Bruins let one slip away. Game 5 tomorrow in Boston

The Bruins went down 3-1 before they tied the game again only to go down 4-3 again before tying the game in the waning moments of the third period. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that the Bruins were on their heels for most of the game and gave up too many untimely goals.

Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask was solid and kept the Bruins in the game and because of his play almost pulled out the series sweep. The Boston Bruins got a power play on a boarding call that would have been a much harsher penalty if it hadn't transpired during the overtime period during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flyers were taking runs at Marc Savard and Mike Richards tried to run Savard in the Bruins end during the first period only to miss/whiff.

Lost Legend; Car crash cut short career of Flames' next big star...

Stick tap to Moose Richards. Almost 25 years ago Bemidji High School classmates lost a good friend, an awesome teammate, a great guy. George was three sport Letterman in Hockey, Football and Baseball, he was very good at all three sports, probably could have played division one in all of them. I had the pleasure of playing football with Big George in 1985 at Bemidji High School, when our football team won the conference title. Tom Cochrane and Red Rider from the album Victory Day dedicated the song the Big Leagues to George.

Summer of 1986: I was stationed in Stuttgart Germany and I remember getting a letter from an old friend Sean Sace who informed me that Big George had been killed in a car accident. My father sent me the Hockey News magazine in the mail that covered George's funeral. George's funeral made the front page of the hockey news. It was a tragic ending to young life. [Link to a tribute to big George]

Since they’ve been asked to pose at their son’s gravesite, they pose.

Four pucks neatly lined up on the headstone don’t surprise the parents. Happens all the time. They cannot explain how pucks get there. They just appear.

“Kids. Friends,” says Winnie, shrugging.

Restless, the Pelawas pick at the sap on the headstone. The camera clicks.


George Dale Pelawa, six foot three and 245 pounds, had been approaching Paul Bunyan’s dimensions, literally and figuratively. The broad-shouldered teen was threatening the mythical lumberjack’s poster-boy status in these parts.

But the burgeoning

legend, a three-sport

standout, died in a car crash, Aug. 30, 1986.

“Many think of the wasted career, but he’s been our shining star for years,” Lyman Brink, assistant coach at Bemidji High School, said a week after the accident. “We now have to think of his wonderful past.”

First, though, came grief for a future flattened.

Fans in Minnesota mourned — George had been named Mr. Hockey as the best high-school player in the state.

Fans in North Dakota mourned — George had accepted a scholarship to the UND, which was loading up for a national-title run.

Fans in Calgary mourned — George had been selected by the Flames in the first round of the National Hockey League draft.

But there is no mourning like a family’s.

“It was a long time ago, pretty near a quarter-century,” says Frank, wiping his eyes, “but still . . . .”


When a stranger phoned on a spring-day afternoon, the Pelawas had listened patiently to the rambling request.

Boiled down — would they be willing to talk about their dead boy?

They were more than willing, as it turns out, but barely able. The collision that ripped the artery off George’s heart had irreparably crushed theirs.

“It’s like yesterday in many ways,” says Winnie. “If somebody has a disease or something, you’re prepared. But when it’s sudden like that. . . . Your children aren’t supposed to go before you.”

If the topic is so painful, so wrenching, why extend the invitation into their home?

Simple.

Because they want people to remember George, their George.

When Flames prospect Mickey Renaud died suddenly of a heart condition eight months after the 2007 NHL draft, the Pelawa story got retold. Similarities between the barrel-chested forwards — bright futures, sudden ends — were jarring.

But, given the passage of time, many in Calgary had been unaware of the 1986 tragedy.

Frank understands.

“It rolls over so much, you know, one year turns into . . . ” he starts, before succumbing to tears and, for not the only time, leaving the kitchen table to grab a breather in the living room.

Whispers Winnie: “Since the stroke, Frank gets so emotional.”

Which becomes the day’s rhythm — reporter apologizing for the intrusion, parents apologizing for the sorrow.

It makes for frequent pauses, with only the coffee pot’s gurgles filling the silence. Told numerous times the interview can be delayed, Winnie and Frank shake their heads.

They’re dedicated to this cause — a tribute for their son. So they answer all questions.

They keep alive the George Pelawa Memorial Scholarship. The Flames honoured their 20-year commitment to the award, but that ended in 2007. Since then the parents have quietly and happily shelled out $1,000 for the annual prize.

“Calgary carried it . . . which is very nice,” says Winnie. “When that quit, we picked it up, continued it. We never thought much about it, then, all of a sudden, the 20 years were up. So we just decided to carry it through.”

But that’s a lot of money, isn’t it?

“Well, it’s worth it,” she insists, despite the couple’s modest income — Frank, 67, is a retired mechanic; Winnie, 61, works for Beltrami County Public Health. “Till we die or we can’t afford it . . . we’ll keep it going.”

This came as news to Flames president Ken King, who says the team plans to revisit the legacy program “based on what we now understand to be the current situation. We’ve talked to the people down there and we think there’s something we can do.”

Meanwhile, George’s childhood chums — determined not to let the parents foot the bill — have begun raising funds.

“Maybe in 20 years,” says Keith Dahl, “there’ll be a whole new group that’s heard of him . . . if you keep the scholarship going.”
[Read more]

Two Sioux may Bolt for Major Juniors (Redwing77)

Early Reports are filtering in that two Sioux players will be leaving UND to play Canadian Major Juniors.

The first one is New York Islander draftee David Toews. The second? Buffalo draftee Corey Fienhage.

To me, this is always a sad event even if it is justifiable.

David Toews never quite grew into being the type of player UND fans thought he'd become. However, that's not truly fair. It was no secret that David wasn't his older brother. It was also no secret that David plays a different style of game than Jonny. David still has some great skills, such as a good shot and stick handling, but couldn't crack the lineup. With the talent coming in, it would make it even more difficult for him to make the lineup. So, he's opting to the major juniors.

Brad Schlossman ponders whether or not he'll go to the WHL or the QMJHL. I, for one, hopes he goes to Brandon of the WHL, the team that drafted him in 2005. I hope the Q whithers and dies... ok, maybe not... well... I hope the trifecta of evil do anyways (Moncton of the QMJHL, London of the OHL, and Red Deer of the WHL). I think it just makes sense for David to play for a team close to home. [Link to the Grand Forks Herald Story]

Corey Fienhage is truly a hard luck case. He comes in early, gets railed by the fans (just like just about every defenseman who has come in young... Lee, Smaby, Finley are just a few like Corey). He never quite plays poorly. In fact, he played really well last season until inexplicably he gets benched in favor of Brent Davidson, a winger converted to D earlier that year.

How does that happen? Something must be going on in practice of off the ice, though I have no proof. There's no reports of attitude but there has been grumblings about work ethic.

It's too bad. I like Fienhage. I think he's a good, solid, defensive defenseman that has good size.

It's always tough to lose good guys but with only 2 seniors leaving, there's not a whole lot of playing time to be had.

Who will come in to replace them?

Well, in my opinion, I think no one should. We have an abundance of wingers and D now that Genoway is returning.

I've read that we have abotu 14 or 15 wingers (including Derek Rodwell) and 8 or 9 defensemen (including Forbort and Simpson).

If we did bring in one last winger, my choice would be Fargo Force forward Colton St. Clair. I would have thought Danny Mattson would be the guy but he's seemingly pulled a Mike Fink on us and has seemed to regress once leaving Minnesota High School.

I don't pretend to know how this is all going to work out, but in Hakstol I trust.

An End of the Year for the Red Wings (RW77)

Ok, it's no surprise to any of the Goon's World regulars that I represent one (if not the only) Red Wings fan on this Blog, but I'm going to lament the good and the bad and ponder the offseason for my Wings in this post.

I admit this is about where I picked the Red Wings to exit the playoffs. I just wished it was in Game 7.

This team went through a ton of ups and downs and, insodoing, came a long way towards establishing a new (but still old) identity.

Last year it was the Penguins that endured a ton of injuries and prevailed. The media was all over the excuse when the Pens lost too. If Gonchar were healthy... if Malkin and Crosby were 100%... etc. This year, the Red Wings lost a TON of players to injury. In my opinion, far more talent was lost this year by the Red Wings to injury than to the Penguins last season.

However, unlike the Penguins, the added implosion of Chris Osgood and the underperformance of the Team D (partially because of Osgood) proved too much in the end.

They were jokes for much of the season, flirting with the final playoff spot but never quite being serious about getting it until very late in the season. Despite the punch line, this competitiveness is remarkable because they lost so much talent to injury and those that remained underperformed. I would have placed them fading into oblivion if I hadn't known better. That doesn't mean I didn't have any doubt about the playoffs. On the contrary, for much of the year, I had the Red Wings placing 9th, only a few points out of the 8th spot.

When the Wings came on strong and managed to finish 5th or 6th (for some reason I can't remember exactly), I was impressed. They were playing awesome hockey. And Jimmy Howard was doing Detroit and the NCAA alumni proud with his play.

In the end the Sharks were just too good for the Red Wings. I think it comes down to depth. I just see the Sharks as being the team with more depth right now than Detroit. They were able to use that depth to their advantage in this series.

So what does this offseason have in store for Detroit?

Here is a list of pending Detroit Free Agents:

Jason Williams (Center)
Tomas Holmstrom (Wing)
Kirk Maltby (Wing)
Todd Bertuzzi (Wing)
Nick Lidstrom (Defense)
Andreas Lilja (Defense)
Brett Lebda (Defense)

Rumors have it that Kirk Maltby is going to retire. I really don't see Williams or Bertuzzi being a big "must sign" either. The big question marks lie in Holmstrom and Lidstrom.

I think the Wings need Holmstrom's grit and knack for getting under the skin of the opposition. He's mouthy, a punk for sure, but at least he's not cheap like Carcillo or Cooke. Lilja and Lebda could probably be resigned for cheap...or they could go in a different direction.

What I WOULD like to see is we replace Williams with someone like John Madden. I know that is replacing what is considered a scoring center with a gritty checking center, but Madden is superb on faceoffs and great defensively and not bad in the offensive zone. However, he is expensive and he's 37 years old. If the Wings wanted to replace him with a scoring winger, I'd expect them to go after someone like Tomas Plekanec or Matthew Lombardi (if they have the money).

In truth, I'm not sure which direction they are going to go because I'm not the guy who understands the whole salary cap and math side of putting a team together. So I listed 3 high priced guys without knowing if the Wings could even sign any of them under the cap.

One thing I did notice is that Osgood is NOT a free agent. I assumed he was. Unfortunately, that means one of two things:

1. Hope he retires
2. Hope Detroit finds a way to buy him out

The guy just can't play anymore. And I'd rather not spend Osgood's salary on a backup... at least I wouldn't if I were the GM.

Instead, I'd like to bring in someone like Michael Leighton or a long shot like Dany Sabourin because they are relatively young, cheap, and in the case of Leighton, had a pretty decent season. Leighton, to me, screams Ty Conklin. And IMO, Conklin should still be backing up in Detroit.

Who knows which direction the Wings will go? But I do know that next year they'll still be a top contender.

Coyotes saga paints a poor picture of league

This is a follow up story to the blog post that I posted earlier today. More of the unfolding drama. I do have to agree with the author of this tory this does make the NHL look a little silly. Also, there seems to be something to the story that David Thomson and Mark Chipman of True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd. are leading a group to move to the Coyotes back to Winnipeg.

And while espn.com reported the city and Ice Edge had agreed on a new lease agreement that would keep the team in the desert through next year, at least, the agreement on covering operating losses still needs to be debated by Glendale city council. Still, Winnipeg seems to be back on the back burner, for now. The Reinsdorf deal, meanwhile, was always a joke; it required the creation of a special taxation zone that would convey to the gracious saviour of the team approximately US$65-million over the next three years to put towards the purchase price, and another US$100-million over seven years to cover operating losses.

Not only that, but it included control of the arena, the right to leave after five years, and a guarantee that Reinsdorf would get US$103-million back in any sale of the team. It was not a credible business arrangement; it was a charity.


And that is where this league was going. In its final attempt to keep a team in a non-traditional market -- or at least, in the display of something resembling an attempt --the NHL seems to have been reduced to proposing municipal blackmail.

Thus the best-case scenario for the Coyotes to stay in the desert is that the business receives publicly funded indemnification against losses. If only the auto industry had been smart enough to write that into their deals with the state of Michigan. Then again, it worked for much of Wall Street.

So what does this tell the next canary in the NHL's overexpanded, misaligned coal mine? What does this tell to the owners and city councils entangled with teams like Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus, Florida -- located outside Miami -- or the New York Islanders, the last of whom are currently fighting for a new building that may never come?

What it says is that if you are a Jerry Moyes, the league will sell you down the river once the money runs out, and if you are a Glendale, you will be held hostage. Oh, and if you want to move a team into the Toronto area you're out of luck, because that's being saved for expansion. Hell of a way to do business. Step right up and own a team, folks.

But we Canadians won't care about how it looks; if Winnipeg is ever finally made whole, hockey-wise, the elation will steamroll any worries about precedent, or that the building is too small, or what happens should the loonie dip back to 65 cents U.S. And as long as Mr. Thomson and his partners agree to absorb any financial losses in private, then all that's fine. [Read the whole story]

Sources: Coyotes would stay in Phoenix

This story seems to be evolving and changing by the day, it was looking better yesterday. While today's turn of events does not appear to be good for the city of Winnipeg right now, this could change again if the city of Glendale doesn't agree to pay any and all operating losses for the Coyotes next season. - Stay tuned.

The City of Glendale and the Ice Edge Holdings group have agreed on all points on a new lease agreement that would keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Arizona, sources told ESPN.com Friday evening.

The two sides are expected to sign a letter of exclusivity by early Monday morning, which will formally end the bid of Chicago sports tycoon Jerry Reinsdorf, although sources told ESPN.com that the city has not considered the Reinsdorf bid viable for some time now.

Ice Edge will not, however, agree to have its new memorandum of understanding submitted to the City Council for a vote until Glendale agrees to a number of conditions outlined by the NHL, chief among them that the city will agree to pay any operating losses the Coyotes might incur next season if a deal to sell the team collapses.

Those requirements will be discussed by City Council at its public meeting Tuesday in Glendale.

Although it's possible the city could find itself on the hook for between $20 million and $30 million in operating losses if a deal with Ice Edge or any other potential buyer moving forward collapses, it's believed Glendale will agree to the league's conditions because the NHL will exercise its right to move the team without those assurances.

It's believed Winnipeg would be the prime target for relocation, sources have told ESPN.com, and that a deal to sell the team to interests in Winnipeg could be completed quickly if Glendale cannot satisfy the league's conditions. [ESPN.COM]

BREC - BSU HOCKEY ARENA

Moose Richards of KBUN Sports Radio "the Bun" and the award winning Hockey Show sent me some recent pictures of the new Bemidji Regional Event Center as it nears completion. BSU and the UND Fighting Sioux will open the event center in October.

Former Badger Adam Burish calls Canucks clowns.

Here is the Adam Burish interview that has everyone talking, I have to admit that I agree with the former Badger Adam Burish, the Canucks are a bunch of clowns and some might even call them Hacks. I can't wait for game four.

VANCOUVER -- Chicago Blackhawks winger Adam Burish accused Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows and defenseman Shane O'Brien of being "clowns" for roughing up Blackhawks skill players during their Western Conference semifinals.

"The thing that upsets me about O'Brien and Burrows is they go and target [Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews]," Burish said Friday morning. "The clown Burrows goes after [Brian] Campbell in the middle of the ice.

"Give me a break. If you want to target someone, come find me or [Ben Eager]. You guys want to pretend you're so tough, and yet you go and try to pick a fight with those guys. If you want to hit them and play hard, fine. But those clowns are pushing them after the whistle and punching them."

Burish implied O'Brien acts tough only when Burish and Eager -- the Blackhawks' enforcers -- aren't on the ice.

"We call O'Brien a 'spot picker,' " Burish said. "He picks his spots pretty nice. He knows who's on the ice and when he can be a tough guy and when he kind of has to shut up."

Burrows' hit on Campbell drew an unsportsmanlike penalty midway through the second period of Game 3 on Wednesday, shortly after the Canucks grabbed some momentum and narrowed the Blackhawks' lead to 2-1. Dustin Byfuglien scored his second goal of the game on the ensuing power play to make it 3-1. The Hawks won 5-2 to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is Friday night in Vancouver.

"You have to be careful at this time of the year," Burish said. "I go into a game and I have a plan. You know who you want to go after, and who you want to target.

Kelly seems giddy about changing the Fighting Sioux name Edit: Audio included

First off I am an alumnus of the University of North Dakota and nothing pisses me off more than what has transpired with the Fighting Sioux nickname, this spring. UND has lacked leadership and someone to bring the University of North Dakota forward.

In my opinion Robert Kelly is the wrong person to lead this university forward, I find him uninspiring. When I read this article it makes my head want to explode of course Robert Kelly is committed to lead the transition, he has no commitment, no attachment and no understanding of what the Fighting Sioux stands for, not a clue what so ever. Robert Kelly is an alumnus Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX Kelly could give a “flying eff” about the Fighting Sioux name and its storied history. Kelly is an academic who probably has never held a real job outside of the University setting and probably looks at the Fighting Sioux Nickname as a impediment to UND and his vision of what UND should be.

I still to this day believe that UND should be run by a person that is from UND and more specifically a UND grad. You can’t tell me we don’t have someone from UND and North Dakota that isn’t qualified to run this University. I can't be the only one that feels this way? Here is the video of the this uninspiring speech. [Click to watch]

GRAND FORKS – UND President Robert Kelley told members of the University Senate on Thursday that he is “fully committed to the implementation” of marching orders he received last month from state higher education authorities concerning transition from the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Two “task groups” have been established, one to “plan and implement the process of honoring the history and traditions of the Sioux name and logo” and another to “reach out to students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends – all our constituencies.”

A third group has not yet been activated, he said, identifying it as a “new-directions task group,” which – when and if activated – “will help us think through the process of selecting a new name and logo for the university.”

Kelley, who will report to the state Board of Higher Education in Bismarck Monday on the transition, said that “for the immediate future,” he will recommend “that UND simply use its name – the University of North Dakota – and that our athletic and academic teams use the term ‘North Dakota’ or the interlocked ND as an outward identity for activities that require such designation.”

Due to licensing and contractual considerations, including the fact jerseys and other items already have been ordered, “we will use the Fighting Sioux name and logo through the coming year,” he said. “We’re certainly not going to cover up (that part of) any team item that has been ordered.”

However, “as we get through that cycle (the 2010-2011 school year), we would expect to see no Fighting Sioux logo” in use by UND teams, he said.

Kelley said he has had “cordial, businesslike talks” with representatives of the NCAA and with managers at Ralph Engelstad Arena concerning terms of the lawsuit settlement negotiated in 2007 by Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. The NCAA stipulated that many of the Sioux logos and other features at the arena would have to be removed.

Don Cherry on Flyers hack Dan Carcillo

This video is for Redwing77 as Don "grapes" Cherry addresses the diving and embellishment of the Flyers top agitator (I refer to them as hacks) Dan Carcillo. It's no mystery Don Cherry is not impressed with the antics of Flyers hack Daniel Carcillo because he has addressed this subject in his last two episodes. Don Cherry hits it out of the park with his spot on assessment and Carcillo on how he is a bully and cheapens the game with his soccer like mentality. Carcillo loves to act tough when he is dealing with players that he knows don't or wont fight. Also, notice how Cherry calls Carcillo the wrong name. Classic way of disrespecting someone by mispronouncing their name.

More on the Phoenix Coyotes mess...

A few of my readers have told me that the NHL will never return to Winnipeg. Stories like this one is the reason why I am still hopeful that eventually an NHL franchise will relocate to Winnipeg and once again be only a short drive of 150 miles away from Grand Forks, ND. That is a third of the distance one must drive to see the NHL in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I will still follow the Wild of course but it gives fans like me stuck in flyover country between Saint Paul and Winnipeg options. With each passing day the possibility of an NHL franchise moving back to Winnipeg, Manitoba is becoming more and more of a possibility and looking better and better all of the time. For fans like me that are hoping for this to happen all I can say is keep the faith.

ESPN.com was reporting late Thursday night that the agreement between the City of Glendale and Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was dead, and that Glendale, which had voted against Ice Edge and in favour of Reinsdorf several weeks ago, had reached out to Ice Edge again. Even the NHL, however, has questioned the ability of Ice Edge to put the funding together to buy the team, and ESPN.com reported that the NHL would place a number of conditions on the sale, including Glendale having to agree to cover any operating losses next season.

If Ice Edge can't strike a deal, the ESPN.com report indicated that Canadian billionaire David Thomson has a purchase agreement ready to sign that would see the team shift operations to Winnipeg.

Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz said it's "just a matter of time" before the city gets an NHL team. Even if it's not the Coyotes, Katz said this week he believes a team will be in Winnipeg within three years.

The impressive first round playoff performance by the Coyotes that saw huge crowds attend the club's games against the Detroit Red Wings apparently weren't enough to keep Reinsdorf in the game, or to make his proposed deal acceptable. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said as recently as Monday that he still hoped a deal could be struck to keep the team in Phoenix, but that he had no deadline on when a purchase could be completed.
[The Spin]

Coyotes sale in jeopardy

So you say that there is a chance. This makes the chances of hockey moving back to Winnipeg even better. I am holding out hope, as I recently told a friend of mine from Winnipeg. I can't wait till I can go to a Jets game on Boxing Day just like the old days.

The imminent sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to Jerry Reinsdorf is no longer imminent, meaning Winnipeg's chances of landing an NHL team just got a little bit better.

Several media outlets reported Thursday night that the NHL’s sale of the Coyotes to the Chicago businessman is dead and that the city of Glendale, Ariz., wants Ice Edge Holdings to assume control of the franchise in an effort to keep the team in the desert.

Scott Burnside of ESPN wrote that Reinsdorf’s deal with the Phoenix suburb is off the table and that Glendale’s city council will file documents on Friday morning accepting a new lease proposal from Ice Edge. Glendale voted against Ice Edge’s initial proposal last month.

As for the team possibly returning to Manitoba, the ESPN report indicated that Glendale needs to guarantee several conditions with the NHL before the league will agree to sell to Ice Edge.

It’s believed Ice Edge was waiting for those conditions to be met before signing the new lease agreement.

If those conditions aren’t met, Burnside wrote it’s possible the league would then look at selling the franchise to Canadian billionaire David Thomson, who co-owns True North, the company that owns MTS Centre. ESPN said a purchase agreement is ready if the Glendale-Ice Edge deal falls apart. [Winnipeg Sun]

NCAA hockey tournament could be changing

When I first read Brad's article I didn't like the idea, then I called a couple fellow hockey fans like myself and came to the conclusion that this could be a change for the better. Can you imagine if UND had gotten to play Yale in the REA instead of some run down half empty hockey arena in Worcester, Massachusetts for a best two out of three series. Yeah! In my opinion there is no way that Yale beats UND two out of three times. Before some fans from hockey east attepmpt to take my head off, I lived in Ayer, MA for a year and a half. I worked in Worcester, it is a run down city and the DCU center is a dump as well. Those are accurate statements.

NC$$...

The NCAA would win because they would sell a lot more tickets than they did this year in the NCAA regional’s. I mean seriously, you have beautiful building like the Xcel Energy Center which seats about 19,000 and you can’t even sell 10,000 tickets? That is unacceptable. Also, with home venues I don’t think you would see crappy ice like you did in Fort Wayne Indiana. The ice conditions there and at the Frozen four were a disgrace and made the NCAA look like a second rate organization. I think the NCAA can do better and if it takes a few tweaks to make things better so be it.

The format for the NCAA men’s hockey tournament may be changing in a couple of years.

Proposals were discussed at an annual college hockey national meeting in Florida last weekend and one gained the most traction.

Under the most popular proposal, the tournament would stay as a 16-team field, but the first round would be a best-of-three series played at the venue of the higher seed.

The eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals would play at one of two super regional sites. The quarterfinals would be one-game shots with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line. The Frozen Four would not change.

The proposal would have to be approved by the NCAA and could not happen until the 2011-12 season at the earliest. Regional sites already have been scheduled for the upcoming season.[Grand Forks Herald]

Is Dustin Byfuglien goal celebration over the top?

This goal celebration by former Roseau native and current BlackHawks forward Dustin Byfuglien has cause quite the discussion over on KuklasKorner. Personally, I don't have a problem with his celebration, it might have crossed the line but I am fed up with all the whining that Canucks fans have done during the playoffs. What do you think? Did he cross the line? Does his celebration lack class?

Chay Genoway press conference

Here is the video and audio of the Chay Genoway's press conference that took place at 1:00 pm today. I have to say that I am very happy with his decision to come back and play another year at UND. UND Fighting Sioux hockey coach Dave Hakstol also had a press conference as well.

Krejci to Miss Remainder of Playoffs

Here is the official announcement that Bruins fans already feared. This is very devastating news for the Boston Bruins because David Krejci fills a lot of roles on the Boston Bruins and his presence will be missed in the line up. Either Trent Whitfield or Brad Marchand will attempt to fill Krejci’s spot in the line up.

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that forward David Krejci will miss the remainder of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs due to a dislocated right wrist. The injury occurred during the first period of the Bruins/Flyers game on Wednesday, May 5.

Krejci had surgery to repair the wrist at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, MD following the game. The surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham, Surgeon-in-Chief. Krejci is expected to return for the 2010-11 NHL preseason.

The 24-year-old Krejci tallied four goals and four assists in nine games this postseason, after recording 17 goals and 35 assists in 79 regular season games. He set career highs in goals and assists in 2008-09 with 22 goals and 51 assists, in addition to leading the NHL with a +36 rating. Krejci signed a three-year extension through the 2011-12 season on June 2, 2009.

Chay Genoway returning another season. Yeah!

Today Fighting Sioux fans every where are celebrating this morning's good news. I mean seriously this is really good news for the Fighting Sioux hockey team, because they get their all-American defenseman for another season. I would say that the return of Chay Genoway makes the UND Fighting Sioux hockey a much better puck moving team defensively. There is going to be a press conference at 13:00 hours today. This is one of the final pieces to the puzzle for the 2010-2011 season. I would believe that Chay Genoway is going to be one of the top candidates and possibly one of the front runners (top three) for the Hobey Baker Memorial Awards as well.

Grand Forks, ND --- Chay Genoway has decided to return to UND for his senior season with a medical redshirt that has recently been granted.

The free agent could have pursued free agent NHL offers, but for the second summer in a row, has decided to leave them on hold in order to play for the Sioux.

Genoway got off to a great start in 2009-10, scoring 10 points in the first nine games of the season, but suffered a concussion on an illegal hit from Aaron Marvin in mid-November. He never played again the rest of the season, bothered by post-concussion problems. [Grand Forks Herald]

Bruins Win, but…

I think the Boston Bruins were lucky tonight to get the win tonight, their goal tender stopped 34/35 shots and held them in the game when the Bruins were on their heels with the Flyers buzzing. Now with the loss the Flyers have no room for error what so ever, however they will not go quitely into the night, they will put up a big fight. I expect them to play with heart and I and I expect a very rough game on Friday night. Sure they Flyers can come back and win this series anything is possible, however, highly unlikely that they do. The injury to David Krejci if it ends up being true is devastating. Krejci is a great center that kills penalties and plays on the Power Play. The hit was clean and what can you do hockey is a physical game.

The B's may have to do so without defenseman Adam McQuaid and center David Krejci, the latter of whom, according to Claude Julien, was sent to a Philadelphia hospital for evaluation on an undisclosed injury he suffered just prior to the Bruins' second goal at 5:45 of the first period. Krejci assisted on the goal scored by Miroslav Satan.

A source told NESN.com that Krejci needed a wheelchair when he left the building, and John Boruk of CSN Philly tweeted that Krejci broke his wrist on the play, will have surgery in Baltimore and is out for the series and likely the season.

Krejci was carrying the puck through the neutral zone and was cleaned out by an open ice hit from Flyers captain Mike Richards. Krejci laid on the ice as the puck popped loose to Lucic, who then found a streaking Satan for the goal.

As Krejci finally made his way to the bench, he appeared to be favoring his shoulder area, but the actual injury is still unknown. After Julien announced that Krejci went to the hospital, there was rampant speculation in the press box that Krejci had suffered a concussion.

Julien noted that he felt it was a "clean hit" and had no problems with it [NESN.COM]

Bruins push the Flyers to the brink of elimination; Bruins lose David Krejci to injury

The Boston Bruins push the Philadelphia Flyers to the brink of elimination by beating the Goons Flyers 4-1 and lead the best of seven series 3-0. I think it's safe to assume that the Boston Bruins will probably win this series, they would have to lose four games in a row.



The win for the Bruins proved costly as they lost one of their top 6 forwards David Krejci to a possible upper body injury, it sounds like from the early reports that Krejci might have a suffered a separated shoulder. David Krejci was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com is reporting that it could be a seperated shoulder. That is not good news. [Video of the Richards hit on David Krejci] You can see that it's not a dirty hit at all. John Boruk from CSNFlyers is reporting that David Krejci with a broken wrist. Will have surgery in Baltimore. Out for series and likely season. That is horrible news.

Chances of a series win good

NOTES: The Philadelphia Flyers are 31-31 over all record in Game 3s. The Flyers have never come back to win a playoff series when trailing 0-2 and returning home to play Games 3 and 4. The Bruins are 16-0 all time when they lead a best-of-seven series 3 games to 0.

Blake Wheeler got his first career Stanley Cup play goal on the power play. Wheeler had been snake bit so far this spring.

Carcillo embellishment

Here is the video of the Dan Carcillo embellishment from game two that we have heard so much about, it's pretty obvious that Carcillo is a good actor, I am beginning to wonder if he didn’t take classes in drama. The series between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers has been a hard fought series with quite a bit of banter back in forth in the media and on the blogs...