At last something to feel good about.
Alabama Huntsville is a NCAA hockey program without an home next year. Their conference is folding up. The other teams in that conference, such as Bemidji State found homes in other conferences. The WCHA didn't really want another team but they stepped up and made room for Bemidji.
The CCHA refused to help Alabama Huntsville.
Alabama Huntsville won the last CHA tournament and got the autobid that comes with that. So they're going as well as Bemidji who played well enough (and then some) to make the tournament as an at large bid.
Nobody expected the CHA to take two places in the 16 game field. Some might think that's unfair.
But what goes around comes around. Not only was it a CCHA team that lost to them, it was one of the prominent programs, Michigan State, that found their season ended.
One would think that Michigan State would have a lot of influence in the CCHA. After all for years the CCHA didn't have a lot of depth. It was either Michigan and Michigan State that seemed to win it every year.
I wonder if Michigan State was one of the schools that blocked Alabama Huntsville from joining the CCHA. It would be fitting if that were the case.
Monday, March 22, 2010
So where is the outrage?
Trev talks WCHA, Blais, arena, etc.
This past week Patrick Reusse started a rumor about Dean Blais going to the Gophers and Trev Albert addressed the media on the subject yesterday, I wouldn't start celebrating in Minnesota just yet. Personally I don't think Blais is going to coach in Minnesota IMHO. Stick salute to Husker Mike.
I talked to UNO AD Trev Alberts on Sunday, not too many hours after he had returned from St. Paul to take in the WCHA's Final Five.
Even though the 2009-10 hockey season is over for the Mavs, the school will have plenty on its plate this spring and summer as it begins the process of moving from the CCHA to the WCHA.
As always, Trev had lots of interesting things to say after his weekend in the Twin Cities. So let's break things down by subject and share his perspective on a number of hot topics:
Alberts on the rumors that Minnesota already is talking to coach Dean Blais about taking over the Gophers:
"They (reporters) asked me about it up in St. Paul. First of all, I have not had a phone conversation with (Minnesota AD) Joel Maturi. And I have had only positive conversations with Dean, and I know he's out recruiting this week. I think, for all Maverick fans, we ought to be flattered that people mention our coach. If nobody ever wants your coaches, and nobody thinks much of your coaches, then maybe you need new coaches. When we hired Dean, we understood that he was a known and proven commodity that certainly would be a coach people would be interested in. I feel like it's our job — my job — at UNO to try and create a culture and a situation that Dean and (his wife) Jackie so appreciate and so enjoy that they're not interested in any other opportunity. We'll work hard at doing that. We certainly expect and look forward to having Dean as our coach for a long, long time."
Alberts on the long-held speculation that Blais came to Omaha with plans to take over at Minnesota if the job opened:
"We would not have hired somebody to lead our hockey program that we didn't believe was going to be here for a good length of time. I think Dean and I are a little bit alike in that (we both came to UNO) because we love a challenge. I think Dean wants to build something special. So we'll see. Like I said, I think our fans and the community ought to be flattered that our coach is going to be mentioned any time there is an opening — or not even openings — and people are still attaching his name to it. At the same time, it's a crazy world we live in, and people are given opportunities, and that's just business. Like I said, it's our job to build an environment that coaches are going to want to be a part of."
[Omaha.com]
Post game comments from the Sioux
Ben Blood was asked the question, how much gas do you have left in the tank? Ben Blood's reply, "Zero!"
Yesterday's presser after selection Sunday. [click to view]
Press conference after the Final Five; Sioux players [Click to view]
Press conference after the Final Five; SCSU Players. [Click to view]
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday pontifications; Seen and heard at the Final Five
Thursday night after returning from the hotel lounge I was waiting for my elevator when I noticed one of my fellow Sioux fans passed out in one of the chairs in the lobby. That was one of those times that I wish I would have had a sharpie marker in my pocket because It would have been real tempting to have drawn a mustache on that person sleeping passed out in the hotel lobby.
Just a word of advice; when you put on your school's jersey you're a unofficial representative of that institution, so if you going to get so drunk that pass out in an random hotel lobby in downtown Saint Paul, please take off your jersey or hoodie that identifies you with said team. This is not the kind of P.R. that the University of North Dakota needs and you’re really not doing a very good job representing our favorite team. It's also ok to cut yourself off before you get to the point of passing out in public. If this was the south they could arrest you for public drunkenness.
Contrary to public belief I do remember all of the Final Five and it will go down as being one of the more exciting ones that I have witnessed. I have attended every Final Five since 1998; I am also going next year. I think believe that every good WCHA hockey fan should attend the Final Five.
Seen and heard at the Final Five
I was reading the Star and Tribune this morning when I ran across this gem by Sioux goalie Brad Eidness. This was one of the more funnier things I have read this season.
Here is the format for next years WCHA Final Five.
Fighting Sioux Three Stars from the Final Five
Evan Trupp (3g-3a-6pts)at the Final Five.
Jason Gregoire recorded his 20th goal of the season March 18th against the Duluth Bulldogs.
Brad Eidsness 3-0 during the Final Five and recorded a shutout. While I tend to be hard on goaltenders I must give credit where credit is due; Brad made some big saves and was solid when he had to be. Brad also hasn't given up more than three goals since February 12th, 2010.
Just a word of advice; when you put on your school's jersey you're a unofficial representative of that institution, so if you going to get so drunk that pass out in an random hotel lobby in downtown Saint Paul, please take off your jersey or hoodie that identifies you with said team. This is not the kind of P.R. that the University of North Dakota needs and you’re really not doing a very good job representing our favorite team. It's also ok to cut yourself off before you get to the point of passing out in public. If this was the south they could arrest you for public drunkenness.
Contrary to public belief I do remember all of the Final Five and it will go down as being one of the more exciting ones that I have witnessed. I have attended every Final Five since 1998; I am also going next year. I think believe that every good WCHA hockey fan should attend the Final Five.
Seen and heard at the Final Five
I was reading the Star and Tribune this morning when I ran across this gem by Sioux goalie Brad Eidness. This was one of the more funnier things I have read this season.
"I looked up at the clock somewhere around the eight- or nine-minute mark," Eidsness said, "and I looked at our bench and I had a feeling I probably should not let in another goal. The boys wouldn't be too happy with me if they had to go into overtime."
Here is the format for next years WCHA Final Five.
With the conference expanding from 10 to 12 teams next season, with the addition of Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha, there were will be six first-round series. And the winners of those will advance to St. Paul.Not only did Denver lose both games this past weekend at the Final Five they also lost one of their top forwards to a finger injury.
Among other pertinent details:
• The four lowest seeds in the field will play on Thursday in two quarterfinal games played back-to-back in one session. Tentative times are 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• On Friday, the two Thursday winners will face the top two seeds, the MacNaughton Cup champion and the WCHA regular-season runner-up. The so-called "Minnesota rule" will remain, meaning if the Gophers are playing, they will be in the late game both nights.
• On Saturday, the championship game will be played at 7 p.m. as usual, but the afternoon third-place game has been eliminated.
Junior wing Anthony Maiani, who is DU’s fourth-leading scorer, will miss today’s WCHA Final Five consolation game against Wisconsin and might not play again this season. He sustained a finger injury in Friday’s 4-3 loss to North Dakota in the tournament semifinals. [Denver Post]Patrick Reusse from KSTP AM 1500 in the Twin Cities started a fire storm with these two twitter posts. First off why would someone from UND be mentioned in this conversation, Blais works for UNO. Also; I would love to see who the source of this rumor is.
Blais has told Minnesota, “I don’t want any open job search, I just want the job if you are going to give it to me. None of the B.S.”
-------------
E-mail from Fargo: “Plugged-in” UND sources say the Gophers have already called Dean Blais in Omaha about replacing Don Lucia.
Fighting Sioux Three Stars from the Final Five
Evan Trupp (3g-3a-6pts)at the Final Five.
Jason Gregoire recorded his 20th goal of the season March 18th against the Duluth Bulldogs.
Brad Eidsness 3-0 during the Final Five and recorded a shutout. While I tend to be hard on goaltenders I must give credit where credit is due; Brad made some big saves and was solid when he had to be. Brad also hasn't given up more than three goals since February 12th, 2010.
Goals From Broadmoor Title Game
Sorry for the poor quality. I had an heck of a time getting this uploaded. Still better something like this than nothing at all.
Here's Corban Knight's goal that got us going after we had given up two sloppy goals in the first minute. (I don't think that was in the gameplan.)
This video that follows has the other four goals to total our five. Sorry I cut off the first assist on the Malone goal, but then so did Fox Sports. What happened was that Hextall just cycled the puck down low as he was going off on a change. The puck came to Trupp who made a nice feed to Malone.
Redwing77's Final Five Wrap Up
Ok, I wanted to do this with my NCAA Outlook but I thought it would be too long of a post and they don't fit together.
The Final Five
Despite Goon's attempts to get me to attend, I did not attend this year's Final Five. I think I should have. It sounded like a great time, even if Goon and his squad (The Goon Squad) may only remember parts of it. :D
The biggest surprise to me was Denver not even trying. What little attempts at winning they displayed against UND they completely abandoned against UW. Cheverie goes out having a terrible Final Five and questions become apparent about this team pulling a Craig Dahl-esque swoon job in the NCAAs.
The biggest disappointment for me was having my Sioux end the Bulldog's season. I really like the Bulldogs. They play a standup game. Sandelin is an amazing person and a great coach. He makes me think that he's the collegiate version of Andy Murray. Knows what he's doing, gets the best out of the players he can manage to recruit, despite not always being able to get the best of the best.
The All Tourney Team
The first thing that struck me on this list was that Evan Trupp made MVP but did not make the team as a whole. Now, I don't think there's a rule that says that the MVP must come from the All WCHA Tourney Team, nor do I think that it is a snub on Evan Trupp. I actually like the fact that Trupp isn't on the Tourney Team because it allows one more player to be added that could have been argued belonging on the list in the first place.
Here's the All Tourney Team:
Goaltender - Brad Eidsness (UND)
Defense - Garrett Raboin (SCSU)
Defense - Ben Blood (HA HA HATERS TAKE THAT!)
Forward - Blake Geoffrion (UW)*
Forward - Chris Vandevelde (UND)
Forward - Tony Mosey (SCSU)
MVP - Evan Trupp (UND)
Ok, right off the bat I can tell you Eidsness, Vandevelde, Trupp, and Mosey belong in the list. Geoffrion had 2 goals and no assists in the tourney. But let me put this on the table:
Drew Shore (DU) - This forward had 3 assists on the weekend.
Jesse Martin (DU) - Had 1 goal and 1 assist on the weekend
Ok, neither of these guys potted a Game Winning Goal this weekend, where Geoffrion did. So, I can see that weighing heavily in Blake's favor, but I think Drew Shore played fantastic on a team that seemed at times not to give a darn. The unfortunate thing for Drew is that he wasn't credited for the John Lee goal in the UND game. If he was, he'd've HAD to be named to the All Tourney Team. Anyways, if the rule stood that the MVP had to come from the All Tourney Team, then it is obvious to me that Geoffrion would've been the last one in and the first one out and Trupp would've been named in his stead.
Defense can be a bit more subjective and so I'll leave that be....mostly. All I can say, again, is HA HA! EAT THAT HATERS! Ben Blood all in your FACE! Ok, I'm not sure Ben was the best D on the ice this weekend, but he certainly stood out. And the officials knew it calling two phantom calls on him and one correct call.
The Title Game
I'll get to the "correct call" right away so I don't leave people scratching their heads, but first, a little back story.
SCSU lost the game because of Garrett Roe. You heard me. Roe didn't play. SCSU lost the game. Why didn't he play? He got injured, taken off on a stretcher (for precautionary measures I'm told) after he got hit in the game against Denver. Now, unfortunate? Maybe. WCHA USCHO correspondant Spisak even suggested that the severity of the hit in question was brought upon by Roe. Normally, I'd say "Wait a minute" but the Robbie Earl Memorial Trophy winner is KNOWN for such actions, so, I have to give Spisak the benefit of the doubt.
Had Roe been in the game, however, Lasch wouldn't have had to dive, letting Roe do the job for him and that would have gotten Blood a major and a game instead of a Boarding minor. You could clearly tell the inexperience of Lasch at the contest of Frozen Water Diving. Before Blood hit Lasch, Lasch looks right at Blood coming and turns his back. He does NOTHING with the puck, he simply waits to be hit. He had time to pass the puck or turn away. He could have skated towards the blue line.
When he was hit, I thought "That's a major and he doesn't deserve it." And then I thought "Well... at least give Lasch a diving penalty on top of it." No dice. Instead, Shepherd, situational official that he is such a pro for doing, called a boarding penalty on Blood. Had Roe been there, he'd've done a Earl impression, getting the trainer on the ice, and forcing Shepherd to use his gullible side and kick Blood out of the game.
SCSU had already embellished earlier in the game and had it work (Hextall knocked a stick out of the guy's hand). I'm sure Lasch was surprised and Roe corrected him after the game.
So, I call this a "correct call" solely based on the fact that Shepherd and *unt didn't kick Blood out of the game. Was it the correct call according to the rule book? Well, welcome gray area.
It was a Checking from Behind penalty set up by the voluntary action of Lasch. He knowingly turned his back on an oncoming defenseman and waited to get hit. That's unethical. Unfortunately, I don't think that's against the rules. There's no rule against being stupid along the boards.
But in any case, Mike Lee got chased, Dunn came in and showed that he was the real deal RIGHT NOW all along (I maintain Lee will become a good goaltender eventually) and that's all she wrote.
In other officiating news: Campion didn't make the WCHA playoff officiating roster but Don Adam and Marco *unt did. Sorry, inconsistent as he may be, I'll take Campion any day of the week over *unt and Adam.
The Final Five
Despite Goon's attempts to get me to attend, I did not attend this year's Final Five. I think I should have. It sounded like a great time, even if Goon and his squad (The Goon Squad) may only remember parts of it. :D
The biggest surprise to me was Denver not even trying. What little attempts at winning they displayed against UND they completely abandoned against UW. Cheverie goes out having a terrible Final Five and questions become apparent about this team pulling a Craig Dahl-esque swoon job in the NCAAs.
The biggest disappointment for me was having my Sioux end the Bulldog's season. I really like the Bulldogs. They play a standup game. Sandelin is an amazing person and a great coach. He makes me think that he's the collegiate version of Andy Murray. Knows what he's doing, gets the best out of the players he can manage to recruit, despite not always being able to get the best of the best.
The All Tourney Team
The first thing that struck me on this list was that Evan Trupp made MVP but did not make the team as a whole. Now, I don't think there's a rule that says that the MVP must come from the All WCHA Tourney Team, nor do I think that it is a snub on Evan Trupp. I actually like the fact that Trupp isn't on the Tourney Team because it allows one more player to be added that could have been argued belonging on the list in the first place.
Here's the All Tourney Team:
Goaltender - Brad Eidsness (UND)
Defense - Garrett Raboin (SCSU)
Defense - Ben Blood (HA HA HATERS TAKE THAT!)
Forward - Blake Geoffrion (UW)*
Forward - Chris Vandevelde (UND)
Forward - Tony Mosey (SCSU)
MVP - Evan Trupp (UND)
Ok, right off the bat I can tell you Eidsness, Vandevelde, Trupp, and Mosey belong in the list. Geoffrion had 2 goals and no assists in the tourney. But let me put this on the table:
Drew Shore (DU) - This forward had 3 assists on the weekend.
Jesse Martin (DU) - Had 1 goal and 1 assist on the weekend
Ok, neither of these guys potted a Game Winning Goal this weekend, where Geoffrion did. So, I can see that weighing heavily in Blake's favor, but I think Drew Shore played fantastic on a team that seemed at times not to give a darn. The unfortunate thing for Drew is that he wasn't credited for the John Lee goal in the UND game. If he was, he'd've HAD to be named to the All Tourney Team. Anyways, if the rule stood that the MVP had to come from the All Tourney Team, then it is obvious to me that Geoffrion would've been the last one in and the first one out and Trupp would've been named in his stead.
Defense can be a bit more subjective and so I'll leave that be....mostly. All I can say, again, is HA HA! EAT THAT HATERS! Ben Blood all in your FACE! Ok, I'm not sure Ben was the best D on the ice this weekend, but he certainly stood out. And the officials knew it calling two phantom calls on him and one correct call.
The Title Game
I'll get to the "correct call" right away so I don't leave people scratching their heads, but first, a little back story.
SCSU lost the game because of Garrett Roe. You heard me. Roe didn't play. SCSU lost the game. Why didn't he play? He got injured, taken off on a stretcher (for precautionary measures I'm told) after he got hit in the game against Denver. Now, unfortunate? Maybe. WCHA USCHO correspondant Spisak even suggested that the severity of the hit in question was brought upon by Roe. Normally, I'd say "Wait a minute" but the Robbie Earl Memorial Trophy winner is KNOWN for such actions, so, I have to give Spisak the benefit of the doubt.
Had Roe been in the game, however, Lasch wouldn't have had to dive, letting Roe do the job for him and that would have gotten Blood a major and a game instead of a Boarding minor. You could clearly tell the inexperience of Lasch at the contest of Frozen Water Diving. Before Blood hit Lasch, Lasch looks right at Blood coming and turns his back. He does NOTHING with the puck, he simply waits to be hit. He had time to pass the puck or turn away. He could have skated towards the blue line.
When he was hit, I thought "That's a major and he doesn't deserve it." And then I thought "Well... at least give Lasch a diving penalty on top of it." No dice. Instead, Shepherd, situational official that he is such a pro for doing, called a boarding penalty on Blood. Had Roe been there, he'd've done a Earl impression, getting the trainer on the ice, and forcing Shepherd to use his gullible side and kick Blood out of the game.
SCSU had already embellished earlier in the game and had it work (Hextall knocked a stick out of the guy's hand). I'm sure Lasch was surprised and Roe corrected him after the game.
So, I call this a "correct call" solely based on the fact that Shepherd and *unt didn't kick Blood out of the game. Was it the correct call according to the rule book? Well, welcome gray area.
It was a Checking from Behind penalty set up by the voluntary action of Lasch. He knowingly turned his back on an oncoming defenseman and waited to get hit. That's unethical. Unfortunately, I don't think that's against the rules. There's no rule against being stupid along the boards.
But in any case, Mike Lee got chased, Dunn came in and showed that he was the real deal RIGHT NOW all along (I maintain Lee will become a good goaltender eventually) and that's all she wrote.
In other officiating news: Campion didn't make the WCHA playoff officiating roster but Don Adam and Marco *unt did. Sorry, inconsistent as he may be, I'll take Campion any day of the week over *unt and Adam.
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.
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
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]
Saturday, March 20, 2010
UND 5 - SCSU 3 (up dated links)
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.
UND Hockey Blog; WCHA suspends Goloubef
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.Links to the Story
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]
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.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.
"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 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]
Friday, March 19, 2010
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!
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.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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]
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
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.
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
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
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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.
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.
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