Sources: Hulsizer to bid on Coyotes

Here is the latest in the Coyotes debacle. It appears that a buyer has stepped up that will keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

ESPN.COM ---- Matthew Hulsizer, CEO of PEAK6 Investments is in the final stages of negotiating a new arena lease agreement with the City of Glendale after which Hulsizer is expected to make an offer to purchase the Coyotes from the NHL, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN.com.

The emergence of the Chicago-based financier and former collegiate hockey player comes at a time when negotiations between Ice Edge Holdings, a group of Canadian and American investors who have been pursuing the team for more than a year, and Glendale officials have stalled.

Although Hulsizer could not be reached for comment, sources familiar with the businessman and situation in Phoenix believe he may be the answer to the NHL's search for a viable owner.

In fact a number of sources said he represents the last, best chance to keep this team in Arizona.

"He has an unbelievable financial mind," one source that has known Hulsizer for years told ESPN.com.

"He's exactly the kind of guy that the league needs. He's a legitimate hockey guy with a lot of money."

Favorite 3 players of UND fans/players to lead the Huskies

While I am a Maverick fan, I just couldn't help to come out of hiding to write a blog post about the SCSU Huskies choices in captains. It's been announced that three of the most LOVED players by UND fans and players will lead the Huskies. The Huskies have announced that Aaron Marvin is the captain and that the alternates will be Chris Hepp and Garrett Roe. SQUEEEEEELLLLL!!! I'm not going to lie, it makes me giggle at the rage all three spew from UND fans. I can't wait for the rants and nasty comments to come from the UND community about the leaders of the SCSU hockey team. It'll be great entertainment.

I think everyone knew going into this season that Marvin would get the "C". I'm going to be honest here. I think it's a GREAT choice. While UND fans/players hate the kid he is a strong leader, a good player, and (gasp!!!) a good guy. Yes, I know many of you would disagree with me but I've had several chances to talk to Aaron Marvin in person and he was very polite and nice. Heck, the one time I was wearing a Maverick jersy and had a pack of Maverick fans with me and he sat across from us and was nothing but respectful. I'll go on the record and say that I like the kid and that he got a raw deal last season. Yes, his hit on Genoway was brutal but it is time to put that to rest. He's apologized numerous times and has taken responsibility. When Lammy wanted to fight him he practiced hockey etiquette and dropped his gloves to fight. It's not HIS fault that the refs jumped on both of them right away. Perhaps the crappy refs should have just let them duke it out (like they let Bruess and Kaip duke it out) so it could all be over. I could go on and on about this all but I'll just leave it at the fact that I think Marvin is a solid choice to wear the "C" and that I can't wait to see the outrage from UND fans:)

As for the alternate choices? Well, those really surprised me. I do like the style of hockey that Hepp plays (he's gritty, just like a Maverick) and he totally won me over last year when he was doing what I call the "running man" to get into the fight at the UND/SCSU game. It was priceless to watch him being held back by his arms by teammates and his feet going a mile a minute. That makes for good times people!

As for Hepp, I guess time will tell on wearing the "A" since he has such a temper in my opinion. Generally a team chooses a more calm player to deal with the officials, so that could be interesting.

Speaking of tempers and dealing with the officials, that would lead to my concern on Roe. I think he'll run into the same issues. Let's be honest, it's not easy to deal with the officials or talk sense into them so I think Roe's frustrations will really build with that added responsibility. He's a passionate player who'll need to reign it in to wear the "A". Again, I'll go on record saying I like the kid. I always refer to him as "Little Kalinski" because his jawjacking reminds me of my favorite Maverick player ever, Jon Kalinski. Granted, Roe has tamed down the jawjacking in the past year. That's really too bad though because I miss it! I love the instigators that jawjack to no end and annoy the opponents and their fans.

So....there you have the Husky leaders for the year. I think it'll prove to be interesting and will really stir up the UND fans! Let the spewing begin!! :)

That's all I have for now folks. Nothing new to report on the Mavericks really. Pretty sad when I have to post about a team other than my own!

To Comment or respont to Lets Go Mavs on the article click on the [link to the article]

Khabibulin going to the crowbar hotel.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is going jail for thirty days for being found guilty of driving under the influence. I think this is the right decision. I am glad that the Bulin wall was wasn't able to use his celebrity status to weasel out of the DUI charge.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was sentenced to a month in jail on Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

He must also complete an alcohol program and pay fines and surcharges of $1,507.60.

His lawyer says an appeal of the conviction has been filed so Khabibulin's sentence is put on hold and he is free to go.

On Aug. 27, Khabibulin was found guilty of three charges: driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol count of .08 or more, excessive speeding and extreme driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of .15 or more.

A minimun 30-day sentence is standard for extreme DUI.

Khabibulin was arrested at 12:35 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2010 near his home in Paradise Valley, a town in the Phoenix metropolitan area, after he was tagged for speeding in a black Ferrari. Khabibulin's speed peaked at 70 miles per hour (112 kilometres an hour) in a 45-mph (64 km/h) zone, court heard.

The arresting police officer noticed Khabibulin's eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his speech was slow. Khabibulin agreed to perform field sobriety tests and eventually consented to a blood test, which revealed his blood alcohol content to be .164 — more than twice the legal limit.

Bemidji State announces hockey ticket plan; no single-game seats available for opening series

The ticket situation for the opener between the BSU Beavers and the UND Fighting Sioux is going to be really tight, in other words tickets are non-existent. In other words if you don't have a ticket for the game you're going to have either listen to the game on the radio, watch it on T.V. (if you live in the area that gets the BSU hockey on T.V.) or watch the game at a Bar in Bemidji,MN.

Bemidji Pioneer ---- Bemidji State University men’s hockey fans will not be able to purchase single-game tickets for the first two games Oct. 15-16 at the new Bemidji Regional Event Center.

Bemidji State Athletic Director Rick Goeb announced ticket information Monday for the Beavers’ inaugural season in the Robert H. Peters Rink at the BREC.

Single-game tickets for the upcoming hockey season will go on sale to the general public beginning Oct. 18 at the BREC ticket office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

In addition to the BSU men’s team moving to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) in 2010-11, the teams are set to officially open the state-of-the-art Bemidji Regional Event Center Oct. 15-16.

The men will play North Dakota in night games and the women will face Mercyhurst in afternoon contests.

Fans can get an early look at the new facility during two events Oct. 5 and 7.

Bemidji State, in conjunction with VenuWorks and the Bemidji Regional Event Center, is planning two opportunities for hockey fans in the area to get a look at the 2010-11 edition of the Beavers and a sneak peek at the new facility.

Bad boy Birkholz feeling at home with the Silver Tips

I guess you could say that this is an interesting spin to this story. I guess this is one person's opinion.

LYNNWOOD -- Josh Birkholz has only been skating with the Everett Silvertips for two days, but already he's feeling reassured about his change in paths.

Birkholz left the University of Minnesota in July to join the Tips, a decision he wrestled with for months. But after just two days of training camp Birkholz is already feeling more comfortable, both with his new setting and his decision.

"It's everything I expected and more," Birkholz said following Friday's veterans practice at Lynnwood Ice Center. "The guys have all been really good at making me feel a part of the team and helping me get into the swing of things right away. Being far away from home, it makes it easier."

Birkholz, a 19-year-old right wing, is Everett's latest recruit. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound native of Maple Grove, Minn., was a third-round pick in the NHL draft by the Florida Panthers, and he's expected to have an immediate impact with the Tips.

But his route to Everett was circituitous.

Birkholz's first encounter with Everett came roughly a year-and-a-half ago when Tips director of player development Scott Scoville spotted Birkholz playing in the USHL for the Fargo Force. Scoville was impressed with Birkholz's abilities, and the Tips added him to their 50-player protected list.

And that's where Birkholz remained. He and the Tips had little contact after that as Birkholz realized the childhood dream of every hockey player growing up in Minnesota, receiving a scholarship to play for the Golden Gophers.

However, the dream didn't exactly play out the way Birkholz pictured it in his head. As a freshman, he found himself buried on Minnesota's depth chart, receiving just a handful of shifts each game and finishing with just five goals and one assist in 36 games.

When I see stories like this one on this kid it kind of illustrates the difference between generations. When I was in high school and college and sports if you were unhappy with your playing time and you felt that you weren’t getting enough playing time you might sit down with the coach and discuss what you needed to do to get more playing time. It was a simple conversation; your coach might tell you that it's simple play better in practice, work hard and you'll earn a spot in the lineup or get more playing time.

Fast forward to today; now players just go find another team to play for. Heck even if you’re facing disciplinary action and a possible suspension, instead of taking your medicine that you deserve, now that player just finds another team. I do not like this entitlement mentality.

Personally, I think it's a character flaw and speaks volumes to the type of people these players are. I would also bet money that this kid never ends up playing in the NHL.

Paul Kelly wants NCAA to relax stance on CHL

H/T Junior Hockey Paul Kelly wants the NCAA to relax the rule that says once you play major junior you can't play in college. I think it's a good idea. I would shoot for more than 10 games though.

Boston.com --- Education is just one tool Kelly and other college hockey proponents have to promote the game. One change the NCAA could consider is its hard-and-fast eligibility rule. Currently, once a player signs with a major junior team or even appears in one game, he is not eligible for college hockey. Like other college advocates, Kelly supports a grace period. If a player appears in 10 or fewer junior games and decides it’s not the right fit, he could still play NCAA hockey.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing the NCAA move in that direction,’’ Kelly said. “You hear a lot of horror stories about a kid who played eight games, left his CHL team, and now he’s lost. He can’t go to college, but he’s still a talented kid. But right now, I don’t think there’s a big appetite for that. The overwhelming majority of college coaches agree with the current NCAA rule that all major junior hockey is like a pro league.’’

I think the NCAA’s stance on the CHL is misguided and wrong and I think the NCAA should reconsider its stance against the CHL because frankly I think It’s hurting NCAA hockey. Let's think of it this way. What if a kid played in the WHL while he was 16 up until say his 18 birthday and then decided that he wanted to go to college and play US college hockey. Why not let that kid play division I hockey. I think that kids should be able to play in the NCAA if he wants to. Just my humble opinion.

World Cup ready to pick up hockey mantle

With the NHL not being very excited about the 2014 Olympics the World Cup of Hockey could fill the Olympic hockey void nicely. Also, I would like to see more world championship type hockey on a more frequent basis. Personally, I am a big fan of the World Cup of Hockey and excited for it's return. In 2004 the last time the World Cup of Hockey took place it was the only hockey we had from the NHL hockey players during the 2004-2005 season. The World Cup of Hockey will return during the 2011 season or during the off season leading up to 2011-2012 season. You can bet there will be a couple of ex-Sioux hockey players on team USA and Canada as well.

Calgary Sun --- Bettman isn’t keen on Sochi given its remoteness, time of the games and the fact the NHL has absolutely no say or control of the event. The NHL and its owners stand to gain nothing financially with the five-ring circus despite taking all the risks by shutting down mid-season and providing the talent.

It makes far more sense for all stakeholders — including the fans — for the best players on the planet to focus on the World Cup of Hockey, formerly the Canada Cup.

The owners will get their piece of the action, the players will get theirs, North American fans can see every game in primetime, and all the host cities will generate tremendous buzz and money for every game. People will watch.

An even bigger bonus will be the timing of the event. While the players and the owners are at odds over when the event should run, common sense suggests the owners will win and it will once again be staged in the fall, when every player is healthy and available.

Could there be a better way to grab the sports world’s attention than by opening your season with a marquee event?

Ideally, the world’s best players would face off against one another every two years — at the Olympics and at the World Cup. The reality is it’s likely only going to happen every four years, and while the obvious sentimental choice for many Canadians is the Olympics, the World Cup serves the game and its fans better.

Besides, the Olympics will be fine on its own, without hockey.

Now more notes, quotes and anecdotes from a sports world that must finally be ready to ignore the Calgary Stampeders’ light schedule and finally believe they’re for real.

This is not good for Winnipeg

This is not good for the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. This also clarifies the rumor that a professional hockey team is coming to Thunder Bay, Ontario soon. It's time to get a deal in place in Phoenix or move on. Personally, I still think there will eventually be another NHL team in Winnipeg in 2-5 years.

Phoenix Business Journal ---
A mystery buyer has stepped to the forefront in efforts by the National Hockey League and city of Glendale to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to a new owner who will keep the team in Arizona.

An undisclosed wealthy buyer is leading a new ownership group that is interested in buying the Coyotes from the NHL. The league has owned the team since October when it bought the Coyotes via Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Details of the new ownership group are very limited, though Glendale and the NHL could announce details and developments soon, according to sources familiar with the situation. The ownership group has asked for the city and league to keep negotiations private. The new buyer would keep the Coyotes in Glendale and is not a household name. In addition, sources say progress on the purchase is serious and substantial.

As the new group has moved forward, another group, Ice Edge Holdings LLC, is taking a backseat in the Coyotes ownership saga.

Ice Edge announced Monday it was focused on bringing an ECHL minor league hockey team to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Ice Edge CEO Keith McCullough said in a statement Monday his investment group could have some involvement with the new Coyotes ownership group...

Sioux pick up Jack Rowe...

In case you haven't seen it yet, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey team got a commitment from a big time recruit. Forward Jack Rowe will play at UND beginning in 2012 or 2013. Here is a link to some stats on Jack Rowe. Rowe recently played in the under 17's Five Nations Tournament.

Grand Forks Herald --- As one of the top 16-year-old hockey recruits in the country, Cary, Ill., resident Jack Rowe visited several college campuses.

His 12-year-old sister was having none of it, though.

“She loves UND. She wears UND clothes all around,” Rowe said. “When I visited any other schools, she would never come along.”

Much to the pleasure of his sister — and the rest of his family — Rowe has decided that he’ll play hockey for the Fighting Sioux in a couple of years. The 1994-born forward recently chose UND over Michigan State and Michigan.

Although he was born in Denver and has lived in suburban Chicago for almost all of his life, Rowe has strong ties to North Dakota.

His grandparents, Cleo and Neil, both live in Grand Forks. Neil attended UND. His father, Jack Sr., went to Grand Forks Red River.

When he notified his grandparents that he would be attending UND, they were thrilled.

“They were crying,” Rowe said. “I’m just really excited to play for the coaches and be part of the program, because it’s the best program in the country in a lot of people’s opinion.”

UND will be getting a talented forward who plays midget major hockey with Team Illinois. Rowe recently showcased his skills to the world.

He led the gold-medal U.S. team in scoring at the Five Nations tournament earlier this month. Team USA featured the best 1994-born forwards who do not play for the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.

WCHA Season Preview Intro & Part I (RW77)

The 2010-11 DI Season is Coming!

Yup, Season ONE of the 12 team WCHA is just around the corner, and despite the filth that is the NCAA and the Nickname issue, I'm getting excited (add to that that the NFL season is around the corner and the Cubs have once again crapped out and renewed all the haters' claims that they really are baseball's professional punch line organization)!

The season brings old challenges and new challenges and I plan to outline the new challenges and what the league brings to the table this year in my own way as well as briefly (I promise) review the old challenges. This will be done in several parts as this would surely make an unbelievably long blog post and one that I don't have the time to dedicate to writing all in one go. I plan to review a new and old challenge as well as 2-3 teams per blog post until I've run out of challenges this season faces and have previewed all 12 WCHA teams. I will not be spending any time talking about the latest nonsense regarding the BTHC or Major Juniors.

Hopefully this will be well received and I will make this a yearly occurrence.

And So It Begins

The first thing I'll hit on is the age old challenge regarding Obstruction. A few years back, the NCAA issued a crackdown on Obstruction, including what the WCHA fans call "Clutch and Grab Hockey." The result was the same as any other crackdown issued by the NCAA: Unconcern, overzealous implementation, Gradual Indifference, and finally bogus exclamation of resolution.

The WCHA almost seemingly didn't care about this, as McLeod stooge Greg Shepherd (then only a part time Head of Officiating) only half heartedly implemented his interpretation of the rules. This resulted into penalties being called every 30 seconds or so. However, as the season progressed, the penalty calling decreased and clutch and grab returned gradually, this time more adapted to make it not so overt. Inevitably, Shepherd was asked to report the progress the WCHA has made on the crackdown on obstruction and he said that the teams were very sharp and fast to learn to the point that clutch and grab practically didn't occur any longer.

Don't worry folks, you'll sense a theme here. Today, the old challenge is to engage in the up tempo style that many of the WCHA teams employ (such as UMN, SCSU, UND, and as of late UW) with a seemingly non existent Clutch and Grab mentality blinding the FOUR officials on the ice.

Teams to Preview: Michigan Tech University, University of Alaska-Anchorage, MSU Mankato

Michigan Tech University (MTU)

WCHA Record last year: 4-24-0 Overall Record: 5-30-1 (1-6-1 in Non-conference Play)

Key Losses: Malcolm Gwilliam, Drew Dobson
Key Returnees: Kevin Genoe, Jordan Baker, Brett Olson, Deron Cousins, Josh Robinson
Key Recruits: Brad Stebner, Daniel Holmberg, Dennis Rix

My Take: Well.... if you are a betting man, avoid Tech. They have some gems, but none of them produce offensively. Mainly, their top player is Kevin Genoe, a goaltender who is only a sophomore this year. Josh Robinson is also returning, and he is my sleeper on this team. I've always thought pretty highly of Tech's goaltending since watching Cam Ellsworth play way back in my on campus days. Unfortunately, they can't get offensive help. Dennis Rix comes into Houghton with a pretty good offensive output all things considered last season with Grande Prairie of the AJHL. Daniel Holmberg is a BIG Swede center who could possibly fill a role as big bodied finisher, but who knows how Europeans convert their game to the NCAA way. They do get leadership back in Baker and Olson.

Remember: Most NCAA student athletes go pro in something other than sports. Watch Tech players become good pros in other areas than hockey as soon as their eligibility is up.

Predicted Outcome: 11th

University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA)

2009-10 WCHA Record: 9-17-2 Overall Record: 11-23-2 (Non-conference Record: 2-6-0)

Key Losses: Lee Baldwin, Bryce Christianson, Jon Olthuis, Nils Backstrom, Kevin Clark, Jared Tuton, Josh Lunden
Key Returnees: Curtis Leinweber, Tommy Grant, Daniel Naslund, Kane Lafranchise, Luka Vidmar
Key Recruits: Rob Gunderson (G), Chris Kamal (G), pretty much all forwards

This team is much similar to MTU...except the defections have begun and it's hurt them as only one defection was to the pros (Baldwin) and the other was seemingly discontent. However, when the discontentment involves a player that could have been... no, essentially WOULD HAVE BEEN the #1 goaltender coming into this season and couple that with the graduation of the only other goaltender on UAA that has even ONE NCAA DI game under his belt.... This can't be good.

Junior practice goaltender Dusan Sidor (0 games entering his 3rd year in Anchorage) is joined by AJHL graduate Rob Gunderson and NAHLer Chris Kamal to vie for the starting position. Lookie at all that inexperience. This question mark is simply too GIGANTIC to even consider putting this team in any role in the WCHA other than spoiler/ruiner of PWR... if they manage to win. There's even a significant chance that they'll lose to whichever CIAU college they are playing this year.

The saddest thing is their Head Coach Dave Shyiak. I really don't think he's that bad of a coach. He's no Serratore or whoever it was that coached RIT, but UAA has the misfortune of being, well, UAA. Recruiting to Anchorage is very nearly impossible. And that means that UAA is doomed to be a virtual cellar dweller in the talent-heavy WCHA.

Predicted Outcome: 12th

Minnesota State University at Mankato (MSUM)

2009-10 WCHA Outcome: 9-17-2 Overall Record: 16-20-3 (Non-conference Play: 7-3-1)

Key Losses: Geoff Irwin, Kael Mouillerat, Kevin Murdock, Zach Harrison, Tyler Pitlick
Key Returners: Michael Dorr, Phil Cook, Andrew Sackrison, Ben Youds, Ryan Galiardi, Channing Boe

The Mavericks aren't the worst team in the league. They're just not talented enough to hang with the top pack. Add into that their historical penchant for rather...ahm...unethical standards of play and it's hard to get excited about the Mavs unless you are a diehard fan...which means you are a current or former student at Mankato.

They have some talent. Phil Cook and Austin Lee were ok. Andrew Sackrison, Galiardi, Dorr, and Youds have talent... they just can't seem to put it all together. They had the future in hand with Kevin Murdock and Tyler Pitlick but they bolted for greener pastures (Major juniors for Pitlick and the USHL for Murdock). It's too bad. That being said, of the bottom three, MSUM can best act as the best spoiler and can steal some games against the top of the league on any given night.

They give UND fits in Mankato, even when UND gets the win. That being said.... They'll fight with UNO and BSU for the top 10. In the end, I think Blais and the experience of the Beavers will be too much.

Predicted Finish: 10th

Pierre-Marc Bouchard is hopeful after missing most of last season

The Wild got some good news from one of their injured players. Or did they? Wild perimeter player forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard said he is working out again and getting ready for training camp to begin. Below is The paragraph from Michael Russo's article does concern me though.

"I still have symptoms here and there, some pressure in the head, but it's not too bad. I'm trying to pace myself on the ice and in the gym, but my goal is to be ready for training camp [Sept. 17]."

That paragraph leads me to believe that Pierre-Marc Bouchard is not all the way back from his concussion and could become a drooling vegetable with one vicious dirty hit to the head. Now every time Steve Ott or some other head hunting hack is on the ice, Wild fans will have to worry about Bouchard.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard has an expensive contract $4,080,000 a season and Wild fans are holding out hope that Bouchard can resemble the player that got (13g-50a-63pts)during the 2007-2008 season.

Khabibulin could face up to six months in jail

It will be interesting to see if the Bulin Wall actually spends time in jail or not, or will he get the celebrity treatment? I wish I could be the judge in this case. I would throw the book at Khabibulin and make an example out of him, make it hurt. I would really like to see him get the max of six months because most of us know if it was you and I we would be getting the max penalty because we are not celebrities.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Edmonton Oilers' goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was convicted Friday of three charges related to drunk driving and speeding in Arizona earlier this year.

The four-time all-star could face up to six months in jail when he is sentenced Tuesday.

Khabibulin was also found guilty of excessive speeding. His lawyer, Mark Dubeil, said in an email that one charge of impaired to the slight degree was dismissed.

Police said when Khabibulin was pulled over on Feb. 8, his blood alcohol content was .164, over twice the state limit.

Court documents indicated he was clocked going 110 kilometres per hour in a 70 km/h zone in his Ferrari.

The 37-year-old played for Phoenix from 1996-99 and still has a home in Paradise Valley.

The offences carry a minimum jail sentence of 30 days or a maximum sentence of six months.

Khabibulin signed with the Edmonton Oilers last year with a US$15-million, four-year contract

NHL to approve latest Ilya Kovalchuk contract

This would be really good news for the NHL and it's fans and it's about time that Kovalchuck drama came to end... It will be interesting to see what the terms are now.

The Hockey News --- According to a report from Dmitry Chesnokov on Yahoo hockey blog Puck Daddy, the latest contract proposal between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils will be approved by the NHL.
However, when contacted by THN.com, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly simply replied “Not true.”

Kovalchuk signed a 17-year, $102-million deal with the Devils July 19, but the contract was rejected by the league on the grounds it circumvented the salary cap. After the NHLPA filed a grievance, the two sides went to an arbitrator, who ruled in favor of the league in early August.

Chesnokov had also reported Kovalchuk’s agent had given the NHL a 48-hour window to approve a deal with the Devils before they would start looking at other options, namely the Kontinental League.

Leafs Burke weighs in on Games debate

This week during the World Hockey Summit in Toronto the NHL players playing the 2014 Olympic Games has garnered a lot of discussion. As a NHL hockey fan I want to see the NHL players play in the 2014 Olympics games and beyond, the 2010 Olympic hockey games were epic, some of the best I have ever watched, this is including the 1980 Olympics as well. I want to see the best players in the world playing during the Olympics. For some reason the NHL owners and General Managers seem hesitant. Here is what the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke had to say.

The Globe and Mail --- “Our players don't get paid when they go to these tournaments,” Burke said. “They make nothing. The [International Olympic Committee] makes a fortune off this, and they can talk about redistributing it – and that's largely true – but the players don't get paid for this. I've been the GM of four U.S. teams at the world championships, and I love the tournament. I hope we always go … [but] our players don't get anything.

“I think they got $1,000 for 22 days of work last year. They got one business-class ticket to bring over their wife, or a parent, or a brother – they didn't bring their families over unless they reached into their own pockets and paid for it. These guys are volunteers. Everyone makes money off of these tournaments except the players.”

Burke's comments came in response to an overwhelming support for continued Olympic participation from most of his fellow panelists and those attending the summit, with only NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly also voicing reservations about the league's involvement in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

Olympic question dominates Hockey Summit

Redwing77’s favorite NHL commissioner said that no decision has been made on the 2014 Olympics as of yet. That’s refreshing. I am hoping that by 2014 Gary Bettman is no longer the NHL commissioner.

Bettman stressed that no decision has been made on the NHL’s participation at Sochi in 2014 and, really, there’s no rush. He noted there were issues, a litany of them, to be addressed by both the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before the matter is even considered by his league’s board of governors and a decision is made in conjunction with the NHL Players’ Association.

“We haven’t said, ‘No.’ Anybody who suggests that we’ve made a decision or that I’m anti-Olympics doesn’t get it,” Bettman told the gathering of delegates.

“What we’ve been simply saying is, it’s a mixed bag and it has been all along. We need to evaluate and re-evaluate and we’ll decide at the appropriate time.”

Shake-up coming in college hockey?

Some one posted this article over on Sioux Sports.

LSJ.COM --- Depending on which hockey source you talk to, Penn State will have a varsity hockey team by 2014, and the Nittany Lions' presence could turn the college world as we know it upside down. Penn State has a sole donor ready to ante up $80 million for a 6,800-seat arena.

For sure there will be a six-team Big Ten league at that point. What is unknown is what will happen to the CCHA and WCHA. The NCAA has restricted regular season schedules to 36 games and most believe that number will not increase.

Can Big Ten schools also play for other league titles? Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State are in the CCHA could come in as the 12th member. Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the WCHA. So, are enough games available to determine two titles? No one knows at this point but many are convinced Penn State will add Division I hockey. I don't see how the CCHA can flourish without a Big Ten presence and what happens with Notre Dame? The school will soon complete a gorgeous 5,400-seat arena and needs quality teams to help fill it for home games. Would Notre Dame remain in a CCHA without a Big Ten presence? Stay tuned.

It seems like we have heard about the Big Ten Hockey Conference forever. Personally; I am tired of hearing about it, time to put up or shut up. This was one reasons UNO gave for wanting to move to the WCHA; in case there ever was a Big Ten Hockey Conference, UNO felt at least they would be in a viable hockey conference. More than likely the WCHA could stand on it's own without Wisconsin and Minnesota. The CCHA minus Michigan and Michigan State isn't that attractive, you would have Miami and Notre Dame.

I believe that College hockey is eventually going to have to discuss these issues. To the self serving narcissists that think College hockey is all about the Big Ten Schools are wrong; the Big Ten Schools are just one piece of a very big puzzle but not an end all to be all.

One option I could see is the Big Ten schools playing all of their non-conference games against the Big Ten Schools. Wisconsin and Minnesota already play Michigan and Michigan State so they could just have their show case tourney on steroids during non conference play.

Also, while I think that Damien Cox is a great NHL beat writer who's beat covers the Toronto Maple Leafs he should stick to covering the Maple Leafs.

Penn St. is starting a program in September 2011, Indiana University is considering doing the same and there’s hope that some of the 421 U.S. colleges that have club teams in the American College Hockey Association may consider converting those to full-scholarship, Division I programs.

Penn State is "talking" about starting a college hockey program, there is a big difference between starting a hockey program and talking about having one.

Devils and Kovalchuk need to go back to work again

This has really turned into a mess. This mess could drag well into training camp and beyond. I think the NHL opened a can of worms that is going to cause another lock-out.

Fire and Ice --- According to multiple reports, the NHL did not approve the latest contract framework the Devils and Ilya Kovlachuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, presented at Monday’s meeting at league offices in Manhattan.

The Devils and Grossman have been working on a new deal since arbitrator Richard Bloch upheld the league’s rejection of the Devils’ 17-year, $102 million contract with Kovalchuk in his Aug. 9 ruling. Monday’s submission—not an actual contract—was not the first the Devils/Grossman made to the NHL since then. This has been a continuing process over the last 16 days as they have been trying to put together a contract structure that they are certain the league will approve before officially signing it and submitting it for approval. Apparently, their latest attempt also was not good enough

Now I feel much better...

Well I feel much better now knowing that Tiger didn’t have a nine iron taken to his head by his estranged ex-wife. Wow! Now we know that Tiger can at least be truthful once in a while.

ESPN Sports Center --- Nordegren told People that she never hit Woods on the night of the car crash. "There was never any violence inside or outside our home," she said. "The speculation that I would have used a golf club to hit him is just truly ridiculous." Nordegren said Woods left the house that night and when he didn't return after a while, she got worried and went to look for him. She said that's when she found him in the car. "I did everything I could to get him out of the locked car," she said. "To think anything else is absolutely wrong." The magazine said the interview was conducted over four visits lasting a total of 19 hours at the rented Windermere, Fla., home where she now lives with their two children.

"I've been through hell," she said. "It's hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden - was it a lie? You're struggling because it wasn't real. But I survived. It was hard, but it didn't kill me."

In an interview on NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday morning, People magazine reporter Sandra Sobieraj Westfall said Nordegren and her team approached the magazine. Westfall said Nordegren wanted people to know three things: she's not violent and never hit Woods; she had no idea this was going on; and it was a real marriage for her.

In the interview, Nordegren would not disclose the amount of the divorce settlement but did say "money can't buy happiness or put my family back together. I'm so embarrassed that I never suspected - not a one. For the past 3.5 years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school."

Nordegren said she would eventually come to forgive Woods but that she is still working on it. "Forgiveness takes time," she said. "It is the last step of the grieving process." In the meantime, the Swedish-born Nordegren said she is excited to start the next chapter of her life and intends to stay in the U.S. with her children. She said she hasn't watched a minute of golf.

While I usually don't cover golf on this blog, I must admit that I am was a Tiger Woods fan and I am disappointed with his antics this past year. Being a married family man myself I am disappointed in Tigers choices, because he is a role model for others and I feel that he let us down. It also sounds like Woods has had sex with more porn stars and hookers than Charlie Sheen. I mean seriously, look at his ex-wife she is definitely a looker and then Google the women that Tiger cheated on her with. I don’t understand it. Something doesn’t add up…

I guess he thought that marriage vows mean only while you’re at home. It almost sounds like Tiger took the line what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and ran with it. You have to wonder if Earl Woods is rolling over in his grave.

Having watched the trials and tribulations of Woods this summer you have to wonder if Tiger’s tough austere persona on the golf course was just a façade? The cat is out of the bag I guess. Tiger has looked more like a weekend duffer than a major champion. Seriously! Personally, I hope that Tiger can get his act together and resume being a dominant force on the golf course, because frankly I am getting bored with some of the guys that have won on the PGA tour this summer.

Summit turns deaf ear to NCAA

Damien Cox a sports writer with the Toronto Star has a really interesting article about the World Hockey Summit and how Paul Kelly of College Hockey Inc was snubbed World Hockey Summit.

Toronto Star --- You’ll have to forgive Paul Kelly for feeling a tad radioactive.

But then, you might feel that way, too, if you held the position that the former NHL Players’ Association boss does today, but still found yourself persona non grata at the event that bills itself as the World Hockey Summit.

Kelly, in case you didn’t know, survived the disgraceful coup d’etat at the NHLPA with his reputation intact, so much so that he was quickly snapped up by the NCAA and hired as the executive director of College Hockey Inc., the nine-month-old organization that acts as the information and marketing arm of U.S. college hockey.

Given the heated battleground that is the relationship between the NCAA and Canada’s junior hockey system, with both competing furiously for the same players, you might think Kelly would be a useful speaker at the summit.

Well, you thought wrong, and it’s not hard to guess that it was the CHL, one of the organizations behind the summit, that didn’t want him involved.

“If the summit is truly what it says it is, you’d think they’d want to hear all views,” said Kelly. “You’d think they’d welcome the chance to heard from an NCAA perspective and from someone on the front line. But for whatever reason, they didn’t want me there.”

Of late, the bodies have been flying between the NCAA and CHL, mostly one way. Last year, it was Leaf draft pick Kenny Ryan bolting Boston University at the last minute and joining the Windsor Spitfires. This summer, Habs first round pick Louis Leblanc left Harvard for the Montreal juniors, while Jerry D’Amigo bolted RPI for one of several possible destinations, including the Leafs, Toronto Marlies or Kitchener Rangers. Then, Jarred Tinordi, after committing to Notre Dame and even taking summer classes, left to play for the London Knights.

What Kelly would have told the summit, had he been invited. Is that, in his opinion, the “relentless” recruiting of players who have committed to U.S. schools by CHL teams is both unseemly and destructive to the sport. U.S. colleges are powerless to reverse the flow by luring players from Canadian major junior teams because those players have already forfeited their NCAA eligibility.

Kelly would also argue that allowing CHL teams to draft players as young as 14 is forcing the NCAA to find ways to recruit at ever younger ages, as well. Again, not particularly good for the game.

Even if the NCAA and CHL were to sit down and talk, the NCAA really has nothing to bargain with. The CHL can steal the NCAA hockey players and the NCAA Hockey can’t steal the CHL’s players because the NCAA incorrectly considers CHL hockey players to be professionals. Seriously, If I was on the NCAA oversight committee, I would lobby to have that rule to not allow CHL hockey players to play in the NCAA would be the first thing that I would change, it’s a stupid rule.

IIHF President Rene Fasel a fan of the small ice

I must say that I agree with Mr. Fasel, I hate Olympic sheets of ice, first I think facilitate taking hitting out of the game of hockey. Second I think they look God-awful. I really liked seeing the Olympics on the regulation NHL size ice. Bravo!

NHL.COM - IIHF President Rene Fasel was bowled over by the Vancouver 2010 Olympics it seems.

Vancouver was best-ever tournament for me," Fasel said Tuesday during a formal Q and A session at the World Hockey Summit. "It was just incredible."

In fact, the best-on-best national team tournament, featuring NHL players for the third-straight Olympiad, was so good that it changed Fasel's opinion about the small ice surface, which was used in Vancouver.

Generally, Olympic hockey tournaments are contested on the larger ice surface prevalent throughout Europe, but the 2010 Games were played on the 200 by 85 sheet used by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.

"After the Vancouver Games I will tell you I like the small ice very much," he said. "What I saw was that the intensity of the games, for the hockey fan, was just incredible."

Despite that, it is unlikely he will push too hard to unify the playing surfaces in North America and Europe. He admits the big ice question is a political one in Europe that will not be easily decided.

He also said that concerns about figure skating and speed skating, sports that use the same ice surfaces as hockey throughout Europe, will further muddy the issue.