Redwing77's NCAA Outlook

I'm sitting here watching the NCAA Selection show and it looks like our bracket might've gotten a bit easier.

We play YALE in the opening round. BC opens with Alaska Fairbanks. We play at 5pm EST (they say ESPN360.com, but I'm not sure about webcast etc.).

I think this outlook is much better than the USCHO final bracketology, which had us either playing Michigan or New Hampshire in the opening round.

Once again, we play BC, a team that has had our number as of late. And, once again, BC will be our toughest foe.

Yeah, I'm looking past Yale. I really don't think they're as good as their record indicates. I really don't think they're playing well enough coming into the playoffs to hang with the Sioux. It's not going to be a blowout, but if the Sioux continue playing the way they have coming into the playoffs, we should face off against BC.

Barry "Eastern Bias" Melrose and Sean "Can't remember his last name" both have UND making the Frozen Four and both of them have us losing to Miami. I'd like to think there's a good chance that they are right on about the Frozen Four prediction. Miami's track is simply amazingly easy any way you cut it. Michigan is the only team at their bracket that could give them trouble.


Let's use their analysis and predictions:

Barry loves Cornell. Sean loves Wisconsin. I love neither team. If it comes down to a battle of goaltenders, then Barry is right. Cornell wins. Scrivens is far superior to Bennett and Gudmanson of UW. I think Scrivens is the best goaltender in that predicted Frozen Four lineup.

If it comes down to offense, then UND and UW hold the key to the NC. And if it comes down to simple team D, then it's a toss up as I think all four of those teams have solid Team D. I guess I'd have to give the slight edge to UW as their DCorps is amazing.

But yeah, what I'd like to see is Cornell laying an egg against DU. Then it is Miami, DU, UW, and UND in the Frozen Four. Melrose is distraught and ESPN ponders throwing in a quick coverage of the 2008 World Series of Poker replay during the ensuing WCHA vs WCHA matchup (not sure which two would face off against each other).

Is UND a shoe in, like they say for the Frozen Four? No. They're only one bad game or bad shift away from the end of their season. BC definitely has the ability to do it. Who really knows.

FYI - Barry Melrose shows his true colors by calling Dane Jackson the "best assistant in college hockey." Now, I know my green colored glasses should make this a bragging point, but my realist stance says "hello bias." You see, Jackson was the coach for a team owned by Barry Melrose at one point. I believe it was a UHL team. I'm not saying Jackson is terrible, but I'm not sure if that accolade is entirely accurate either.

MacNaughton Anchor

Here is are some interesting historical facts about the last three teams to win the MacNaughton Cup. That is why some refer to it as the MacNaughton Anchor.

Curse of the Cup.

WCHA regular-season champion DU is the third straight MacNaughton Cup winner to go 0-2 at the Final Five.

North Dakota won the Cup last season before losing in the semifinals and consolation game. Colorado College began the trend in 2008.

The Sioux and Tigers both failed to win their ensuing NCAA regional.
[Denver Post]

UND 5 - SCSU 3 (up dated links)

If you would have asked me at the end of January after the Sioux were swept by the Denver Pioneers if the Sioux would win the Broadmoor Thropy, I would have called you crazy. The Sioux have come full circle and tonight they are the WCHA Final Five champions, winners of the new Broadmoor Trophy.

3-0 at the Final Five

The Fighting Sioux are only the second team to win the Broadmoor Trophy from the Thursday night play in game (UMD was the first in 2009). This is also the last time the Final Five will be in its current form as the WCHA will expand to 12 teams (BSU and UNO) and the WCHA Final Five will have two play in games on Thursday next season. The Sioux are on a roll and have gone an impressive 12-2 since being swept by the Pioneers at the end of January. The Sioux will now wait to see where they play in next weekend’s NCAA hockey toruney.

There are the teams that more than likely are in the NCAA tourney.

AHA (1)

RIT (Conference Champ)

CCHA (4)

Alaska Fairbanks
Miami
Michigan (Conference Champ)
Northern Michigan

CHA (2)

Bemidji
Huntsville (Conference Champ)

ECAC (2)

Cornell (Conference Champ)
Yale

HE (3)

BC (Conference Champ)
New Hampshire
Vermont

WCHA

North Dakota
Denver University
Wisconsin
Saint Cloud

Links to the Story:

USCHO; MVP Trupp, North Dakota Battle Back for WCHA Title

Pucks and Bats; Find a silver lining? What silver lining! (Will it be Michigan again?)

Saint Cloud Times; WCHA Final Five: No. 1 seed eludes SCSU

Saint Cloud Times; Strong start, disappointing finish for Huskies

Grand Forks Herald; MEN'S HOCKEY: Slow start, fast finish for Sioux

Virg Foss: An open letter to a few hockey leaders

Former UND beat writer Virg Foss had this zinger for Bruce McLeod in today's Grand Forks Herald. I agree with Foss it's time for a change in league leadership. I do believe the members schools need to look at a house cleaning at the top in the WCHA starting with McLeod and Shepherd.

Dear Bruce McLeod:

College hockey isn’t a child’s game, where you make up rules as you go. Yet that’s how you continue to operate in your role as commissioner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

I perhaps can buy the 5-minute major given to North Dakota’s Matt Frattin for charging for his hit on Minnesota’s Kevin Wehrs recently.

But for you to step in and add a one-game suspension makes no sense. Frattin didn’t leave his feet in making the hit, and didn’t bring his arms up to initiate contact to the head.

Earlier, you gave UND’s Mario Lamoureux a one-game suspension for dropping his gloves and challenging St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin to a fight, though none took place.

In the aftermath of Frattin’s hit, looks to me from the video replay that Gopher defenseman Seth Helgeson has his gloves off in his effort to get after Frattin.

So once again your seat-of-the-pants rulings have no consistency or much logic, either.

That so many calls or non-calls by league referees are changed by the league office after the fact highlights my view that league officiating overall isn’t very good or very consistent in the first place.

I sense a growing feeling that a change in league leadership is needed — and soon. [Grand Forks Herald]

Wisconsin's Cody Goloubef suspended for one game

Bruce McLeod’s WCHA wheel of justice has doled out a one game suspension to Wisconsin's Cody Goloubef for his hit on St. Cloud State center Nick Oslund during yesterday’s game between Wisconsin and St. Cloud. When I saw this hit I had a feeling that it was going to cost Goloubef a one game suspension.

The UW men's hockey team will have a decidedly different look Saturday when it faces top-ranked Denver in the WCHA Final Five consolation game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

One change was forced on the Badgers when the league suspended junior defenseman Cody Goloubef for a game. He was assessed a major penalty Friday for his open-ice hit on St. Cloud State center Nick Oslund in the second period.

The shoulder-to-head check from the blindside has become a source of concern in the NCAA as well as the NHL. The WCHA recently suspended St. Cloud State center Aaron Marvin for three games for a similar hit that sidelined UW senior center Blake Geoffrion for two games with a concussion.

Marvin's suspension was longer in part because he was involved in a checking-from-behind incident earlier this season in which North Dakota defenseman Chay Genoway suffered a severe concussion.

After the Badgers dropped a 2-0 decision to St. Cloud State in the Final Five semifinals Friday, Huskies coach Bob Motzko said the in-game penalty against Goloubef was appropriate and that no further action was necessary.
[Madison.com]

Links to the Story

UND Hockey Blog; WCHA suspends Goloubef

Saturday morning pontifications; smiling from ear to ear...

I told someone that the UND's luck was going to change against Denver University and it did, it's hard to go 5-0 against a team, especially when both of them are good teams. Marc Cheverie is a good goaltender but the Sioux lit him up last night. Yes, I am smiling from ear to ear this morning.

I have heard this quote a few times this week at the Final Five, that fourth line player kills penalties and is a good defensive forward. Just for the record Aaron Marvin (5g-14a-19pts) and Mario Lamoureux has (7g-5a-12pts), that fourth line player has more goals than mister suspension.

When the series returned to the National Hockey Center last month, the Huskies beat the Sioux 4-3. The next night, UND blasted SCSU 8-1 and Sioux forward Mario Lamoureux, a fourth-liner, challenged Marvin to a fight. Lamoureux subsequently drew a one-game suspension for instigating the incident. That win for North Dakota started an 11-1-0 string heading into tonight's matchup. [Pucks and Bats]

Garrett Roe who was injuried in yesterday's game is questionable and a game time decision.

Larry Roe said his son will be re-evaluated today. Incredibly, Garrett Roe hasn't ruled out playing in today's championship, though it sounds like that might be a long shot.
"His neck is very sore and stiff," Larry Roe said. "I won't be surprised if Garrett does whatever he can to convince them to let him play, but I don't know if it's a good idea. The doctors (initially) were concerned there could be something that would crop up later on. When you have an injury like that, they worry about bleeding on the brain."
[SC Times]

The MacNaughton Anchor? Two of the last three teams (C.C. and UND) to win the the MacNaughton Cup lost their last three games of the season.

• The last three MacNaughton Cup champs are now a combined 0-5 in the Final Five, after ‘08 champs Colorado College and ‘09 champs North Dakota lost twice, and Denver lost on Friday. [INCH]

Sioux 4, Pioneers 2 and SCS-EWWWWWW

Yet again the Sioux come out and take care of business, and this time they do it against a team that completely and totally owned them all season long until this point.

How much can be taken for this game? If there was ANY value to this game, most of it would lie in UND's side. DU was in the tourney. I can't find a way for them to drop lower than #3 (to be safe) in the PWR. There is no reason to really try outside of trying for the trifecta (McNaughton, Broadmoor, and National Title). UND is still in the tourney regardless and really only has two things to play for: The Broadmoor Trophy and a #1 seed in the tourney.

Nevertheless, the Sioux never trailed in this game. They went up 1-0 on Chris Vandevelde's rebound shot (initial shot made by Corbin Knight). They then went up 2-0 when Redwing77 Player of the Game Evan Trupp made a wicked one timer past Cheverie (thanks to an even more wicked pass by Frattin).

DU got within 1 when DU Dman Donovan basically skates a marathon, tiring out the UND players and buried a shot past Eidsness.

Trupp then scored the game winner on another one timer on the powerplay. UND would add another goal by Brad Malone (a thing of beauty) shorthanded thanks to again, RW77 POG Evan Trupp stealing the puck from Wiercioch and passing it back to Malone. And Knowlton of DU got a meaningless goal with 37 seconds left in the game to make it look good.

UND has now scored five short handed goals in the past 11 games. Impressive.

My three stars:

First Star (and Player of the Game): Evan Trupp
Second Star: Brad Malone (1g 1a)
Third Star: Matt Frattin (2a)

Honorable Mentions: Corbin Knight, Chris Vandevelde, Brad Eidsness

The officiating was, for the most part, meh. This is a big improvement over the whole deal as of late, but it still featured one bogus call. The haters loved it though, as it is one their favorite guy (they love him when he has a good game but they hate him if he makes a single mistake) Ben Blood.

What's Up Next

We're off to try for the Broadmoor against SCSU. The questions I have are:

1. How will UND approach Aaron Marvin in this game?
2. SCSU will be playing to win. If they do, there's a very good chance they'll leapfrog UND in the PWR rankings and become a #1 seed.
3. Who will start in net for the Huskies?
4. Will anyone be able to stop Evan Trupp or will they only hope to contain him?
5. Will the officials let UND play physical?
6. Will newly inaugurated Men's Freestyle Diving - Frozen Water Division Champion (screw this, I'm calling it the Robbie Earl Memorial Trophy from now on!) Garrett Roe put UND on the perpetual penalty kill?

I hope we play smart and let Marvin lie (hit him as hard as we can get away with provided it is legal would be best for me). We can't go on the powerplay.

We need to rest up because Roe WILL dive and we WILL go to the box for it. Oh, and Ben Blood, stay away from Roe because it is obvious the WCHA would see Roe diving with you near him as a double whammy!

Shawn Thornton beat down on Matt Cooke

This was the much anticipated beat down of Penguins thug Matt Cooke. I also think that this is not enough. Eventually I think the Bruins will come to collect on the Bill again.

Friday morning - pontifications

This goal by Evan Trupp is a thing of beauty, good effort by Kristo to get the shot on net and to get his feet moving and a nice shot on net inside the dot at the back door, game over Dogs heading back up I-35...

The last big bounce came with 2:00 to go when junior Evan Trupp broke a 20-game goalless streak, corralling a Danny Kristo shot that ricocheted off the endboards and firing it into an open net past a sprawling Reiter to round out the scoring. [CHN.COM]

Chris VandeVelde had another good night on the score sheet as he assisted on both Sioux goals. VandeVelde has 9 multiple point games and leads the Sioux with (14g-24a-38pts) in 39 games.

Brad Eidsness and the Fighting Sioux defense have been air tight (ranked third in the nation with 2.05 GAA) and have gone on an impressive 10-2 run over the last twelve games. Breaking it down further; during that run the Sioux have only given up four or more goals twice (2 losses), during those ten wins the Sioux have given up 12 goals.

Jason Gregoire got his 20th goal of the season last night.

UND has gotten balanced scoring from all of their players and they have three players with 30+ points, four players with 20+ points and there are 15 on the Sioux roster with at least 10 or more points.

Sioux 2 Dogs 0

The Fighting Sioux gutted out a 2-0 win against the UMD Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were fighting for their NCAA playoff life and needed to probably win to make the NCAA tourney, it would appear with tonight's loss their season could be over, they are sitting 14th in the pairwise rankings.

In Eids we trust

The game was a goaltending battle for the first two periods as Brad Eidness got his second shutout in four games and fourth of his career. The Sioux score another short handed goal to break a 0-0 tie. Tomorrow night the Sioux get the DU Pioneers who went 4-0 during the regular season against the Sioux.

[Box Score]

Anaheim's Wisniewski gets gonged (REDWING77)

Anaheim Defenseman, James Wiesnewski will sit out 8 games and forfeit over $200,000 in salary for the ridiculously stupid hit on Blackhawks defenseman Keith Seabrook.

Listening to his interview on NHL Network I have to say I'm impressed. He said "I wasn't trying to injure him. We were roommates at one point blah blah blah." He tried to sound sincere and perhaps he was. However, he's a repeat offender... wait... that's sounding more and more like COOKE.

Earlier this year he tried to be an NFL linebacker against Dallas' Morrow, a nice cross check to the mouth of a Red Wings player I can't recall... and I think there was one other.

Bettman says it is completely different. Cooke cheapshotted and blindsided a player who was around the puck and Wisnewski did not blindside Seabrook but took a flying cheapshot at him instead in clear retaliation. Oh yeah, Cooke wanted to "make his presence known." Both acts are reprehensible and both warranted suspension. So, yeah, Bettman is mostly right.

The Anaheim coach complained that it was too lengthy. Nope. He complains that Wisniewski was an easy target. Gee, coach, why is that? Campbell and his goons didn't throw a dart at the Ducks roster and say, "YES! Give that man an 8 game suspension!" He made a stupid hit and everyone in the world is rightfully blasting Campbell and Bettman that the league is starting to make the right decision.... Good decisions under duress... Wait a minute... I'm talking about the WCHA again, aren't I?

Who cares. 8 games is about right and about the same time Cooke should have been sitting.

So, justice is served....sorta. Booth and Savard are sitting at home going "WHAT THE ****!!"

LINK

2009-10 WCHA Award Winners

Here are the WCHA awards for the 2009-2010 season. I think it's an honor that Chay Genoway has played in 9 games this season and still makes the third team WCHA. Funny you don't see one UMN Golden Gophers on any of the teams.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - North Dakota freshman forward Danny Kristo was named the 2009-10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Year this afternoon at the league's annual awards banquet. UND sophomore goalie Brad Eidsness was named to the All-WCHA second team and senior defenseman Chay Genoway was named to the All-WCHA third team.

Major awards

Player of the year -- Marc Cheverie, G, Denver
Rookie of the year -- Danny Kristo, F, UND
Coach of the year -- George Gwozdecky, Denver
Defensive player of the year -- Brendan Smith, Wisconsin
Student-athlete of the year -- Eli Vlaisavljevich, Michigan Tech

First team

F -- Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin
F -- Rhett Rakhshani, Denver
F -- Jack Connolly, Duluth
D -- Brendan Smith, Wisconsin
D -- Patrick Wiercioch, Denver
G -- Marc Cheverie, Denver

Second team

F -- Justin Fontaine, Duluth
F -- Ryan Lasch, St. Cloud State
F -- Tyler Ruegsegger, Denver
D -- Ryan McDonagh, Wisconsin
D -- Nate Prosser, Colorado College
G -- Brad Eidsness, UND

Third team

F -- Michael Davies, Wisconsin
F -- Joe Colborne, Denver
F -- Garrett Roe, St. Cloud State
D -- Chay Genoway, UND
D -- Garrett Raboin, St. Cloud State
G -- Dan Dunn, St. Cloud State

Rookie team

F -- Danny Kristo, UND
F -- Craig Smith, Wisconsin
F -- Rylan Schwartz, Colorado College
D -- Matt Donovan, Denver
D -- Justin Schultz, Wisconsin
G -- Joe Howe, Colorado College

Wisnewski To Test the Matt Cooke Rule

Sorry, I don't have the Youtube Link because it just happened...(Goon must be busy so I added the video for him. TW)



Anaheim's Wisnewski (sp?) just decided to take the Colin Campbell's Matt Cooke exception to the test tonight. Seabrook absolutely leveled Cory Perry earlier in the period and Wisnewski went after him.

If you want to see what Frattin's hit would have looked like if Wehrs was nowhere near the puck and Frattin did imitate Superman, check out this hit. Seabrook was in the corner about to turn up ice with his teammate when Wisnewski came out of nowhere, left his skates, and drove his shoulder into Seabrook's jaw. The back of Seabrook's head hit the glass hard. His helmet was askew atop his head and the whole of Seabrook's forehead was exposed. Lucky for him, he fell to the ice backwards. Also lucky is that his head fell on the boards, so the friction caused his shoulders or base of his neck to hit the ice first. DEFINITELY a bad hit.

Seabrook left the game with an "upper body injury" which I'll amateurly call something known as a CONCUSSION.

The NHL refs pulled a Don Adam and gave him a 2 minute Charging minor, where Wisnewski should have been leveled AT LEAST a 5 minute charging MAJOR.

That's ok, though. These types of hits are happening more and more and the refs are doing less and less. So, Campbell is going to feel a little heat.

But mark my words: WISNEWSKI WILL NOT BE SUSPENDED. If he is, then Booth, Savard, and Campbell will swear at the top of their lungs.

Ok, this hit was not a blind sided hit, but it was SUPER dangerous.

It goes to reason that someone is going to get hurt. BADLY.

In good news, Greg Shepherd is now a flight risk to advise the NHL on matters of illegal hits because they've got Shepherd's system down pat.

Schroeder bails on Minnesota

Well that didn't take long. I am sure there are a lot of Gopher fans saying don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. it's pretty apparent that he had no intentions of playing with the Gophers next season. Who's next?

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have signed their 2009 first round draft selection, centre Jordan Schroeder. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Schroeder, 20, spent the 2009-10 season with University of Minnesota, recording 28 points (9-19-28) in 37 games played. In his freshman season, Schroeder tallied 45 points (13-32-45) in 35 games.

Links to the story

Vancouver Sun; Canucks call up Michael Grabner, sign Jordan Schroeder

The Goal Crease:Canucks sign Jordan Schroeder

CBC: Canucks recall Grabner, sign Schroeder

TSN: Canucks sign 2009 1st rounder Schroeder

UND fans should see dry drive to St. Paul

This is good news for Sioux fans that are making the trip down to the Xcel Energy Center. Wow! What a bargin to travel to Sait Paul via air this weekend. No thanks we will drive. Someone needs to get Jet Blue up here to Grand Forks, ND.

UND hockey fans hitting the road this week for the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul shouldn’t run into any delays on North Dakota interstates.

Troy Gilbertson, highway maintenance coordinator for the North Dakota Department of Transportation, said a stretch on Interstate 29 near Harwood N.D., has flooded in past years, but it shouldn’t be a problem anymore, though people might hit small stretches of overland flooding.

“That road has been raised up a foot or two,” Gilbertson said. “Our plan is to run motorists through any water southbound on I-29 unless it gets too deep. Then we’ll reroute them into single-lane traffic in the northbound lanes.”

The Red River Bridge on Interstate 94 that crosses into Minnesota should be high and dry, Gilbertson said. The Red is expected to crest in Fargo–Moorhead at 38 feet on Saturday.

“At 40.8 feet last year, the river wasn’t even close to that bridge,” Gilbertson said.

Motorists who still have doubts should know there are round-trip seats on four of five Delta Air Lines flights from Grand Forks to Minneapolis-St. Paul on Thursday through Saturday — for $784.40. [Grand Forks Herald]

Steve Downie hit on Sidney Crosby

[Click to see video]Here is the latest hit to cause a stir around the NHL. Forty seconds into the game Lightning hack Steve Downie takes a run at Sidney Crosby’s knees. Not one of Sidney's teammates challenged Steve Downie to a fight, check out the game box score, Downie was given a roughing minor.
It is unacceptable to let a player of Downie’s ilk take a run at one of the best players in the NHL and not challenge him.

The league has fined Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Steve Downie $1,000 for taking down Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby during Sunday's game. Downie said he spoke to league disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Tuesday morning. He said there will not be a suspension.

"He called it a dangerous play," Downie said.

The play happened early in the first period when the two got tangled up and Crosby fell awkwardly with his right leg pinned underneath Downie. Downie said there was no intent to injure. There was no penalty on the play, and Crosby played the rest of the game.

Downie, who has worked very hard this season to not take stupid penalties, did not want to speculate on if his reputation, based on past actions, might have played into the decision, saying he just wants to move on. But he did say, "If he (Crosby) didn't fall in an awkward position, it wouldn't even be talked about." [Tampabay.com]

UND can still get a number one seed.

Jayson Moy of USCHO says there is still a chance that UND can be a number one seed in the NCAA tourney. Personally, I would rather see the Sioux knock out UMD out of the Final Five with the possibility of ending their season, than to have the Fighting Sioux play one be done for the weekend. I think the Sioux are going to want to get some pay back for losing to the Bulldogs in last year’s Final Five. Looking at the various scenarios it looks like the chances of this happening are slim and none as well.

North Dakota gets the last number one seed. After losing on Thursday night in the WCHA Quarterfinal Game.

CCHA Semifinal #2: Northern Michigan defeats Ferris State
CCHA Semifinal #1: Michigan defeats Miami
CCHA Championship game: Northern Michigan defeats Michigan
CCHA Consolation game: Ferris State defeats Miami
ECAC Semifinal #2: Union defeats St. Lawrence
ECAC Semifinal #1: Brown defeats Cornell
ECAC Championship game: Union defeats Brown
ECAC Consolation game: St. Lawrence defeats Cornell
Hockey East Semifinal #2: Boston University defeats Maine
Hockey East Semifinal #1: Vermont defeats Boston College
Hockey East Championship game: Vermont defeats Boston University
WCHA Play-in #1: Minnesota-Duluth defeats North Dakota
WCHA Semifinal #2: Wisconsin defeats St. Cloud State
WCHA Semifinal #1: Minnesota-Duluth defeats Denver
WCHA Championship game: Wisconsin defeats Minnesota-Duluth
WCHA Consolation game: Denver defeats St. Cloud State
Atlantic Hockey Semifinal #2: Air Force defeats Sacred Heart
Atlantic Hockey Semifinal #1: RIT defeats Canisius
Atlantic Hockey Championship game: Air Force defeats RIT
[USCHO.COM]

Moron of the week.

Here is my candidate for moron of the week, I have to say that it was unanimous as well. I have read a lot of stupid stuff posted on line this week but this one is just too good and has to passed along. If you suffering from a bad day this one will pick you up. This beauty was found in the comments section of the Puck Daddy article that covered the Frattin hit. Stick slap to Sean Leahy for using my video that I posted on line at YouTube. Last time I checked my up loaded video had gotten 8,000+ views.

Well What ever spewed - Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:42 pm EDT: I watched this series and I am familiar with the history these two clubs have. Frattin is no-talent little punk which explains why he is in such great company playing at North Dakota. Everything else aside, this was, at the very least, a blatantly obvious attempt to injure an opponent!! A one game suspension is a joke and a waste of time. This useless tool should be gone for the rest of the year, but instead he is allowed to continue his "training" toward becoming yet another hockey problem child. There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing your heart out for your team but when it becomes the "violent episode" that Frattin is, it is time for major suspensions and psycho-therapy and this cheap f-ck is in need of both.

What is really puzzling is that ND is a team that would just need to "skate their game" and they could easily beat Minnesota...this year, anyway. But instead they resort to these barbaric tactics...why?? I thinking that Hakstol told certain players between periods to do "some damage" and not worry about the "cost" because he felt it was the only way for this seemingly apparent group of underachievers to beat the sub-.500 Gophers. Newsflash Dave....you're at home at Ralph Engelstad Arenea in front of your own unruly, barbaric, and largely simplistic fans and this season, the Fighting Sioux are a better team than the Gophers! Yet...you STILL felt it necessary to provide one more lousy example to hockey youth all over the country. Apparently the Fighting Sioux are NOT the great team THEY think they are or they would have simply let their skating ability do the speaking for them. Well, I can only wish UMD success in beating the hell out of those snot-nosed little punks from Grand Forks, It's a damn shame that Frattin will be able to use his suspension to avoid the beatdown he so righteously deserves.

Kudos to Coach Lucia for keeping his team's composure and not buying into the "Sioux sorry sportsmanship", but I must confess that I was angry the seniors were not "turned loose" on any and all Sioux players that talk a great game but are just as easily beat down as any other talentless group of cheapshots.

To the deadbeat who posted that ND running over Gopher goaltender Alex Kangas was simply a case of the Fighting Sioux "charging the net" listen up little one: Whenever you skate around a defenseman, leave him sprawling on the ice behind you, drive hard to the net, put your shoulder down, and plant it squarely on the chin of the goaltender, you have just provided a textbook example of "running over the goaltender" which is still a penalty in most arenas but apparently not "the Ralph". You would have to be a Fighting Sioux fan to make the observation you did about that play and that makes you equally as pathetic as that punk Frattin, that "soul-selling" coach Hakstol, and those steaming dogpile officials on the ice at the time.

A brief message to Frattin: You have now earned a name for yourself, son. On the ice, from this day forward, I would skate with your head up and on a swivel at all times. You may also want to stay out of the corners and away from the goalie's crease.

I hope this week's play-in game has on-ice officials who are not afraid to call penalties...both ways...and that they remember that their responsibility rests in "officiating the game"...not deciding it. That "crew" at the UM-UND game was about as useless as tits on a boar hog! I certainly hope that they are done putting on stripes for the year...or, for good for that matter.

Good luck to UMD...go Bulldogs! [Puck Daddy Comments]

Weekend Final 5 Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

The first round of WCHA playoffs have come and went, with all the home teams winning their series. DU and UW ended their series in 2 games, while SCSU, UND, UMD took 3 games to close out their first round home series. The national picture is looking like all 5 WCHA teams in St. Paul this weekend will also be playing next week in the NCAA tournament.

My predictions last weekend turned out really good, the only thing a missed was UND taking 3 games to dispatch the Gophers, and everything else was dead on. Speaking of that series, I hope, as well as everyone else, that UM defensemen Kevin Wehrs makes a quick recovery from the hit he took on Sunday, as well as UM defensemen Nick Leddy. (I missed Leddy getting hit, but I don’t think anybody missed the Wehrs hit)

Sunday’s Sioux-Gopher hockey game could have been the last of an era. Next season it might be "the team formerly know as the North Dakota Fighting Sioux” versus the Gophers. With that possibility, I took it upon myself to by another Sioux jersey (I got a home white one, in case you’re wondering) Sunday. If they don’t get permission to use the Sioux name, I have the feeling Sioux gear will be flying off the shelves across the region this summer. The powers that be, need to resolve the issue by November.

Speaking of flying the Goon and I will again be attending the Final 5. We are looking forward to meeting some of our old friends and making some new ones.

This will most likely be my last posting for a while. I hope everyone has enjoyed reading my ramblings this hockey season. I might post some predictions for the NCAA tournament...


THURSDAY (Play-in Game 7:07pm)

#11 Minnesota-Duluth vs #5 North Dakota (season series UND wins 3-1-0)
Last weekend the Sioux defeated the Gophers in 3 games in Grand Forks, and the Bulldogs beat the Tigers in 3 games in Duluth.

These teams met last year in the Final 5, with UMD taking that game (3-0) while riding a hot goalie named Stalock to the Broadmoor trophy. This year the Bulldogs don’t have a shut down net minder and have gotten things done offensively. However, a good portion of their goals have come on the power play, and the Sioux have the best defense in the league. UMD really needs to win this game to solidify a spot in the tourney; they’re still on the bubble. The Sioux are still hot going 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, and the Bulldogs are 5-5-0 over their last 10 games. Part of me wants the Sioux to throw this game, so they can rest up for the NCAA tourney and the other part says win this and the Final 5, to get the auto-bid and possibly a number one seed. Whoever wins this game will be playing 6-games in 9-days. SIOUX WIN


FRIDAY (Semi-final game 2pm)

#6 St. Cloud State vs #3 Wisconsin (season series tied 2-2-0)
Last weekend the Seawolves hosted the Bulldogs and split their series, and the Badgers and Gophers split a pair in Minneapolis.

The Badgers have not won more than three games in a row this season, and have not lost consecutive games. And after last weekend, they are now 2-0 heading into the Final 5. I wonder if the Badgers will want to get some measure of revenge against the Huskies Marvin in this game. I know the Sioux still want a piece of Marvin. UW is definitely the deeper team, where SCSU relies heavily on Roe & Lasch for most of their offense. If the Badgers blue-liners can live up to their NHL draft status and shut that line down, I see the Huskies going down. BADGERS WIN


FRIDAY (Semi-final game 7pm)

UND/UMD vs #1 Denver
Last weekend the Pioneers swept the MTU Huskies in Denver.
DU vs Bulldogs (season series tied 1-1-0)
DU vs Sioux (season series DU wins 4-0-0)
I’ll take UND over DU in that match-up. Or if the Bulldogs play DU, I’m going with the Pioneers over the Bulldogs.


SATURDAY (3rd Place game @ 2pm, Championship @ 7pm)

Possible match-ups on Saturday
DU vs UW (season series UW wins 1-0-1)
DU vs SCSU (season series tied 1-1-0)
I’ll take DU over SCSU, or UW over DU, depending on how Friday’s games shakes out.
UND vs UW (season series UW wins 1-0-1)
UND vs SCSU (season series tied 2-2-0)
I’ll take UND over either UW or SCSU.

UMD vs UW (season series --)
UMD vs SCSU (season series --)
I’ll take UW over UMD, or SCSU over UMD

Edit: Sioux7's prediction made the Rink and Run blog that is run by Kevin Pates. Kevin runs a pretty good beat writers hockey blog on UMD hockey.

Managers urge NHL to fast-track head shot regulations

After watching that gutless puke Matt Cooke end Marc Savard’s season with a dirty but legal hit, I wonder if this isn't such a bad idea. Someone is going to get killed on the ice with a vicious head shot. I think one thing the GM's might want to also do while they are at it, is get rid of the instigator rule to help police the game and respond to dirty acts such as the one above.

In the face of mounting public criticism, a group of general managers is pushing the NHL to adopt its proposed new rule on hits to the head before the end of the current season.

The group wants NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to bring the proposed rule, which calls for a minor or major penalty plus an automatic review by the league for any hit in which the head is the target, to the competition committee for a quick review. If the committee grants the necessary approval, the GMs want the governors to give the final approval in a fax vote in order for the rule to be put into force immediately, sources told The Globe and Mail. [Globe and Mail]