Bruins looking to trade Wheeler and Savard?

This is a rumor that was floated out there on Pro Hockey Talk. As a Bruins fan and a Gopher hater I would love to see Blake Wheeler sent packing but I don't see Marc Savard being trade especially when he has a no trade clause.

Pro Hockey Talk has learned of a possible trade in the works, with the Boston Bruins dealing Blake Wheeler and Marc Savard to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. It's likely that the Bruins would also include their 15th overall pick in the deal as well, leaving Boston with both the second and fourth pick in the first round.

Talking to another source, PHT was told that the Blue Jackets are interested in trading away their pick, although as of now there is nothing concrete in the works as far as a trade goes. Considering how reliable our source is for the information regarding this trade proposal, it seems as though there is certainly something substantial in the works although there is no guarantee this is going down. It's also important to note that Boston including that 15th pick isn't certain, although you wonder if Wheeler and Savard alone are worth the 4th. So you'd think something else would have to come back Boston's way, although I doubt they're looking to take on much salary in this trade. [Read the rest of the article]

Apparently there is some merit to this rumor, you have to wonder if Columbus approached the Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli and asked him if he would be willing to trade Wheeler and Savard for the fourth over all pick. Chiarelli probably said go pound sand up your ass. I don't think it makes any sense what so ever. Savard is one of the faces of the Bruins organization and one of their top forwards.

Our story yesterday on the rumored trade proposal between Columbus and Boston caused a bit of stir and if nothing else left people scratching their heads a bit. Before writing up the story, I double checked with my source on the information he was giving me and then posted the proposed trade that would leave Boston with the 2nd and 4th pick in next week's draft. This morning I followed up, and was assured that this was a proposal that "has been discussed" by Boston and Columbus.[Pro Hockey Talk]

Honestly this sounds like something Eklund from hockey buzz would dream up e1, e2, e3, e4 something like, sounds good but not going to happen.

Tyler Seguin Bruins first pick in the 2010 NHL Draft?

This is the player the Boston Bruins will probably select in the 2010 NHL draft in a week. The Bruins have the Toronto Maple Leaf's first round draft choice they got in the Phil Kessel trade from last summer.

Official Fighting Sioux Hockey Schedule for 2010-2011 released

The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey team has officially released the schedule for the 2010-2011 season. The Sioux will help open two new building in Bemidji and in Duluth. The Sioux will also play two new league opponents in Bemidji State University and University of Nebraska Omaha.

Sun, Oct 03 Manitoba (Exh.) Grand Forks, N.D. 5:07 p.m.
Kendall Hockey Classic
Fri, Oct 08 Alaska Anchorage at Anchorage, Alaska 11:07 p.m.
Sat, Oct 09 Alaska Fairbanks at Anchorage, Alaska 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Oct 15 Bemidji State * at Bemidji, Minn. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Oct 16 Bemidji State * at Bemidji, Minn. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Oct 22 Maine at Orono, Maine 8 p.m.
Sat, Oct 23 Maine at Orono, Maine 8 p.m.
Fri, Oct 29 Denver * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Oct 30 Denver * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Nov 05 Minnesota Duluth * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Nov 06 Minnesota Duluth * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Nov 12 Wisconsin * at Madison, Wis. 7:07 p.m.
Sat, Nov 13 Wisconsin * at Madison, Wis. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Nov 19 Nebraska-Omaha * at Omaha, Neb. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Nov 20 Nebraska-Omaha * at Omaha, Neb. 7:07 p.m.
Subway Holiday Classic
Fri, Nov 26 Notre Dame Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Nov 27 Notre Dame Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Dec 03 St. Cloud State * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Dec 04 St. Cloud State * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Dec 10 Minnesota State * at Mankato, Minn. TBA
Sat, Dec 11 Minnesota State * at Mankato, Minn. TBA
Sat, Dec 18 U.S. Under-18 Team Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Thu, Dec 30 Minnesota Duluth (U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game)at Duluth, Minn. 7:37 p.m.
Fri, Jan 07 Robert Morris Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Jan 08 Robert Morris Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Jan 14 Minnesota Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Jan 15 Minnesota * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Jan 21 Nebraska-Omaha * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Jan 22 Nebraska-Omaha * Grand Forks, N.D. 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Jan 28 Colorado College * at Colorado Springs, Colo. 8:37 p.m.
Sat, Jan 29 Colorado College * at Colorado Springs, Colo. 8:07 p.m.
Fri, Feb 11 Alaska Anchorage * Anchorage, Alaska 7:37 p.m.
Sat, Feb 12 Alaska Anchorage * Anchorage, Alaska 7:07 p.m.
Fri, Feb 18 St. Cloud State * at St. Cloud, Minn. 7:07 p.m.
Sat, Feb 19 St. Cloud State * at St. Cloud, Minn. 7:07 p.m.
Sat, Feb 26 Bemidji State * Grand Forks, N.D. 3:37 p.m.
Sun, Feb 27 Bemidji State * Grand Forks, N.D. 3:37 p.m.
Fri, Mar 04 Michigan Tech * at Houghton, Mich. 6:07 p.m.
Sat, Mar 05 Michigan Tech * at Houghton, Mich. 4:07 p.m.
Fri, Mar 11 - Sun, Mar 13 WCHA Playoff First Round at TBA TBA
Thu, Mar 17 - Thu, Mar 17 Red Baron WCHA Final Five at St. Paul, MN
Fri, Mar 25 - Fri, Mar 25 NCAA Regionals at TBA TBA
Thu, Apr 07 - Thu, Apr 09 NCAA Frozen Four

Les Habitants De Montreal trade top goalie keep the sieve

Yesterday Redwing77 posted a story about the Habs trading their top goalie Jaroslav Halak to the St Louis Blues. It's a head scratcher, if you ask me, it doesn't make sense at all. I am sure most Bruins fans like myself are happy that they won't have to face Halak on a regular basis because frankly Carey Price is an unimpressive and horrible goalie.

Carey Price's representative almost dropped the phone when we spoke. Jaroslav Halak is stunned that Montreal never contacted him after the season, meaning the Blues didn't even try to talk contract before making the deal. Tom Laidlaw, who represents Chris Mason, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "They gave us every indication they wanted Chris to be the guy." [CBC.CA]

Seriously they never even contacted him, that's a slap in the face. Halak was the reason the Habs went as far as they did. Jaroslav Halak was impressive during the Stanley Cup playoffs posting a record 9-9 2.55 and .923 save percentage, without Halak the Habs would have been done in the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

If Carey Price doesn't play well this season the General Manager Pierre Gauthier can expect to feel the ire of the rabid Habs fans if Carey Price ends up imploding.

One reporter interrupted a Gauthier response on the conference call to say his wife didn't understand how the team could trade a goalie that got them to the playoffs. It was rude and annoying, but illustrates the sentiment.

Halak is the people's choice in La Belle Province. Price has zero room for error and I'm pretty sure he's aware of that.

Obviously, this is the biggest risk. So many people who've seen Price play at the world juniors and in the AHL believe he will still be a great NHL goaltender. They believe in his size, his athleticism, his skill. He showed a lot off-ice this season, too, getting into the best shape of his career, and being helpful to Halak as a backup.

The key question is: How will he handle the first boos? We all know they're coming. Price hasn't reacted well to that in the past. Patrick Roy even pulled him aside and told him, "Hey, I had to go through it, too, so don't let it bother you."

I'm one of those who are not convinced the best place for Price is Montreal. I think it would be better if he started over somewhere else. But that option is gone now, and he's being thrown into the ocean without a lifejacket. The danger in Gauthier saying you need two goalies now - as he did on the conference call - is that it will take one bad goal for the fans to start screaming for the other guy.

Great goalies, and great players, overcome that. It is Price's time to show his greatness. [CBC.CA]

Standing Rock council votes to keep UND nickname retired

This is not good and I am a fraid that we might finally start kicking dirt on the Fighting Sioux logo. If the Standing Rock Tribe doesn't allow it's members to have a reservation wide vote on the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname, I believe that the nickname and logo will die. I don't know what else they could be done?

The Standing Rock Tribal Council voted Thursday that discussion of UND's Fighting Sioux nickname is over and it should remain retired.

Archie Fool Bear, a nickname supporter who was at the meeting, told the Herald on Thursday night that the meeting was supposed to address the petition by supporters calling for a reservation-wide vote on the nickname. Another petition brought by nickname opponents also was to be discussed, Fool Bear said.

But before that could happen, council member Jay Taken Alive made a motion that it shall be the final decision of the tribe that the nickname and logo are retired and further discussion was not necessary, Fool Bear said.

The motion was seconded and the council approved it with a 10-4 vote, Fool Bear said.

While he wouldn't say what the next step is for nickname supporters, Fool Bear said they will pursue several options. "We are not taking this lying down," he said. "We do plan to see that our people's rights here on Standing Rock are recognized."

Earlier this year, the State Board of Higher Education voted to direct UND President Robert Kelley to start a process to retire the longtime UND nickname and logo.

 [Grand Forks Herald]

In Irrelevent but Unforseen NHL News... (RW77)

Montreal Goaltender Jaroslav Halak was traded today to the St. Louis Blues for their top prospect and Ian Shultz.

Yup. You heard that right. Halak is out of Montreal. That means perennial ubersieve disguised as Roy-like savior Carey Price is now assured the #1 goaltending position (barring something stupid like signing Nabokov or somesuch).

Former Habs GM Gainey is now laughing his backside off.

It is true that Halak was unhappy to start last season. He wanted more playing time and thought he deserved it compared to Price's play. Despite the fact that such a demand comes across as whiny and self-centered, Halak was right. And he proved it.

Well, the Habs will not make the playoffs next season unless something truly remarkable happens. Their top scorer is a free agent (Plekanec) and their best goaltender now in St. Louis.

In other news, this surely means the end of Chris Mason's tenure in St. Louis. Perhaps Montreal will sign him to back up Price?

Obviously, the winner here is St. Louis. The loser is the Habs. Eller is almost Plekanec-like in potential and Schultz is a huge question mark. Apparently he was a 2008 3rd round pick of the Blues and his junior eligibility is up. So, in essence, The Habs give up one of the best young goaltenders in the league for an NHL ready forward and a throwaway. With last year's performance.... I think the Habs could have gotten more for Halak than they did.

On the other hand, only a retard would trade Halak... oh... sorry Habs fans.

Wheels are in motion - Icing rule could die

Here is an email that I got from Forrest Karr in response to my an earlier email that I sent to the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee. It would appear that the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee has blinked in regard to the ice rule that doesn't allow a penalized team to ice the puck when they are killing a penalty.

The committee actually voted to forward 22 proposals to
the Playing Rules Oversight Panel. I think this is important as most
of these proposals have overwhelming support from the coaching body.
The Committee also voted to forward two points of emphasis, three
experimental rules and two future considerations.

Over the past two days, Ty Halpin (NCAA), Ed McLaughlin (Director of
Athletics at Niagara University and incoming Rules Committee Chair)
and I have participated on conference calls with the five men's DI
commissioners, the CCHA coaches, and the ECAC coaches. Ed also
participated on a call with the Atlantic Hockey coaches. These calls
were productive and should benefit college hockey in the future.

The coaches wanted to know how they can influence the icing proposal's
fate. We told them that a form will be sent out today (Thursday, June
17, 2010) and that they will have until July 2, 2010 to comment on any
proposals. At that point, the Rules Committee will have an opportunity
to review the feedback and get together on a conference call before
deciding which final proposals will be forwarded to the Playing Rules
Oversight Panel.

Regarding the icing rule, we anticipate one of the following four results:
1) The Rules Committee decides not to advance the proposal to enforce
icing when teams are shorthanded,
2) The Rules Committee decides to advance the proposal with the
modification that a shorthanded team icing the puck is allowed to
change players,
3) The Rules Committee reviews the feedback and decides to move
forward with the proposal as voted upon originally, or
4) The Rules Committee decides to advance the proposal as an
experimental rule for the 2010-12 rule book.

Any of these results are acceptable and we are not advocating for a
specific result. We hope that participation in the next phase is high so the
committee has the best possible data to fine tune final proposals
before moving them forward. The committee is working hard to make the
game better and to reach the best conclusions given the information
received.

Wild decide to waste a jersey on Sheppard

Props to blog poster Thomas for bringing this to my attention, I must say that I am highly disappointed in the Wild for tendering him a contract. James Sheppard is a first round bust a will never amount to a hill of beans in the NHL. Why? He has had three seasons to prove him self and has done nothing but take up a roster spot on a team starving for offense. For the love of Zeus’s butt please get rid of this waste of space. I have seen nothing in Sheppard’s flimsy game that leads me to believe that he will even be a third or fourth line player. He has no scoring touch, he isn’t a very good defensive player, he isn’t overly physical – what the hell is his role? Filler player.

NHL.COM - When analyzing James Sheppard, many point to his low point total last year (six), and his high draft position in 2006 (nine). There's one other number to look at when it comes to "Shep" (22).

While yet to find his niche on the Minnesota Wild, the 22-year-old Sheppard will have at least another year to show why he was so highly coveted as a big, young center. On Wednesday, the restricted free agent signed a one-year deal to remain in Minnesota for the 2010-11 season.

The Wild also sent qualifying offers to Guillaume Latendresse, Josh Harding, Anton Khudobin, Nate Prosser and Matt Kassian. Morten Madsen and Jamie Fraser did not receive offers.

The Sheppard deal comes as a relief to a player who is disappointed in a rough 2009-10 season, but says he is completely focused on raising his game in a Wild sweater.

"Last year was not an ideal year for me," Sheppard admitted. "There is a lot I want to accomplish, and a lot of work I have to do to accomplish those things. It really is a relief to have this out of the way early, and it shows that Chuck Fletcher wanted me to be here to raise my game. He made that clear to me by signing me early in the summer, and he also made clear that there is a lot of work to be done for me in Minnesota."

Sheppard is confident he has a lot more to offer, but he makes no excuses for the inability to make an immediate impact. He acknowledged that several facets of his game need improvement, and he is devoted to improving all of them.

If I was the GM of the Minnesota Wild (that is my dream job) I say this; James thanks for you three years of service to the Wild but we won’t need you this season, we are going to try and land a player that will actually contribute on the score card. I mean seriously, who cares is Sheppard is first round draft choice, would it be different if he was a 2nd – 7th round pick, no one is going to take him off the Wild’s hands, he sucks. I don't think the Wild could get a bag of used pucks and dirty jock straps for him. I wonder if there is someone in the Wild's front office that is holding out hope (desperately) that Sheppard will all of a sudden Sheppard is going to blossom into this great offensive player that will lead the Wild to the Promised Land. Yeah! And I am going to be a super model.

Wild Beat Writer Mike Russo has a very good interview with the Wild GM Chuck Fletcher that decided to give Sheppard yet another chance to stick up the Xcel Energy Center. [Click to read Russo's Rants]

Bourne on Minnesota

I was reading Justin Bourne's blog and found this zinger that I thought was funny. Funny thing it's pretty accurate.

Minnesota Wild: The Minnesota Wild are having a draft party, as most teams do these days. So if you’re a Wild fan, swing on by Aperitif Restaurant & Bar in Woodbury and watch your team draft another overrated Minnesotan ahead of several demonstrably better players.

Ooo, daggers. The best thing I’ve read about the Wild in awhile came from the their beloved beat writer Michael Russo, who talked about the perpetual cycle of mediocrity the team is caught in. Great point, but as an Isles fan, that doesn’t sound so horrible.

Some one jumped the gun? Ryan McDonagh still a Badger...

There has been some chatter on the Internet about the Badgers star defenseman Ryan McDonagh signing a professional contract with the New York Rangers but it appears that Corey Pronman might have jumped the gun a bit. Chuck Swartz has since called Corey Pronman out for this mistake.

Last night Corey Pronman from Puck Prospectus tweeted that Ryan McDonagh had joined Derek Stepan in signing entry level contracts with the New York Rangers. Finally got a hold of Pronman this morning and he regrettably admitted that he had made a mistake and that McDonagh had NOT yet signed with the Rangers.

"I apologize for the tweet about McDonagh, it was a false alarm from someone I knew in Wisconsin. Sincere apologies. I do feel incredibly bad for that."

So McDonagh is safe at least for now. I wouldn't expect to hear any more updates until after Rangers prospects camp this summer. We'll keep you updated if there is any news of course.

10:10 AM-Update from New York Post Rangers Beat Writer Larry Brooks:

"An fyi in case it has been reported otherwise: No progress at all in talks between Rangers and Badgers' senior D Ryan McDonagh."

What a crazy summer it has been for the Wisconsin Badgers, you have to wonder if they will lose Ryan McDonagh which would be a big loss but the Badgers also have many able bodied recruits waiting in the wings.

Ex-KFAN host goes back to the workhouse

Former KFAN Star Jeff Dubay formerly of the P.A. and Dubay show is in trouble with the law again.

Former KFAN Radio personality Jeff Dubay will spend another 87 days in the Ramsey County workhouse after admitting he used cocaine -- again -- in May.

Dubay wore an orange jail-issued jumpsuit Tuesday morning when he appeared before District Judge Joanne Smith. It was his second probation violation and the fourth time he has run afoul of the law and the court system since his initial arrest in the fall of 2008 for drug possession.

Prosecutor Laura Rosenthal and probation officer Laurie Theissen told the judge that a urine test by Dubay on April 12 came back positive for cocaine. On May 20, he did not submit to another urine test but instead admitted to using cocaine on May 17-18.

Dubay was arrested Oct. 15, 2008, in Maplewood. While being pursued by police, he threw a plastic bag out of his car that contained a small amount of cocaine. He was fired from KFAN shortly thereafter. He had been co-host of the midday show with Paul Allen for 10 years.
[Red Star and Sickle]

CBC Player Cards

This is one of the things that I like about CBC coverage is that they have an awesome NHL coverage throughout the year and their post game celebration after the final game of the Stanley Cup finals let the players introduce themselves and they tell us who their favorite players was when they were growing up as kids.

Stanley Cup Top Ten...

If the above video doesn't work this one should. [Click to watch]

The Wheels are moving...

This was in today's Grand Forks Herald and worth a look if you have seen it yet. I am glad that the coaches are not going to let this ridiculous icing rule go through without putting up a fight.

College hockey coaches and commissioners will ask the NCAA Rules Committee in a conference call later this week to overturn the proposed rule that would not allow a shorthanded team to ice the puck.

The Rules Committee surprised the college hockey world Friday by announcing that the new icing rule was planned for the next two seasons.

An oversight committee still needs to approve the proposal next month in order for it to go into effect, but the coaches and commissioners are taking action before it gets that far.

“We’re trying to figure out, before it goes to the oversight committee, if there’s recourse or if there can be a re-vote based on the merits of the argument that we’d like to put forward,” Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner Bruce McLeod said. “Hopefully, we have some recourse.”

McLeod said the commissioners hope to schedule a conference call with a Rules Committee representative later in the week.

If the Rules Committee is unable to completely overturn the proposal, coaches and commissioners will ask that the language be changed to allow it on an experimental basis during exhibition games, but not for regular-season games.

The proposed icing rule was brought up during the annual coaches meetings in April. The WCHA men’s coaches voted 12-0 against it. Atlantic Hockey voted 12-0 against it and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association voted 11-0 against it. Because of the heavy opposition, coaches were shocked by Friday’s announcement. [Read the whole article]

Forrest Karr defends the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee proposals

Check out what NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee chair Forrest Karr, had to say about their horrible proposed icing rule. Seriously folks, they are clueless the AHA, WCHA and CCHA voted 35-0 against the proposed icing rule that would not allow a team on the penalty kill to ice the puck and they went ahead and proposed the rule any ways. If the NCAA wants to address something focus on the quality of officiating in college hockey.

The Rules Committee — which is comprised of men's and women's coaches, and school athletic directors, from Division I and III — can change rules every two years. Leading up to its June meetings, it gathers opinions and information, including during the Coaches Convention in Naples, Fla., which takes place each April. This year, like others, Karr's group distributed a rules survey in order to seek out consensus opinion on various ideas.

Karr said that, despite the outcry that came out after the fact, there was no overwhelming consensus for or against the icing changes. He did say, however, that it seemed, going into the June meetings, that the rule wouldn't pass. But, after hearing a number of presentations, the majority of the members of the committee thought it was a good idea — simple as that.

"Most people on the committee probably did not expect that rule to pass — I know I didn't," Karr said. "But once we got presentations from the commissioners, from the NHL, once we had discussion about people using it at USA camps — we got information and we decided on that day it would be the best thing for the game. ...

"Most of us that serve on the committee do it despite the fact that it takes a lot of time away from family. We're passionate about it. We want to see the game improve. ... The committee is not some strange entity where people don't know who's on it. It's 12 living, breathing people who have opinions about the game. They collect the information that's been presented and try to do what's best."

Karr said the committee addressed concerns about players getting too tired, especially when combined with the rule that doesn't allow line changes after an icing. But Karr said that many on the committee liked the idea of forcing the defensive team to be more creative in killing the penalty, which would give the power-play team more time in the offensive zone.

"You might see more scoring chances created," Karr said. "The negative is, coaches might just want to ice it every time and get the whistles (anyway), so there would be more whistles. But then there would be a risk of getting scored on, because we know on faceoffs, it's more likely a goal is scored. ... Overall there was also a feeling that it could even change the behavior of players, in that players would be less willing to take as many penalties — not do as much clutching and grabbing if there would be a more strict penalty once in the box, because the team would face more repurcussions.

"The people in the committee care about hockey. They felt it would be a better form of hockey."

Karr understood the criticism that the rule hadn't been tested very much, but said it got positive reports from its limited use. [College Hockey News]

We can't let this stand...

The NCAA ice hockey rules committee’s proposed some rules changes for the 2010-11 season that have not been well received by the fans and or coaches. In fact the proposed rule changes have many of us scratching our heads. Personally, I have a lot of feeling regarding these changes; many of them are in coarse/foul language so I won’t post them here. I posted a list of the names and their email addresses in a previous blog post of the morons people that are responsible for this travesty.

Feel free to send them an email and tell them how you feel about their moronic changes that they have proposed to our great sport of college hockey. I would refrain from using demeaning language or swearing at them. Just tell them that you don’t appreciate what they have proposed to the great game of college hockey. All kidding aside and shooting from the hip these people have proposed changes that will ruin our great game of college hockey, the status quo was fine, these proposed changes are horrible and these people need to be kicked off of the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee before they do anymore unbearable damage to the game of hockey.

Links to the Story

My opinion on proposed NCAA hockey rules changes [Parting Schotts]

Proposed NCAA Hockey Rules Changes Not Good for Sport [Fan House]

News - NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee Proposes Changes to Strengthen Contact To Head Rules [CCHA.COM]

Ice hockey panel proposes stricter contact rules [NC$$.COM]

NCAA Rule Changes 2010-11 [Rink and Run]

Proposed NCAA ice hockey rule changes [Michigan Hockey Net]

Share NCAA Proposed Rule Changes [Western College Hockey]

NCAA rules proposals bad for hockey [Red Hawkey]

Rules Proposals Address Head Shots, Icing [Inside College Hockey]

Serratore against proposed rules adjustments to college hockey [Bemidji Pioneer]

Questioning the Rules Change Proposal [College Hockey News]

Rules Changes: Proposal Makes Contact to Head a Major [College Hockey News]

No icing when shorthanded? [UND Hockey Blog]

College hockey: Coaches upset over proposals [Grand Forks Herald]

Putting a face on the Ice Hockey Rules Committee

Here are the people that are responsible for making those horrible rule changes to division on hockey. Email them and let them know that you don't appreciate their latest work on the ice hockey committee.

Assistant Ice Hockey Coach, John Hill UMTC, WCHA, hillx083@umn.edu
Asst. AD Sarah Fraser, Brown University, ECAC
Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach, Derek Schooley, RMU AHA, schooley@rmu.edu
Director of Athletics, Ed McLaughlin, Niagara University AHA, P: (716)-286-8600
Director of Athletics, Forrest Karr, UAF CCHA, forrest.karr@alaska.edu
Director of Athletics/Head Coach, Chris Salani, Finlandia University, chris.salani@finlandia.edu
Director of Athletics, Frank Millerick, Becker College, frank.millerick@becker.edu
Associate Director of Athletics, William Gorman, WIT, gormanb@wit.edu
Head Ice Hockey Coach, Michael J. Carroll, Gustavus Adolphus College, mcarroll@gustavus.edu
Head Women's Ice Hockey Coach, Robert Christopher Wells, SLU, cwells@stlawu.edu
Head Women's Ice Hockey Coach, William E. Mandigo, Middlebury College, wmandigo@middlebury.edu
Head Women's Ice hockey coach, Claudia Asano, Union College, asanoc@union.edu

[Committee Members]

NCAA Coaches not amused with new rules proposals.

The division one hockey coaches are not amused with the new rules proposals and college hockey fans are not amused as well. My advice to the NCAA Rules Committee, please keep your dirty hands off our game and leave it alone. The only rule that makes sense was the one the NCAA Rules Committee didn't recommending the use of half shields and Paul Kelly of College Hockey INC is on record as being for this. College Hockey News has a good story that is worth reading as well. [Many Coaches Left Irate Over One in Particular]

WCHA coaches voted 12-0 against it. Atlantic Hockey coaches voted 12-0 against it. And Central Collegiate Hockey Association coaches voted 11-0 against it.

“I think it’s just a crime,” Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore said. “I’ve been in college hockey for 18 years and I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. It was almost unanimous for the entire coaching body. How can the committee overturn the entire coaching body? I think it’s sad, the lack of respect that the committee had for the coaching body.

“We didn’t spend any time even talking about it because it was so radical. We just voted 12-0 and moved on.”

Both Serratore and UND coach Dave Hakstol raised several concerns.

One is the safety issue. Since players are not allowed to change after an icing call, a player could be stuck on the ice for two or three minutes straight on a penalty kill.

Another concern is that the icing rule hasn’t been tried on an experimental basis to determine if it works. No North American hockey league uses it.

“It’s quite a shock,” Hakstol said. “I haven’t said much, but I’m going to speak my mind on this. I’m upset about us not having a say in it as a Division I coaching body. On a national basis, we were very strongly against it, if not unanimously against it. [Grand Forks Herald]

The New Pipes are in at the REA.

I was sent these pictures from a friend on face book and the new improvements to the Ralph Engelstad Arena's ice making equipment, i.e. the new pipes have been put in and the cement was put over the top. Also, notice the Fighting Sioux logo will was embedded in the cement.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — The Ralph Engelstad Arena has settled its lawsuit against a Canadian company over improper installation of its ice-making equipment.

Details of the settlement announced Tuesday were not released.

The arena's attorney, Pat Morley, has said the ice-making equipment installed on its main and Olmypic-size rinks by CIMCO in 2001 was inefficient, leading to higher energy and maintenance costs.

The arena's manager, Jody Hodgson, says CIMCO will reinstall the ice slab on the main rink. The repairs are slated to begin April 15 and take about three months. No change will be made to the Olympic-size rink.

The arena is home to University of North Dakota hockey.

Rules Proposals will address head shots, horrible Icing rule...

Here are some of the latest changes to the NCAA Division One Hockey. I don't have a problem with the rule for penalizing the head shots "if" the refs can call the game correctly, I am not convinced with the MORONS in stripes that grace the ice in WCHA that they can do this without screwing up the game and inserting their biases into officiating the game. I don't think the refs in the WCHA are capable of pulling this off.

The NCAA Ice Hockey Committee has proposed a series of rule changes that, if approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Committee in July, would go in effect for the 2010-11 season. The proposals are:

* Enhancement to the contact to the head rule to include a minimum of a five-minute major penalty and either a game misconduct or game disqualification penalty

* Enforcement of icing at all times, including while a team is shorthanded

* Modification of the no-touch icing rule to wave off icing if an official determines that an attacking player would reach the puck before a defending player

* Alteration of the delayed penalty rule to provide the offensive team with a power play even if a goal was scored during the delay

* Changing which end each team defends during an overtime period (goaltenders would now switch ends after the third period)

The committee also addressed a proposal that called for allowing half-shield visors instead of full facemasks, but determined that more scientific data was needed before a proposal could be made.
[inside College Hockey]

Enforcement of the icing rule at all times even while killing a penalty is a horrible idea and that rule change should be voted down. It’s a horrible rule. I think that college hockey rules should mirror the NHL and not take on crummy youth hockey rules for peewees and bantams. If the NCAA is going to adopt the rules of USA Hockey at least use the one that the USA junior hockey uses. The college game is fine and if you want to improve the game make an honest attempt to cut down on the obstruction.