games left, for a total of 12 available points.

That means UMD's "magic number" for home-ice advantage in the WCHA playoffs is six points. Any combination of six points accumulated by UMD or lost by North Dakota will give the Bulldogs a coveted home-ice position.

This could happen this weekend. UMD getting a win and a tie in Grand Forks would give them a ten-point lead on the Sioux with four games to go. It would be impossible for North Dakota to catch UMD, as they could only pick up eight points over the rest of the season.

If the Bulldogs just get a split, they would only need one win or two ties in their last four games to clinch home ice.

It's not time to buy your playoff tickets yet, UMD fans, but we're getting real close [Ciske Blog]

Thrasher to Winnipeg?

If an NHL franchise relocated to Winnipeg this would be a dream come true for me, NHL Hockey 150 miles from Grand Fork, ND. I knew there was a reason that I applied for my passport and passport card this past winter so I can go to Winnipeg and watch the Jets play hockey in the Peg again. I know, I know, it’s not close to being done but it keeps getting thrown around every once in a while, so I figure eventually something will stick. I have been holding out hope since the Jets left Winnipeg that they would someday return to Winnipeg, Manitoba. This was also discussed on the Pipe Line Show as well.

A group based in Toronto is looking at purchasing the NHL's struggling Atlanta Thrashers and moving them to Winnipeg, according to a Hockey Night in Canada analyst.

Despite the report, local shinny fans hoping for the return of the National Hockey League shouldn't start budgeting for season tickets just yet. Don Waddell, executive vice-president and general manager of the Thrashers, called the reports "completely false", according to the team's website co-ordinator.

Al Strachan, an analyst on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, said during the show's Hot Stove segment that a group of wealthy individuals in Toronto are interested in buying the team and moving it to Winnipeg to play at the downtown MTS Centre.

"There's still a lot of work to be done, but there's a lot of work that has been done already," he said during the broadcast.

MTS Centre is home to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose. A spokesman for Moose governor and True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman declined comment on the report.

Strachan said the Toronto group has a lot of money and is willing to follow the "proper channels" in buying and moving an NHL team.

Canadian Jim Balsillie recently failed in a bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes and move the NHL team to southern Ontario. The BlackBerry billionaire -- who has tried unsuccessfully to acquire three NHL teams -- has been accused of circumventing league rules and procedures for buying and moving a team. [Winnipeg Sun]

WCHA Officiating is a Joke!

Cross Posted from Say Anything Blog.



Last November Goon wrote an article about the dirty hit that injured the Fighting Sioux Captain Chay Genoway. Genoway got a concussion in the dirtiest hit I've ever seen in person and is still unable to even practice with the team.

Aaron Marvin, the player that delivered the hit wasn't even originally leveled with a penalty. Only during the period break was he assessed a game misconduct that's supposed to be automatic for an hit from behind. Before the Saturday night game against the Sioux the league gave him a paltry one game suspension for a hit that has probably ended the season and maybe the career of a player picked as a preseason favorite for All American.

This last weekend the Sioux played against the perpetrator of this cheapshot when we traveled to St. Cloud Minnesota. We lost by one goal on Friday night in a game that Marvin delivered an high stick to one of the Sioux players head.

On Saturday night we blew the Huskies out of their building with a 8 to 1 victory. In this game Marvin, the dirtiest player in the league attempted to run another player's head into the boards.



Fortunately the Sioux player felt him coming and braced himself for the hit. Instead of the Sioux player perhaps being injured, Marvin wound up getting dumped.

NCAA rules are very strict on hits from behind (the reason being in the link to Goon's post I already mentioned.) The officials aren't to have any discretion on how they call these infractions. This is what the rules say:

Hitting From Behind
SECTION 23. a. A player shall not push, charge, cross-check or body check an opponent from behind in open ice.
PENALTY—Minor or major at the discretion of the referee.

and

b. Hitting from behind into the side boards, end boards or goal cage is a flagrant violation.
RULE 6 / PLAYING RULES HR-73
PENALTY—Major and game misconduct or disqualification at the discretion of the referee.
Note: The committee reminds coaches and players that the responsibility remains with the player approaching an opponent along the boards in this rule. While players turning to draw penalties are a concern, the positive change in behavior the committee observed outweighs this issue. Any penalty in relation to this rule along the boards or into the goal cage must be a major penalty and a game misconduct or disqualification.

So obviously Marvin, the dirtiest player in the league, should have been penalized. No, the officials on the ice assessed a two minute elbowing penalty against the Sioux player. I challenge you to look at the video again. While Blood did raise his elbow in the process of bracing himself for the dirty hit, Marvin hit Blood with his shoulder between Blood's shoulder blades. Can someone PLEASE explain how you can deliver an elbow to someone in that position?

We have the dirtiest player in the league, delivering another intent to injure penalty and the official calls a penalty on the other guy. I doubt that the officials on the ice will be disciplined for their incompetence. WCHA leadership fully endorses incompetence and in this case the senior referee is the son of the head of officials.

I guess since it was a blowout we can laugh about it.

While we have the best college hockey teams in the country, the WCHA leadership and on-ice officials are a joke.

Thanks to the contributors at Sioux Sports for providing the links to the video and the text of the NCAA rulebook.

Troy Brouwer vs Anton Stralman (Stralman hit on Kane)

Holy Cow! I think Stralman actually caught Kane in the cup with his knee. If you watch the video at the end, that's what it looks like to me. Also, you can see Kane smiling at 38 seconds into the video. Another fight for a legal hit.

Poll Monday Sioux remain 11th

USCHO/CBS COLLEGE SPORTS POLL
Team (First Place) Record Pts PR
[02-15-2010]
1. Miami (45) 22-4-6 995 1
2. Denver (5) 20-6-4 954 2
3. Wisconsin 18-7-4 899 3
4. St. Cloud State 19-9-4 797 4
5. Yale 16-6-3 778 6
6. Minnesota Duluth 18-11-1 674 7
7. Colorado College 17-10-3 648 9
8. Boston College 17-9-2 644 10
9. Bemidji State 19-7-2 643 5
10. Cornell 14-7-3 577 8
11. North Dakota 14-11-5 496 11
12. Michigan State 17-10-5 475 13
13. New Hampshire 14-10-4 429 15
14. Ferris State 18-10-4 347 14
15. Maine 14-11-3 265 12
16. Union 16-8-6 230 16
17. Vermont 13-10-5 156 17
18. Massachusetts 16-13-0 105 18
19. Boston University 13-12-3 98 NR
20. Alaska 12-9-9 68 NR

Others Receiving Votes: Mass.-Lowell 57, Nebraska-Omaha 46, Northern Michigan 36, Northeastern 28, Michigan 22, RIT 21, Rensselaer 7, Sacred Heart 4, St. Lawrence 1.

USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAGAZINE POLL
Team (First Place) Record Pts PR
[02-15-2010]
1. Miami (32) 22-4-6 508 1
2. Denver (2) 20-6-4 478 2
3. Wisconsin 18-7-4 441 3
4. St. Cloud State 19-9-4 379 4
5. Yale 16-6-3 369 7
6. Minnesota Duluth 18-11-1 297 8
7. Bemidji State 19-7-2 281 5
8. Colorado College 17-10-3 273 9
9. Boston College 17-9-2 262 10
10. Cornell 14-7-3 231 6
11. North Dakota 14-11-5 162 11
12. Michigan State 17-10-5 140 14
13. New Hampshire 14-10-4 123 15
14. Ferris State 18-10-4 56 13
15. Maine 14-11-3 29 12

Others Receiving Votes: Union 14, Vermont 13, Massachusetts 10, Nebraska-Omaha 8, Boston University 3, RIT 3.

Mac and Hepp (Suspension coming?)

If you watch the video you will see that the Huskies player Chris Hepp clearly came off of the SCSU player’s bench to engage Andrew MacWilliam. It will be interesting to see if Greg Shepherd has the stones to suspend Hepp. If this was the NHL Chris Hepp would be getting a lengthy ten game suspension for leaving the bench to engage in an altercation.

70.10 Fines and Suspensions – The first player or goalkeeper to leave the
players’ or penalty bench during an altercation or for the purpose of
starting an altercation from either or both teams shall be suspended
automatically without pay for the next ten (10) regular League and/or
Play-off games of his team.

The NCAA rule book isn't very specific in this regard but it appears that Hepp should have been given a game disqualificaton (page 79)for leaving the players bench.

f. A player may not leave the players’ bench or penalty bench at any time during an altercation. Substitutions made before the altercation shall be permitted provided the players substituting do not enter the altercation. For purposes of this rule, an altercation is considered to be concluded when the referee enters the referee’s crease or, in the absence of penalties, signals a faceoff location.
PENALTY—Disqualification.

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings to give you something to look at on Monday morning. Yep we are to believe that Yale is the 4th best team in the country? I dont' think so, I would love to see my favorite team play them in the first round of the NCAA tourney. Breaking down the special teams play this past weekend; UND went 1-3 on power play on [Friday night] and 4/7 on [Saturday night] UND also had a short handed goal on Saturday so 5/8 goals scored were on special teams on Saturday night.

1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Wisconsin
4. Yale
5. St. Cloud State
6. Colorado College
7. Cornell
8. Michigan State
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. North Dakota 1 The Fighting Sioux power play, which had failed to score in each of its last 32 man-advantage opportunities entering last weekend’s series at St. Cloud State, connected five times in 10 chances against the Huskies. 14-11-5 (9-10-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK: L at St. Cloud State, 4-3; W at St. Cloud State, 8-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota Duluth, vs. Minnesota Duluth
11. Boston College
12. Bemidji State
13. Union
14. Ferris State
15. Maine
16. New Hampshire
17. Nebraska-Omaha
18. Rensselaer
19. Boston University
20. Northern Michigan
Dropped out: St. Lawrence, Michigan, Massachusetts
Bubble-licious: Alaska, Northeastern, RIT, St. Lawrence

Sunday evening rewind; still grinning from ear to ear.

The Fighting Sioux ran the Huskies out of their own building last night and it was your basic old fashion ass whooping. The UND Fighting Sioux looked like angry, caged wild animal and they need to keep playing like that if they want to be successful the rest of the way. I was proud to see old time Fighting Sioux hockey return, I hope we hear more complaints about the big mean Sioux. I am smiling from ear to ear and you would have to surgically remove my smile.

I can bet that no one sitting above UND in the standings really wants anything to do with UND right now. After outplaying many opponents over the course of the schedule where the Sioux went an unimpressive 1-5-1 last night the goals started going in. Also, the Sioux power play went an impressive 5/7 last night after going something like 0-34. The UND Fighting Sioux with its explosive night on the power play moved up to 8th nationally on the power play.

The Donnny Brook that wasn't

First off I have to give Marvin credit he answered the bell and the refs broke up the fight before they could settle this like men. In my opinion at least Aaron Marvin has more honor that Geoff Paukovich. I would say that Aaron Marvin understands the hockey code better than his coach does, at least Marvin knows how to man up.

The thing if the refs let the two guys fight they settle right there and it’s over. Since they stepped in and broke up the fight this is going to feaster into the next season. I don’t think it’s going to be over by any stretch of the imagination. These things will work themselves out eventually, I don't think anything will happen this season again because the two teams don't play again if they meet it will be in the playoffs victory will be the ultimate goal. They have four meetings to settle this next season, I am not going to worry about it any more this season.

Marvin, a marked man since his check from behind last November gave Genoway a concussion, found his team down 4-0 by the time he stepped out of the box.

"I don't think it's fully done," Lamoureux said of the Sioux feud for Marvin — who did not go through the handshake line after the game.
"I think (Marvin) knew there would be some type of altercation this weekend. He was willing to drop the gloves and he manned up, which is good to see.

"I try not to think about it too much. Hopefully this was just a good positive for our team." [SC Times]

I really am not a fan of Bob Motzko he basically is cut from the same mode at Donny Lucia, whenever something doesn’t goes the Huskies way he always sounds like a winny pretty boy prima Donna. Motzko’s teams don’t have a lot of grit and he doesn’t like the rough games and his team had their asses handed to them this weekend. If I was Wisconsin I would play them the same way next weekend. I would be willing to bet that the Sioux coaching staff didn’t send Bob Motzko a Valentines’ Day card this year. Compare and contrast you won't hear Hakstol talking down the opposition like this.

Zajac drew a slashing major on Garrett Roe, which precipitated a litany of other scraps late in the third.
Zajac said it all might not have happened if the referees would've let Lamoureux and Marvin go.

"It's frustrating because if they would've let it happen, it would be settled now," Zajac said.

"Now it's just going to escalate and you get worse and worse things happening. It's part of the game of hockey.
"We're grown men. We know what to do. We know how the game is played. They should've let it go."

The Huskies expect the issue will linger.

"(The Sioux) will have it go until it dies," Motzko said.
"I wish Aaron Marvin wouldn't have dropped his gloves. We have no business getting involved with that right now. We needed to play hockey and we stopped that. They got us off our focus." [SC Times]

If I was coach Hakstol I would post those comments up on the black board in the locker room next time the two teams play. I would use that as a motivation. Here is why I say that, if UND plays SCSU again this season the Huskies are going to be looking over their shoulder all game because they know the hits are coming, the fore-check and pressure is coming. Every time Roe, Lasch and Marvin step onto the ice they are getting hit, because the Roe and Lasch do not like to be hit.

Sioux 8, St Cloud 1

Goon was at the game tonight so he asked me to cover the game for him.

I couldn't turn down my first chance to be a real sports reporter so here goes.

Vandevelde
Zajac
Lapointe
Marto
Knight
Kristo
Frattin
Frattin

The Sioux also benefited from two goals ruled no goal for St Cloud. One was kicked in for sure. We haven't gotten those breaks this year either.

This sports columnist stuff isn't hard.

The Sioux have been playing some good hockey but haven't been rewarded for it. Finally the pucks were going into the net.

Last night they did everything they needed to win, except get the puck by the goalie. Tonight we played the same kind of game, rough, physical, and fast.

Let's not forget that St Cloud is an excellent hockey team. They're number four in the power rankings. We outplayed them seriously for the weekend.

This team has the potential to score a lot of goals. For some reason we haven't seen it since Genoway was injured. Hopefully the team can use this as a confidence builder for next weekend against Duluth.

It doesn't look like we're going to get a very high standing going into the playoffs. I'm pretty sure that nobody's going to feel good about playing us because we can take down anyone.

First Season Award Winner Given Out (Redwing77)

I know what you are thinking. Wait... Shouldn't awards be given out AFTER the season? Well, this one's in the bag. Much like Sidney Crosby winning NHL Network's Most Orgasmic Player award (given to the player that NHL Network Analysts soil their pants with glee over the most in a given season), this one is in the bag.

The Men's Freestyle Diving Competition - Frozen Water Bracket Award, known as the Robbie Earl Award for Excellence, goes out to SCSU's own Garrett Roe. We couldn't reach him or any SCSU officials for comment, but we dramatized what the interview would be like. [DISCLAIMER: The interview you are about to read IS A HOAX. It did not occur, it never was meant to occur. Like the Award, any semblence to an actual quote by anyone cited in this article is purely coincidental]

GW: So, Garrett, what's it like to be the first recipient of the Robbie Earl Award?

GR: Aw man, it's just amazing. WOOP!

GW: Sorry about that. Are you alright? You fell off the chair. I'd best close the door. It is a bit drafty in here.

GR: I'm alright, thanks. Winning this award is like a dream come true. I remember seeing Robbie Earl when he played for Wisconsin. He really skated hard and knew how to make the opposing players think they killed him at the slightest touch.

GW: Don't you think that this sort of thing is well.... unethical? Perhaps even cheap?

GR: Hey, if it was, wouldn't my penalty minutes increase whenever I do it?

GW: Good point. I'll have to have my researchers look into the last time a Diving penalty was called independently from an off-setting penalty.

GR: Wait a minute... Diving is illegal?

GW: I'll have to look into that too. I thought I saw an NCAA Crackdown about that a year or two back... Well, according to Greg Shepherd, those aren't necessary. Diving, like Obstruction, known to us as "clutch and grab hockey," is now a thing of the past. Do you ever see clutch and grab?

GR: Grabbing me? No one has ever prevented me from hitting the ice since I was first learning how to skate! It would prevent me from... uh... well... anyways, I'd like to thank my parents, coaches, SCSU and all the students, and SCSU fans in general for their love and support! I can't imagine what it would be like without them.

GW: Prevent you from what?

GR: This is one of the most cherished awards I've recieved since I won the most valentines in my 4th grade class.

GW: Yeah, well, nice. Well, that's all the time we have today. Thank you so very much for taking time out of your practice to chat with us. We'll look forward to 2012 when you can try out for your country's Olympic Diving team!

GR: Thanks for having me!

Sioux 3 - SCSU 4

This is going to be very brief, I am heading down to Fargo and over to Sterns County tomorrow. I am going to game at the Concrete Center tomorrow night. Same story as the last 6 games, UND raced up and down the ice and put a ton of rubber on SCSU.

This is the story of the Fighting Sioux season, can't finish, they out play another opponent and our shaky goaltender lets in a couple of very weak, questionable, brutal goals. UND has no room for error not they can probably only lose one or two more goals max. The Huskies took advantage of their opportunities and you did not. Time to play for with some Fighting Sioux pride. Time to play for the logo on the front of the jersey and not the name on the back...


On Notice

*Brad Eidsness you need to let in one less goal a game. You're play has been suspect and brutal (that's putting it nicely) all season long, time to take a look in the mirror and look at that logo on your jersey. The team needs you to make saves at key times in games and you can't seem to do it.

*Evan Trupp You have been invisible in the second half of the season. Time to pick it up you're a talented player, please start burring the puck.

*Matt Frattin time to score and finish.

*David Toews Mia, no goals in 20 games. You've had one point in 20 games, maybe it's time for the coach to put
you on the bench. You're not producing or even making plays.

Lastly there is one positive I don't have to listen to the brutal SCSU hockey broadcast tomorrow. I am telling you that comparing student run television broadcasts UAA and BSU blow you out of the water.