The faces of George Gwozdecky

I couldn't resist, I had to share this picture with those that haven't seen it yet, this is definitely a keeper and a great illustration of the animated character that is George Gwozdecky. This picture is from Fargo Sioux's signature over on Sioux Sports. All we need now is one of him standing on the dasher and walking across the ice.

DU’s John Lee and Sam Brittain honored by WCHA

The Fighting Sioux hockey team’s favorite punching bag the Denver Pioneers, have a couple of players that won weekly awards from the WCHA this past week. One of the least popular Denver Pioneers amongst Sioux fans is University of Denver junior defenseman John Lee.

The Denver Post ---- The WCHA on Tuesday tabbed University of Denver junior John Lee and freshman goaltender Sam Brittain with weekly awards, after the Pioneers got through the weekend with a victory and a tie against Wisconsin.

Lee was named defensive player of the week after posting a plus-2 rating over the two games. He also had four blocked shots and an assist on the game-winning goal Friday.

Brittain was named rookied of the week after stopping 51 of 55 shots over the two games. His compiled a .927 saves percentage over the weekend in relief of starter Adam Murray.

Leafs Orr takes out goalie - goal counts

I was watching this game tonight and I can't believe this goal counted. It's definitely goalie interference in my opinion. What do you think? Should the goal have counted?

Wheeler and Ryder on the trading block?

Marco Sturm has a no trade contract so you can bet that the German is going anywhere and the Bruins are going to have to make room for their two returning players, that leaves Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder as possible trade bait. The Bruins are going to have to make room and apparently Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli hasn't ruled out sending Tyler Seguin back to Plymouth Whalers of OHL before 10-game mark.

CSNNE.com--- The B's GM is burning up the phone lines with other general managers around the league while setting the framework in place for potential deals when salary-cap issues come to a head with the Bruins.

It's getting to be about the time for the B's to kick up trade talks, and Chiarelli is doing just that for a Bruins team that's already shown plenty of promise in a handful of games this year.

Several hockey sources indicated to CSNNE.com that the Bruins are in the beginning stages of discussing deals involving several players, including Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder. The urgency for Chiarelli and the Bruins is a need to make room for at least two forwards when Marco Sturm (knee) and Marc Savard (post-concussion syndrome symptoms) are ready to come off long-term injured reserve.

Matt Hunwick could also be in the trade mix for the Bruins if they can find a willing partner, but thus far the market hasn't quite developed for the aspiring puck-moving defenseman. Hunwick has been inconsistent over the last year-plus since a promising rookie season two years ago, but his skating ability remains unquestioned.

Mark Stuart has drawn interest around the league at points over the last two seasons, but he's an integral part of the B's leadership inside the dressing room.

Dustin Brown levels Antti Miettinen

Here is the controversial hit from last night's Wild and LA Kings game. So did this warrant a 5 minute major and a game misconduct? From the video it does appear that Brown hit Miettinen high, however, it's kind of inconclusive if Brown was hit in the head.

Bruins get good news; Savard, Sturm hit the ice

The return of these two players would help the Boston Bruins in the line up offensively. Sturm was hurt last spring during in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last; Sturm was hurt attempting to check former Denver Pioneer Matt Carle.

WILMINGTON -- Good morning from Ristuccia Arena, where Marc Savard and Marco Sturm are skating prior to their teammates taking the ice for practice.

Both Savard and Sturm are currently on long-term injured reserve as they work their way back from their respective ailments. Savard and Sturm are dressed in the black jerseys usually worn by the defensemen. Savard is wearing a shield, which he has not done throughout his career.

Sturm confirmed that today was his first day on the ice. Sturm said he's feeling no pain in the knee, but said it's not as strong as the other one.

The left wing had originally planned to start skating upon the team's return from Prague. But Sturm said the travel and some fluid in the knee pushed his plans back. He will skate on his own for the next several weeks as he continues to strengthen the knee.

"It's going to be tough," Sturm said of returning by mid- or late-November. "I don't know. I really don't know. We just have to see how the next 2-3 weeks go. I want to make sure I'm going to be full strength. Before that, I'm not going to play."

UND and DU week – A trip down memory lane.

Since it’s UND and DU hockey week I thought I would post a few reminders about the DU and UND rivalry to get your juices flowing. One could make the argument that the Pioneers have replaced the Gophers as our top rival. Both teams hate each other and there is no love lost between the fan bases as well. I also think most of us enjoy the games between the two programs.

I think that this is going to be a hard fought series this weekend and I think the DU fans and their media is kind of sand bagging and down playing how good their team is. While DU has a few good players nicked up I do think they are better than they are leading on.

The Fighting Sioux can not over look this DU team and they need to play smart and take some of their pride back after last weekends spanking at the hands of the Maine Black Bears. The Sioux will also have to play smartly because DU is the darling of the WCHA and will get all of the breaks from the WCHA officials this weekend. You have to wonder if another WCHA will get suspended or if UND will get 6 straight penalties in a row.

I am sure Sioux fans are wondering what the over and under of the chances of there being a dancer dance or not. I am also wondering if Todd Anderson is going to be one of the officials for this weekend’s series.

Here are some of the videos from previous games. Fighting Sioux and the Denver Pioneers from February 2008. [click to view video]

Last season was no different as the game got heated between the Pioneers and Sioux. [Click to view video]

Denver University Pioneers coach Gwozdecky takes a stroll across the ice. [Click to watch the video]

Here is the infamous cup check on one of the most hated Pioneer’s player of all time. Mike Prpich of the Fighting Sioux "Pops" Geoff Paukovitch with his stick. George goes nuts and dances on the dasher [Click to view viedo]

Lastly, how can we forget that Alanna Rizzo doesn't like the Fighting Sioux fans.

Denver Post - FSN Rocky Mountain reporter Alanna Rizzo covered last weekend’s DU series at North Dakota, returning to Denver on Sunday with mostly bad memories from her first trip to Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.

“Honestly, if I’m not covering Denver the next time they go there, I would never have any reason in the world to ever go to a North Dakota hockey game,” she told me Tuesday. “(Sioux fans) need to realize they leave a bad taste in an opponent’s mouth, or anyone that’s going to see the arena for the first time.”

Rizzo’s angst stems from obnoxious and seemingly uncontrollable Fighting Sioux fans — particularly adults.

“It was a little too much for too long,” Rizzo said. “It wasn’t the student section as much as the older crowd, right on top of the DU bench, and I stood in the hallway going into their locker room.

“There were a lot of derogatory comments . . . from men and women, young and old, asking me about Coach Gwozdecky’s behavior, calling him a ‘Little Man,’ asking me ‘Why are you really here?’ and ‘I vote for last night’s outfit.’ It’s one thing to cheer for your own team, I’m all for that, but to constantly berate college athletes that are not being paid to play a sport for the constant length of the game was a little much.”

Rizzo, who also covers the Colorado Rockies, is in her second season working DU hockey for FSN. Previously, she covered the University of Wisconsin’s men and women’s hockey teams in Madison for WISC, a CBS affiliate. She worked Badgers games in 2006, the year both UW teams won NCAA championships.

Canucks' Goon Rick Rypien apologizes for grabbing fan during NHL game

Yawn! Rypien is probably only sorry because the NHL told him he has to be, I do believe his sentence from the NHL was a slap on the wrist and should have been in the 10-20 games area.

VANCOUVER - British Columbia - Canucks forward Rick Rypien has apologized for grabbing a fan during a game last week.

Rypien is serving a six-game suspension for making contact with James Engquist during a game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul on Oct. 19.

"I know what I did was wrong," Rypien said.

Rypien was headed to the locker room Tuesday night after being assessed a double minor for roughing and 10-minute misconduct when he reached up and grabbed Engquist, a fan applauding at the railing. Rypien was pulled away by teammate Manny Malhotra and coach Alain Vigneault. Engquist and his brother, Peter, were removed from the area.

The Canucks also were fined $25,000, as required by NHL policy.

Lamoureux, Falcons respond to coach's scolding

Here is an interesting story that is worth a look from Sioux_Yeah_Yeah's favorite college hockey beat writer Mike Chambers.

The Denver Post - Last Saturday, the morning after Air Force fell to 0-4 with a shocking home-opening loss to downtrodden American International, Falcons coach Frank Serratore took the Herb Brooks approach of teaching.

"I lit into these guys like you couldn't believe," the emotional coach said Monday, two days after the Falcons crushed American International 12-0 in the finale of the two-game series. "I had had it with these guys. We needed to become a team."

Serratore was furious at his seven seniors for failing to lead and earn respect from seven freshmen.

"There was a generation gap, and I blame the older guys for not closing it," he said.

He was particularly critical of senior center and co-captain Jacques Lamoureux and senior linemate and assistant captain Derrick Burnett. Lamoureux was an All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist as a sophomore but went into Saturday without a goal.

"I told them we had too many coaches and not enough players. We need one coach and one villain, and that's me. That's my job," Serratore said. "I want guys that love each other and want to go to war together. There's nothing worse than having an 'ununified' room. That was torturing me. I want a team that faces the Denver Pioneers and fights their tails off for each other. We're Air Force, and that's why I love this place. We have to have the chemistry-brotherhood thing on our side, because without that we don't have a chance."

Sioux fall to 8th in both polls

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[October 25, 2010]
1 Miami (28) 4-1-1 975 3
2 Boston College (19) 3-1-0 952 1
3 Minnesota-Duluth ( 1) 5-0-1 854 6
4 Michigan 3-1-2 769 4
5 Yale 0-0-0 733 5
6 Boston University ( 2) 4-0-1 726 8
7 Maine 3-1-2 710 12
8 North Dakota 3-2-1 679 2
9 Nebraska-Omaha 5-1-0 572 10
10 New Hampshire 1-1-2 513 7
11 Michigan State 2-0-2 427 16
12 Denver 2-2-2 400 11
13 Notre Dame 4-1-0 391 17
14 Cornell 0-0-0 366 13
15 Alaska 3-2-1 340 9
16 Union 5-1-0 339 18
17 St. Cloud State 2-3-1 224 14
18 Wisconsin 3-2-1 166 15
19 Colorado College 3-2-1 69 19
20 Minnesota 3-3-0 57 20
20 Rensselaer 3-1-2 57 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Robert Morris 51, Michigan Tech 47, Western Michigan 26, Ferris State 19, Bemidji State 10, Quinnipiac 10, Merrimack 6, Vermont 5, Canisius 3, Northeastern 3, Massachusetts-Lowell 1


USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
[October 25, 2010]
1 Miami University 493 (18) 4 4-1-1
2 Boston College 481 (14) 1 3-1-0
3 University of Minnesota Duluth 415 (1) 5 5-0-1
4 University of Michigan 365 3 3-1-2
5 Boston University 349 (1) 8 4-0-1
6 University of Maine 324 11 3-1-2
7 Yale University 319 6 0-0-0
8 University of North Dakota 278 2 3-2-1
9 University of Nebraska Omaha 219 10 5-1-0
10 University of New Hampshire 171 7 1-1-2
11 University of Notre Dame 143 NR 4-1-0
12 University of Denver 126 13 2-2-2
13 Union College 105 NR 5-1-0
14 Michigan State University 104 NR 2-0-2
15 Cornell University 77 12 0-0-0
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska 47, St. Cloud State University 29, University of Wisconsin 13, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 6, Robert Morris University 6, University of Minnesota 5, Michigan Tech University 4, Ferris State University 1.


Read more: http://www.uscho.com/rankings/national-polls/#ixzz13QThp3xo

Sioux drop to 7th in the INCH Power Rankings

INCH Power Rankings
[October 24, 2010]
1. Boston College
2. Miami
3. Minnesota Duluth
4. Michigan
5. Boston University
6. Maine
7. North Dakota - The last time the Fighting Sioux got swept by a non-conference opponent? Why, that was Oct. 20-21, 2006, when Maine won two games at Engelstad Arena.3-2-1 (2-0-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: L at Maine, 7-3; L at Maine, 4-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Denver, vs. Denver
8. Yale
9. Union
10. Michigan State
11. New Hampshire
12. Denver
13. Notre Dame
14. Nebraska-Omaha
15. Alaska
16. Rensselaer
17. Wisconsin
18. Cornell
19. Robert Morris
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: St. Cloud State

Bubble-licious: Colorado College, Michigan Tech, Quinnpiac, St. Cloud State

A Look at the numbers.

Here are the Fighting Sioux goalie stats after six games, one could make the argument that the Fighting Sioux record is a mediocre 3-2-1 for team that is this talented. On the flip side of that argument, UND has gone 3-2-1 on the road and has yet to play any home games. The defensive and goaltending numbers are frightening so far and the Fighting Sioux have to get better if they are going to do anything in the up coming season and post season. The poor goaltending numbers are also a direct reflection of the team defense in front of them. UND which traditionally has been know for its strong defense in the past, has been giving up turnovers at crucial times in the games.

Aaron Dell, G, So, 2-2-0, 2.88 GAA, .883 Save Percentage
Brad Eidsness, G, Jr, 1-0-1, GAA 4.46., Save Percentage .762

The UND Fighting Sioux power play and penalty kill has been ok so far this season. [Click for national stats]

(Combined special teams)14 North Dakota 37/ 68 54.4
(Penalty Kill) 34 North Dakota 29/ 37 2 78.4
(Power Play) 10 North Dakota 8/ 31 1 25.8
(Penalty Minutes) 7 North Dakota 6 120 20.0
(Scoring Defense)33 North Dakota 6 21 3.50 (not good)
(Scoring Offense) 12 North Dakota 6 23 3.83
20 - Matt Frattin (TOR)North Dakota, SR F 6 7-2-9 1.50
2 - Goals per game - Matt Frattin(TOR)North Dakota 7 1.17
48 - Assists per game - Corban Knight and Derek Forbort 5 0.83
Power Play goals 1 Matt Frattin 6 0.67

Scores from October 23rd

Saturday, October 23

Holy Cross 1 at Quinnipiac 3
Morrisville 1 at Princeton 7
Alaska 1 at Michigan State 4
Colgate 4 at Lake Superior 5
North Dakota 2 at Maine 4
Niagara 3 at Rensselaer 4 OT
Northeastern 3 at UMass Lowell 1
Providence 1 at Boston University 2
RIT 2 at Union 7
USA Under-18 Team 0 at Cornell 6
Western Michigan 3 at St. Lawrence 3 OT
American Int'l 0 at Air Force 12
Alab-Huntsville 2 at Bowling Green 4
Boston College 1 at Notre Dame 2
Canisius 3 at Sacred Heart 3 OT
Connecticut 3 at Army 2
Merrimack 2 at Vermont 2 OT
Ohio State 5 at Ferris State 3
Alaska Anchorage 0 at Minnesota Duluth 6
Colorado College 1 at Minnesota State 0
Wisconsin 2 at Denver 2 OT
Bentley 3 at Clarkson 3 OT
Northern Michigan 1 at Miami 9
Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Michigan 6

Analysis – The University of Omaha Nebraska lost it’s first game of the season against the Wolverines. Dean Blais’ team got the split, they had won only once in Ann Arbor before this weekend.

The UND Fighting Sioux swept in Maine by the Black Bears. To quote College Hockey news; the Sioux go back to Grand Forks humbled. Humbled yes, but there is a lot of season left. No mention of the disparity in the number of penalties called against the Sioux on the weekend, Maine Black Bears 19 Power Plays and UND Fighting Sioux 10, officials have been fired and or suspended in the WCHA for bravo sierra like this. Letter sent to Hockey East Commissioner, I doubt that I will get a response from him. Told him it was one of the most one sided officiating jobs I have ever seen in my years of watching college hockey, this one even topped the debacle in Denver last November. I am serious when I say that I think head hockey coach Dave Hakstol and the UND administration should think twice about going east again until the officiating is discussed with the Hockey East commissioner. Imagine if Maine had come to UND and gone through the same thing, seriously, it would be considered an incident.

The UMD Bulldogs swept the big slow lumbering team from Alaska Anchorage with a 6-0 shutout win on Saturday night. A nondescript no name goaltender (Aaron Crandall 2-0-0, .50 GAA and .977 SV%) gets the win and the shutout for the Bulldogs. Seems like some coaches can recruit legit goaltenders.

Colorado College and Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU-M sporting some ugly uniforms I might add) lost a tight checking game to the C.C., the game got ugly at the end as Rylan Schwartz was given a five minute major and a game disqualification for a dirty leg check on Chase Grant. Before someone jumps down my throat, yes I did watch the end of the game it was on channel 27 Midco Sports in Grand Forks, ND. Schwatz will sit out the next game the Tigers play for his efforts.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish show that that Boston College Eagles are human as the Fighting Irish win 2-1 in South Bend on a goal from Calle Ridderwall.

Picture was taken by the Bangor Daily News.

Black Bears 4 Sioux 2 - Shooting yourself in the foot with style

I going to preface this blog post with the comment that the officials probably didn’t cost the Fighting Sioux the game(s) this weekend, however, the officiating in this series was brutal and very one sided almost to the point of being a joke. In fact Hockey East should be ashamed of themselves. Fighting Sioux hockey coach Dave Hakstol might want to think twice about traveling out east again if this is what the Sioux are going to face on the road, that being said, the Sioux looked at times this past weekend to be have been out coached and out played. This is not a team full of 9 – 10 freshman this is a veteran team that had it’s ass handed to them by a decent hockey team.

It's early in the season no need to panic 

I know it’s early and I would never abandon this Fighting Sioux team but what happened this weekend was unacceptable this should not be happening to the Fighting Sioux especially with the personnel that they have on this team. Also, there is no need to start the yearly campaign to fire Dave Hakstol. None the less, there were too many turnover and mental lapses at key times in the game. So with the sweep this weekend he Maine Black Bears have beaten the Fighting Sioux 4 games in a row that is unacceptable as well.

Some need to step it up

Again there is no reason to panic; however, certain players need to play with more disciplined and with a little more heart.  I came away this weekend as being unimpressed with the effort of the Fighting Sioux hockey team. Too many players took the weekend off and or failed to show up to play. It was apparent that Chay Genoway and Matt Frattin played their heart out but a few others were caught standing around watching the Maine Black Bears make plays. I do believe that the Sioux will come back next weekend and put out a good effort.

Check out the box scores and look at the links to the stats, it wasn't pretty tonight as well. The UND Fighting Sioux took five straight penalties and  a few of them were of the weak variety. The Maine Black Bears were tapping Aaron Dell's glove on every save but the Sioux players couldn't respond for fear of being put in the penalty box. Maine comes back to the Ralph for a series I believe next season or the season after and it will be interesting to see if the shoe was on the other foot how would Maine respond.

Frattin continues hot streak

Matt Frattin continues his torrid pace as he has scored 17 goals in 19 games, that is an impressive streak in my opinion, Frattin just seems so focused and driven and it appears that he is trying to lead by example and take the team on his back. Frattin was one of the few players that played hard all weekend and moved his feet.

[Box Score] and or [Live Stats]
Period 1 - No Scoring
Period 2
NDKM 1 - 0 Ben Blood Matt Frattin / Evan Trupp 13:25 EV
MAINE 1 - 1 Nyquist, Gustav Dee, Robby / Abbott, Spencer 16:04 PP
MAINE 1 - 2 Diamond, Joey Dee, Robby / Van Dyk, Josh 18:17 EV
Period 3
MAINE 1 - 3 Flynn, Brian Dimmen, Jeff 00:54 EV
MAINE 1 - 4 Abbott, Spencer O'Neill, Will / Nyquist, Gustav 06:39 PP
NDKM 2 - 4 Matt Frattin Evan Trupp 08:11 SH

PENALTIES

Period 1
NDKM Brock Nelson 2 DIVING 02:11
MAINE Leidermmark, Klas 2 O-INTERFERENCE 02:11
MAINE Beattie, Kyle 2 BOARDING 07:10
NDKM Brad Malone 2 HITTING FROM BEHIND 15:30
MAINE O'Neill, Will 2 ELBOWING 19:00
NDKM Matt Frattin 2 HOLDING 19:48
Period 2
NDKM Team 2 TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE 01:56
NDKM Dillon Simpson 2 INTERFERENCE 08:00
NDKM Brad Malone 2 HOOKING 15:58
NDKM Chay Genoway 2 HITTING AFTER WHISTLE 18:17
MAINE Nemec, Mark 2 HITTING AFTER WHISTLE 18:17
NDKM Andrew MacWilliam 2 HITTING AFTER WHISTLE 18:17
MAINE Diamond, Joey 2 HITTING AFTER WHISTLE 18:17
Period 3
MAINE Abbott, Spencer 2 HOOKING 03:21
NDKM Jason Gregoire 2 HOOKING 04:14
NDKM Ben Blood 2 SLASHING 04:51
NDKM Brad Malone 2 TRIPPING 06:20
NDKM Ben Blood 2 O-INTERFERENCE 11:23
MAINE Dimmen, Jeff 2 O-INTERFERENCE 13:15

Canucks' Goon Rypien suspended six games

I think that Canucks Hack/Goon Rick Rypien is getting off lightly for his classless act that took place this past week. There is no reason to try to attack a fan that is sitting in the stands. If I had been the NHL commissioner I would have thrown the book at this moron. I think anything less than 10 games is a travesty. Apparently, James Engquist the victim of the assault isn't all that please with the ruling.

NEW YORK -- Vancouver forward Rick Rypien was suspended for six games by the NHL on Friday, punishment for his altercation with a fan during Tuesday's game in Minnesota.

Including the game already served while Friday's hearing was pending, Rypien will be eligible to return to play Nov. 6 against Detroit. The Canucks also were fined $25,000, as required by League policy.

"Prior to each season, all clubs and players are advised that under no circumstances are club personnel permitted to have physical contact with fans, or enter, or attempt to enter the stands," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We hold NHL players to a high standard, and there simply is no excuse for conduct of this nature. Fortunately, this incident is not typical of the way NHL players conduct themselves and is not typical of the way Mr. Rypien had conducted himself during his career."

Rypien made contact with the fan as he was heading down the tunnel to the dressing room at the Xcel Energy Center after drawing a double-minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for an altercation with Minnesota's Brad Staubitz at the 13:38 mark of the second period of an eventual 6-2 loss. As he left the playing bench, Rypien reached up and pushed a spectator who was applauding at the railing separating the stands from the tunnel.

The suspension was announced Friday afternoon after Rypien attended an in-person hearing at the League offices in New York City; a meeting attended by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell.

View from the other side - UMaine and UND

Interesting perspective about UND's style of play from a eastern hockey fan. I am not so sure that I would call UND style of play, “a bullying style,” but ok... I did see both teams taking liberties last night and a one sided officiating job by the Hockey East officials. Like I said earlier I don't blame the officials for the loss but they didn't have a very good effort either.

Something's Bruin --- The crowd was not held in suspense long as the Black Bears struck early and never looked back. Joey Diamond executed a perfect behind the net pass to set up Robbie Dee for the first goal. This was followed up when a Black Bear power play was about to expire but not before Adam Shemansky fed Brian Flynn to make it 2-0. When asked about the importance of getting on the board first, Dee shared, “It definitely got the crowd into it. It was a great atmosphere. [North Dakota] has never been here before so it's probably a little intimidating.”

The Fighting Sioux appeared aptly named tonight as their style was extremely chippy with lots of activity after the whistle and trailing the play. North Dakota starting defenseman Andrew MacWilliam was given a game misconduct after head hunting Flynn who was down on the ice for an extended period. After the game when asked what he thought of the hit Brian said “ I don't remember what happened. I'm not sure if it was dirty.” Undeterred the Fighting Sioux kept up a bullying style but it was no match for Maine's superior skating, passing, forechecking, and netminding.

While Shawn Sirman's performance likely cemented him as the top goalie for Umaine, North Dakota was forced to pull their starter in goal Brad Eidness in favor of Aaron Dell. Unfortunately for the Sioux, Dell fared no better. There was a brief period of suspense as a sloppy Maine turnover on the power play led to a break away, short handed goal by North Dakota Freshman Derek Rodwell but it didn't last long.

On an ensuing Black Bear power play Will O'Neill took a pass at the point, faked a slap shot and then snapped a wrister into the back of the net to make it 4-1 Black Bears. Next, Gustav Nyquist potted his first goal of the year on a hustle play losing a race to a loose puck in the ND defensive zone. Nyquist stuck with it, forced a turnover and easily beat Sioux Goalie Aaron Dell who had come out of net just short of the blue line moments before. Asked to reflect on his first goal of the year Nyquist commented “ It felt great, the team played great. We really wanted to make a statement.”

On MacWilliam's penalty I don't know if it warranted a five minute major and a game misconduct, I would thought a 2 minute penalty would have been enough, but who knows, from the perspective of someone wearing Columbia Blue they are going to say it’s a penalty and from a fan wearing green we are going to see it a little differently. The Flynn was falling down and I suppose Mac could have pulled back. Hey Hockey East has played well against the WCHA as of late so they can beat their chest if they want but I predict that the worm is going to turn pretty soon.

Looking for the silver lining

I did focus on the negative points in the previous blog post and now it’s time to focus on the good things that happened as well. I am not by nature a negative person and it’s easy to pile on when the going gets tough, I can say that the Sioux will come out tonight and compete and put up a good effort.

Last night during the Fighting Sioux hockey chat there were a few people that posted some interesting things. Seriously folks, like Jayson from the UND SID office said, 'there are no championship banners hung in October', and let's get real the Fighting Sioux aren't going to win every game they play this season and Maine is a "quality opponent." Lets give the University of Maine hockey team some respect, they are a good veteran team as well that’s lead by a very good head hockey coach. One could say that they are a program that mirrors ours.

I tend to try to find the silver lining in every game and there were a few last night. Last night Fighting Sioux freshman forward Derek Rodwell’s goal was awesome, it was a bright spot in an other wise bad night. Derek has scored two goals in the last two games. I really like this kids game, he is strong on his skates and plays a strong game.

Matt Frattin's second-period power-play goal was also a thing of beauty, Matt now has 16 goals in his last 18 games. That is an impressive streak. I am sure that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke had to be impressed with that.

While I don’t think officiating was the deciding factor in the game, I do think the officiating was poor and I might have to rethink my criticism of the WCHA buffoons officials. Brad Schlossman sums this up really well. There were a lot of hits that were called a penatly that shouldn't have been.

The reffing didn’t determine the outcome in this one, but it is apparent that they don’t allow much contact out East. Legit body checks — on both sides — were being called. Some very ticky-tack calls. I wonder if that’s the norm for Hockey East or if Friday night was just one of those games. We’ll find out tonight. If it’s called extra tight again, I think it plays into Maine’s advantage. Midway through the third period Friday, the Black Bears had a 10-2 advantage on power plays.

Tonight game will not be on television and you will have to purchase the University of Maine Broadcast for $7.95 here is the link to the broadcast. According to the UND SID office, the University of North Dakota tried to get the broadcast put on MidcoNet but they couldn't come to an agreement.

As I tweeted on Twitter yesterday, former All State Grand Forks Central goalie Seth Lang has reported to the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL. Seth dressed for his first game last night and was the back up goalie to Ryan Faragher.

Dell gets "Housed" - Black Bears 7 Sioux 3

The title of this blog post is a play with words, It came to mind after I witnessed the goal by Tanner House against the Sioux in the second period of last night's game. But I digress, I think the College hockey news sums up last night’s game on their front page quite accurately; “Maine pummeled visiting North Dakota in the night's biggest non-league match up, 7-3.” Last night’s game was embarrassing to say the least, the UND Fighting Sioux were on the big stage playing a big time opponent on CBS College Sports and they failed to show up prepared to play hockey.

I would describe last night’s game as an old fashion ass whopping, the Fighting Sioux were beat in every aspect of the game, in the defensive zone they were turning the puck over and losing the races to loose pucks in both ends of the ice, the Fighting Sioux goaltending was brutal as neither goaltender looked like they had their head in the game, and the Sioux forwards play in the neutral zone was God awful.

Defense a strong point?

While defense is supposed to be a strong point of the 2010-2011 version of the UND Fighting Sioux the team looked like a big, slow, lumbering team. The experienced UND Fighting Sioux Defense were beat to the puck all night long and the Fighting Sioux defense looked like a bunch of road cones, the game film will not lie. I never thought I would see Chay Genoway (0-0-0 4/-3) get beat down the ice to the puck like he did against Maine Sophomore Forward Matt Mangene. That play kind of illustrated how the game went for the Sioux last night.

To be a fly on the wall next week

I would love to be able to watch practice this next week as the Sioux prepare for the Denver Pioneers, it should be all business after being blitzed by a hungrier Maine team. I would also have loved to be a fly on the wall after the first period of last night’s game and after the game. It sounds like UND Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol was not impressed with last night's effort.

“We stood around and watched a good team play well,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “Our feet weren’t moving. We weren’t sharp in any one part of our game. That’s it.”

The Maine Black Bears that stood out for me last night were Junior Forward Brian Flynn (2g-0a-2pts), Junior Forward Gustav Nyquist (1g-1-2pts), Senior Forward Tanner House (1g-1a-2pts), Senior Forward Robby Dee (1g-1a-2pts), Sophomore Forward Joey Diamond (0g-2a-2pts), Junior Defenseman Will O’Neil (0g-1a-1pts) and Junior Forward Spencer Abbott (0g-2a-2pts), these guys skated around, through and over the Sioux defenders all night.

Would someone make a save please!

While I can’t tag all of the Maine goals on the Fighting Sioux goaltenders because the defense was brutal last night and looked like a bunch of pylons the Sioux goaltenders have to start making saves and playing better, because they were God awful last night, and they have less than impressive this season so far to date. That’s not saying that they haven’t played well in stretches they have to start making more saves at key times in the game. I have said this before and had my head taken off by Brad Eidsness admirers’/apologists'
 (I want to preface this by saying have nothing against the kid) that goaltending is the weak link on this hockey team, Eidsness and Dell have to be better and they haven’t been very good at all this season and their numbers speak for themselves. Also, Chay Genoway is an awesome defensive defenseman and is great at getting the puck up ice but his blunders were obvious last night.

Here is a look at the goaltending numbers
Aaron Dell,(2-1-0) GAA 2.46 Save Percentage .881
Brad Eidsness, (1-0-1), GAA 4.46 Save Percentage .762


[Official Box Score]
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1st Period (20:00)
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MNE 1 - 0 6x6 LL Robby Dee (4) (Joey Diamond) 0:43
MNE (+): 7,39,10,5,3,G33 NDK (-): 3,10,25,17,26,G31
NDK-1 Jason Gregoire (2-Hitting from Behind) MNE 1x1 1:13
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 2:35
MNE-1 Kyle Beattie (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 2:35
MNE 2 - 0 6x5 PP Brian Flynn (2) (Adam Shemansky, Joey Diamond) 3:00
NDK: 3,19,22,25,G31
NDK-3 Andrew MacWilliam (5-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) (Served by Derek Rodwell) MNE 2x3 5:39
NDK-4 Andrew MacWilliam (10-Game Misconduct) 5:39 MNE 3 - 0 6x5 PP Brian Flynn (3) (Spencer Abbott, Gustav Nyquist) 9:37
MNE: 10,13,89,29,5,G33 NDK: 3,19,22,25,G31
NDK-5 Brad Malone (2-Holding) MNE 2x4 9:37
NDK 1 - 3 5x6 SH Derek Rodwell (2) (Danny Kristo) 10:50
NDK (+): 11,3,7,25,G32 MNE (-): 13,27,89,29,10,G33
NDK-6 Derek Rodwell (2-Elbowing) MNE 3x5 12:10
MNE 4 - 1 6x5 PP GW Will O'Neill (1) (Tanner House, Robby Dee) 12:16
MNE: 27,29,89,13,7,G33 NDK: 3,9,22,25,G32
MNE-2 Mark Nemec (2-O-INTERFERENCE) NDK 0x1 12:47
MNE 5 - 1 6x6 Gustav Nyquist (1) (unassisted) 16:38
MNE (+): 89,29,13,3,5,G33 NDK (-): 5,24,9,11,22,G32
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2nd Period (20:00)
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MNE 6 - 1 6x6 Kyle Beattie (2) (Matt Mangene, Mark Anthoine) 2:58
MNE (+): 21,57,24,6,27,G33 NDK (-): 4,5,9,11,27,G32
NDK-7 Derrick LaPoint (2-Elbowing) 4:32
NDK-8 Corban Knight (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) MNE 3x6 4:32
MNE-3 Joey Diamond (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 4:32
MNE 7 - 1 6x6 Tanner House (4) (Spencer Abbott) 8:03
MNE (+): 29,13,4,44,89,G33 NDK (-): 3,5,19,21,22,G32
MNE-4 Tanner House (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 14:51
NDK 2 - 7 6x5 PP Matt Frattin (6) (Brad Malone) 15:26
NDK: 21,22,4,19,26,G32 MNE: 57,24,3,5,G33
NDK-9 Derek Forbort (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) MNE 3x7 18:24

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3rd Period (20:00)
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NDK-10 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) MNE 3x8 3:46
NDK 3 - 7 6x6 Brad Malone (2) (Corban Knight) 6:08
NDK (+): 22,8,10,24,25,G32 MNE (-): 24,57,44,4,26,G33
NDK-11 Michael Cichy (2-Boarding) MNE 3x9 6:29
NDK-12 Ben Blood (2-Cross-Checking) MNE 3x10 6:39
NDK-13 Danny Kristo (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 8:17
MNE-5 Tanner House (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 8:17
MNE-6 Robby Dee (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) NDK 1x3 8:27
MNE-7 Matt Mangene (2-Hooking) NDK 1x4 10:38
MNE-8 Kyle Beattie (2-Tripping) NDK 1x5 13:23
NDK-14 Ben Blood (2-Roughing) 18:03
MNE-9 Mike Banwell (2-Roughing) 18:03
MNE-10 Mike Banwell (2-Elbowing) NDK 1x6 18:03
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End of Game

College Hockey scores from 10/22/2010

Friday, October 22

Bentley 1 at Clarkson 5
Boston University 4 at Massachusetts 3
Niagara 1 at Union 6
Providence 4 at UMass Lowell 5 OT
RIT 1 at Rensselaer 4
Western Michigan 3 at St. Lawrence 1
American Int'l 5 at Air Force 3
Alaska 1 at Michigan State 1 OT
Alab-Huntsville 4 at Bowling Green 5
Colgate 1 at Lake Superior 2
Canisius 4 at Sacred Heart 1
Ohio State 1 at Ferris State 2
Alaska Anchorage 2 at Minnesota Duluth 3 OT
St. Cloud State 5 at Minnesota 2
North Dakota 3 at Maine 7
New Hampshire 2 at Northeastern 2 OT
Northern Michigan 0 at Miami 4
Nebraska-Omaha 4 at Michigan 2
Colorado College 4 at Minnesota State 5
Wisconsin 2 at Denver 4

Analysis - Pontifications

I Blame Roman!

UND at Maine: Split ... NoDak sweeps in Bangor, Orono or wherever Maine is. Sioux's Matt Frattin is hotter than hot.

How about them UNO Maviericks? The Mavericks roll into Ann Arbor, Michigan and beat the Wolverines 4-2. I don’t think anyone is going to be over looking the Mavericks now.

The big, slow, lumbering team from UAA losses in Overtime to the Speedy Bulldogs. I expect the UAA Seawolves to bounce back tonight as they always play the Dogs tough in Duluth.

Buffoon of the week.

You really can't make this stuff up, check out what Canucks player Manny Malhotra had to say on Rypien attacking a Minnesota Wild fan in the stands at the Xcel Energy Center. For this ridiculous statement, you’re the Goon’s World Buffoon of the week. There is no reason a professional hockey player should go into the stands and assault a fan, especially for saying, 'Way to be professional.' That's unacceptable.

Fan House ---"There's boundaries that should never be crossed. We're in our area of work. We're all for the hooting and hollering and supporting your team and saying whatever is tasteful. But as soon as you cross that line and want to become physical with a player then we have to make sure we take care of ourselves. ... We have no idea of what their intentions are."

The only problem, of course, is there's no evidence that the fan became physical, or did anything to provoke Rypien's actions.