Brett Hextall Red Baron® WCHA Co-Offensive Players of the Week

Fightingsioux.com photo

Fighting Sioux forward Brett Hextall has been named the Co-Offensive player of the week. Unfortunately, Hextall has to share the award with Gopher fraud Jacob C-Piss. This past weekend Brett Hextall was impressive has he scored (3g-0a-3pts) on the weekend and now has 7 points in the last 5 games (5g-2a-7pts).

WCHA.COM ---- Hextall, a junior from Manhattan Beach, Calif., scored three critical goals to lead North Dakota to a three-point weekend at St. Cloud State. All three of his goals in the series gave the Sioux the lead. He scored a game-winning power-play goal in third period last Saturday to give UND a 3-2 win, after having earlier provided UND a 2-1 lead with an even-strength goal late in the second. He was named the No. 1 star of the game. Hextall also scored the opening goal late in the first period of last Friday's 3-3 (tie) at SCSU, earned a +2 rating in the series and had five shots on goal. In the midst of a five-game point streak, Hextall has 17 points (8g, 9a) in 28 games this season.

Also nominated this week: Jamie MacQueen, F, Bemidji State; Drew Shore, F, DU.

Most Canadians want hockey fights banned: poll

The Boogey man beating the tar out of some stiff

I would really like to see the ins and outs of this poll; I would like to see their data and who they sampled. I highly doubt that many NHL Hockey fans would like to see fighting taken out of hockey. There is a big difference between asking hockey fans from Canada about fighting in hockey and asking Canadians about fighting in hockey.

Bradley Bouzane, Postmedia News ---- While most older Canadians say fighting is not an important part of hockey and want the National Hockey League to crack down on violence, younger Canadians are less inclined to blow the whistle on dropping the gloves, an exclusive poll has found.

An Ipsos Reid poll, conducted for Postmedia News and Global National, found 54 per cent of those surveyed say an outright ban should be placed on fighting in the NHL. The poll also found 68 per cent disagree that “violence is just a part of the game and penalties for playing rough and tough should not increase.”

However, the majority (about 60 per cent) of respondents between 18 and 34 are opposed to an outright ban against on-ice fisticuffs. In fact, nearly half of younger Canadians say fighting is an important part of hockey.

In contrast, 56 per cent of the 35 to 54 age group support a ban, while 65 per cent of those 55 and over say they want an end to fighting.

Under current rules, fighting leads to five minutes in the penalty box — and often a spot on the nightly highlight reels.

Meanwhile, the majority of those polled also say the NHL should punish other violent behaviour — which has led to serious injuries, including concussions.

I doubt we will ever see fighting gone from NHL and junior hockey in our life times. Take fighting out of the NHL and you will be letting thugs like Matt Cooke get away with taking liberties on skilled players in the NHL, the level of violence will actually go up and there will probably be more head injuries. Allowing fighting in hockey lets the players police the game and doesn’t make the NHL teams and their players rely on the NHL front office to dole out suspensions and punishment for questionable acts of violence on the ice. For example; if I am an NHL hockey player and I knew I can take a run Crosby or Ovechkin an not have to answer for my actions by having to fight I basically have a green light to skate up and down the ice taking liberties that may never be answered for. Having to fight keeps the players semi honest.

Sioux Victory in the House!

The bill in the North Dakota House to preserve the Sioux name was passed 65-28.

Now it moves to the Senate where I think it will do as well.

Go Sioux!

More from my blogging partner (boss) at Say Anything.

HB1263, instructing the State Board of Higher Education to keep the Fighting Sioux Nickname, just passed the state House by a 65 – 28 vote. HB1263 was sponsored by House Majority Leader Al Carlson. Other Sioux-related bills, HB1257 and HB1208 both failed by wide margins obviously because the House found consensus behind Carlson’s bill.

“This isn’t the most important bill this session,” said Rep. Carlson. “But it’s important to a lot of people.”

Opponents to the bill, including Grand Forks’ Rep. Elliot Glassheim, called it legislative overreach. He argues, as Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem does, that the state legislature doesn’t have the authority to pass this legislation.

Which is actually correct (would that these critics were more in tune with the state constitution when it came to, say, the unconstitutional nature of economic development spending). The state constitution establishes the State Board of Higher Education as an almost totally unaccountable 4th branch of the state government. Outside of funding, and approving board appointees, the state legislature has almost no control over higher education in North Dakota.

And that’s a big problem that goes far beyond the Fighting Sioux nickname. That the SBHE is trying to get rid of the nickname over the protests of a majority of the public is an example of just how arrogant and drunk with power they are, and from there we go to their endless demands for more funding despite huge double-digit increases in their state budgets every legislative session. We look at the waste, fraud and abuse in the higher education system.

What the Fighting Sioux nickname debate illustrates is that the state’s higher education system needs to be less autonomous and more accountable to the elected representatives of the people.

Poll Monday - Sioux number 1 in both polls

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[February 21, 2011]
1 North Dakota (21) 22-8-3 959 2
2 Boston College (13) 22-7-1 941 1
3 Yale (15) 22-5-0 937 3
4 Merrimack ( 1) 21-5-4 832 6
5 Union 24-7-3 749 7
6 Denver 19-8-5 741 4
7 Minnesota-Duluth 19-7-5 715 5
8 Notre Dame 20-9-5 639 9
9 New Hampshire 18-7-5 610 8
10 Michigan 21-9-4 576 11
11 Miami 17-9-6 540 10
12 Nebraska-Omaha 19-11-2 404 13
13 Wisconsin 19-11-4 362 12
14 Rensselaer 19-9-4 360 14
15 Boston University 16-9-7 328 15
16 Maine 14-10-6 199 19
17 Western Michigan 15-9-10 183 17
18 Dartmouth 15-9-3 144 16
19 Colorado College 17-15-2 88 18
20 Minnesota 13-12-5 67 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Princeton 33, Robert Morris 28,
Cornell 24, RIT 20, Ferris State 17, Northeastern 3,
Ohio State 1
_____________________________________________

USA Today poll
[February 21, 2011]
1. University of North Dakota, 487 (18)222-8-320
2. Boston College, 468 (7)122-7-120
3. Yale University, 463 (9)322-5-020
4. Merrmiack College, 406521-5-47
5. Union College, 354724-7-317
6. University of Denver, 407419-8-520
7. University of Minnesota Duluth, 298619-7-520
8. University of Notre Dame, 256820-9-517
9. University of New Hampshire, 236918-7-520
10. University of Michigan, 2201121-9-420
11. Miami University, 2141017-9-620
12. University of Nebraska Omaha, 1221219-11-216
13. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 941419-9-412
14. University of Wisconsin, 681319-11-415
15. Boston University, 491516-9-717
Others receiving votes: University of Maine 8, Dartmouth College 7, Western Michigan University 5, Robert Morris University 4, Rochester Institute of Technology 3, Cornell University 1.

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because they are worth a look, I am actually shocked that they picked UND number 1. UMD and DU seem to be dropping in the rankings.

1. North Dakota 1 Forward Brett Hextall, who scored three goals in his first 23 games this season, scored three more in the Fighting Sioux's tie and win at St. Cloud State. He has five goals and two assists in his last five games. 22-8-3 (17-6-1 WCHA) LAST WEEK: T at St. Cloud State, 3-3 ot; W at St. Cloud State, 3-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Bemidji State, vs. Bemidji State
2. Boston College
3. Yale
4. Union
5. Merrimack
6. Miami
7. New Hampshire
8. Denver
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. Michigan
11. Notre Dame
12. Rensselaer
13. Nebraska-Omaha
14. Boston University
15. Wisconsin
16. Western Michigan
17. Cornell
18. RIT
19. Robert Morris
20. Minnesota
Dropped out: Dartmouth, Colorado College
Bubble-licious: Maine, Dartmouth, Princeton, Colorado College

Goon In studio today on KNOX from 3:00 - 4:00 PM

I am on the air in studio with R.J. Richards on KNOX 1310 in Grand Forks, ND from 3:00 - 4:00 pm. We will be talking hockey. You can listen live by clicking on this link... Call in number is 701-775-4611. email the booth at live@knoxradio.com

Sioux 3 Sled Dogs err Huskies 2

SCSU Hack/Thug Aaron Marvin is stopped by Aaron Dell - SC Times photo

I have to admit that I didn’t see the game last night because I didn’t want to watch another Sioux hockey game on the B2TV Network. I must say that this season I have been less than impressed with the quality of video broadcasts that the B2Network have produced. Since I have been unimpressed with their hockey broadcasts this season, adjectives like lackluster come to mind in describing them. In my opinion I don’t think their broadcast was worth the $7.00 that the B2TV Network charges to watch the games, so we spent $7.00 and went to the EDC hockey tourney instead. Speaking frankly the B2TVNetwork broadcasts suck, I don't know how I can say it any other way.

I know that this only lends credence to the argument that the NCAA needs to have a NCAA Center Ice hockey package so fans can view their team and not have to watch their favorite team on a laptop or desktop computer.

So yesterday; I decided to take in EDC Hockey yesterday with a buddy of mine and we spent the afternoon and evening watching North Dakota high school hockey. We watched three hockey games back to back and got to see player that hopefully will be a future Fighting Sioux hockey player in Keaton Thompson who said last week that he would like to be a member of the Fighting Sioux. It hard to believe that this kid is only a freshman in high school because he shows great poise and puck handling skills for a kid that is still developing physically, it will be interesting to see what he looks like in a couple of seasons. Thompson is supposed to join the Force now that his season is over. This is a developing story that I will follow closely. It will be interesting to see if he accelerates his high school studies or not.

While I was at the EDC games I followed the game on the FightingSioux.com chat and it sounded like that WCHA officials had what can only be classified as another very bad game on the ice. What I gleaned from the chat is that officials were blowing calls up and down the ice for no particular reason other than they are incompetent. Apparently, coach Hakstol was less than pleased with what he saw on the ice gave WCHA official Brad Shepherd an earful after the second period. Incidentally or maybe ironically, Brad Shepherd happens to be the son of WCHA on ice officials Greg Shepherd, I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

It’s the opinion of this blogger that Brad Shepherd is not a good on ice official and is only officiating hockey games in the WCHA because of his father’s position. I believe that nepotism and cronyism in the WCHA front office is having a very serious affect on the quality and integrity of play in the WCHA. I have been unimpressed with Brad Shepherds work all season long and I am not finding this situation to be amusing or funny.

I am hoping that when the Big Ten is finally a reality that Shepherd and crew of on ice buffoons go with the Big Ten Hockey Conference where they can team up with CCHA buffoon Matt Shegos, the fans deserve better than what they are getting from the on ice officials in college hockey. I don't believe the argument that they are only part time so fans should just shut the hell up and take it. The member schools need to start speaking up and let them selves be heard. I think we have seen enough of the WCHA officials quality of work to realize that they are being fed a red herring. This is the best hockey league in college hockey and the refs are bunch of bumbling buffoons that I wonder how they are able to tie their skates before the games they officate.

With the win last night there is some positives, Junior Brett Hextall now has 4 goals in 5 games, some have linked Hextalls resurgence to Hextall wearing his give blood play hockey hat during post game and Wednesday interviews. Hey if it works keep doing it, don’t take that hat off or wash it till after the season is over. I would recommend Mr. Hextall sleep with that hat on his head if he has to, whatever it takes.

With the win last night the Fighting Sioux are 7-1-2 on the big sheets this season (1-0-1 Kendall Hockey Classic), (2-0-0 Wisconsin), (2-0-0 Mankato), (1-1-0 C.C.), (1-0-1 SCSU) = 7-1-2 in ten games on Olympic sheets of ice this season.

Links to the game

Huskies fight hard but denied the win [SC Times]

North Dakota Edges Huskies 3-2 at the National Hockey Center [Center Ice]

Box Score

UND MEN'S HOCKEY: It’s old hat for Hextall and the Sioux [Grand Forks Herald]

Mark Stuart vs Jean-Francois Jacques Feb 19, 2011

Former C.C. Tiger and Boston Bruin Mark Stuart makes his presence known in his first game with his new team the Atlanta Thrashers. Looks like another example of where a player throws a good clean check, then the teammate of that player that was checked challenges that player to a fight. None takes a number anymore.

Hockey Scores from Friday, February 18

Atlantic Hockey Association
Air Force 5 at Mercyhurst 3 AH
American Int'l 4 at Army 6 AH
Connecticut 2 at Bentley 4 AH
Sacred Heart 2 at Holy Cross 3 AH

CCHA
Lake Superior 1 at Ohio State 1 CC OT
Michigan State 1 at Alaska 4 CC
Notre Dame 3 at Ferris State 2 CC
Northern Michigan 2 at Bowling Green 2 CC OT
Western Michigan 3 at Michigan 6 CC

ECAC
Brown 3 at Princeton 7
Dartmouth 3 at Colgate 5
Harvard 4 at Cornell 3
Rensselaer 3 at St. Lawrence 5
Union 4 at Clarkson 3 OT
Yale 6 at Quinnipiac 1

Hockey East
Merrimack 4 at Massachusetts 3 OT
Maine 4 at UMass Lowell 0
Northeastern 7 at Boston College 7 OT
Providence 1 at Boston University 2
New Hampshire 6 at Vermont 1

WCHA
North Dakota 3 at St. Cloud State 3 OT Box
Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Alaska Anchorage 3 Box
Minnesota 5 at Wisconsin 2 Box
Colorado College 5 at Bemidji State 5 OT Box
Minnesota Duluth 1 at Minnesota State 3 Box
Michigan Tech 3 at Denver 2 Box

The Frattin goal that wasn't

This was the Frattin goal that was waved off in the third period of Friday night's game. Obviously, the video from Charter wasn't very good and I also used my wife digital camera to record the video, but if you watch the video you will see Mike Lee reach out with his catching glove and knock Trupp off stride causing a pile up in the SCSU goal. I don't know? What do you think, should the goal counted? I think there is an argument to be made either way. By Lee grabbing Trupp he actually cause interference so I think the goal could have counted, Lee also appeared to have enough time to get back into position in my opinion... Let the debate begin.

AW, UND's Illegitimate President Has Issues With Legislature Listening To Citizens on Sioux Nickname

I think some background is in order. UND has a long proud tradition of using the Sioux name as it's identity for sports team. For a long time there's been a small but vocal group trying to create discord by saying that the name is disrespectful. Of course the Sioux tribal members don't see it that way no matter how much racial discord the haters, a malcontent humanities professors, tried to whip up.

It finally came down to a law suit against the NCAA. While we had a winning case, the Attorney General and the State Board of Higher Education stabbed us in the back by agreeing to an unprecedented agreement. We not only had to get our neighboring tribe to agree to the name we had to get a tribe hundreds of miles away to agree. According to interviews I heard of Archie Fool Bear, that tribe really doesn't have a lot of contact with UND.

I would like to ask the Attorney General how many other schools had to get two tribes to approve of the name. I expect though we'd get the kind of dishonest answer that Scott Hennen when he asked AG Wayne Stenehjem why he had never visited the tribes to negotiate when he promised he would the day of the settlement. Stenehjem said on the radio that he had early on. However in the Grand Forks Herald newspaper story, the Long Bitter Fight, Grant Shaft said that Stenehjem's involvement in the matter ended at the time of the settlement.

The anti's in the administration and Board of Higher Education were happy to not negotiate with the tribes and leave the blame on the Tribes until Tribal members took up the issue on their own and were forcing a vote. Then UND's illegitimate president pressured the Summit league commissioner to say that our application was being held up until the matter was settled. The Board of Higher Education then using that as an excuse started working on retiring the name right away.

Now since the people of Grand Forks and the Tribal Members and the UND alumni have been ignored the North Dakota state legislature has taken up the issue. Robert Kelley doesn't like anyone that doesn't agree with him having a say in this matter.

He also expressed concern about “the profound negative, deleterious effect” he fears recent legislative involvement in the long contentious nickname issue could have on the university.

Just like he made up the issue about the Summit league he's trying to obscure the facts. The lawsuit was settled under North Dakota state law. The state legislature can and should change the law so that people have a say.

Kelley would like to pretend that if he gets his way here that everything will just settle down. I don't think so. If UND had allowed the case to go to court and we lost we would have regretted it, but at least we tried. If UND and the state government had tried to get the tribes approval and failed we would have regretted it but at least we tried.

Instead nobody from the state negotiated with the Tribes. The Kelley administration didn't want to keep the name. The State Board of Higher Education formed a committee to try to keep the name. Grant Shaft headed up one organizational meeting and as soon as Tribal members on the Spirit Lake reservation started working on the issue on their own they he said we couldn't wait for the Summit league and made the motion to drop the nickname.

Shaft says that they had contact with the tribes. I don't believe him. Where is the documentation? Where are the expense forms for travel?

Things aren't going to just go away:

[Al] Olson also expressed concern about the effect the controversy is having on UND’s current major fundraising campaign, as many potential donors have strong feelings about the Fighting Sioux name and logo.

Tim O’Keefe, executive director of the UND Alumni Association, agreed that there are potential costs to stretching the transition out over several years. “I think this president has a great agenda … that’s being impaired,” he said. The nickname issue dominates discussions he has with alumni around the country, and consequently “they’re not talking about the many great things that are happening here.”

But a great many of UND’s 112,000 alumni “are in mourning,” O’Keefe said.

Tim, great things aren't going on at UND. Robert Kelley is running this institution into the ground.

And we're not in mourning. We're angry that our side has been ignored when it hasn't been denigrated. The great majority of people on and off the reservation have this in common. We want to keep the Sioux nickname. The university people work for us, not the other way around.

Contact your House members, there is supposed to be a vote around noon on Monday to save the name.

Cross posted from Say Anything Blog

Sister kissing in St. Cloud, Sioux 3 - Huskies 3

They say a tie in hockey is like kissing your sister, while I won’t argue that fact because I have no idea, tonight’s tie between the UND Fighting Sioux and SCSU Huskies feels almost as bad as a loss. I feel like the Sioux let one point slip away tonight. It was a missed opportunity and luckily for the UND Fighting Sioux the teams below them in the standings lost as well. UMD, UNO and DU all lost tonight so their tie tonight against the SCSU Huskies isn’t as costly as it could have been.

I guess the vaunted Black Jerseys weren’t enough for the Fighting Sioux to break the “jinx” that is Friday nights in the National Hockey Center in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. They say that all streaks eventually must come to an end, this was a streak that I would have like to see ended tonight, the Sioux are something like 25-1-3 in the black jerseys since 2007.

Michigan Tech ended their streak of futility by winning their first hockey game since October 15th, 2010; Denver University was the unlucky recipient of that streaking ending win. I am glad that MTU has that elusive win out of the way, because I would hate to see UND be that team that loses to the Michigan Tech Huskies the last weekend of the regular season March 4th and 5th in Houghton, Michigan. That's why they play the games, there is no give mes in the WCHA. Sucks to be Denver and it couldn't have happened to a better team. Yeah I would love to see the morning skate in Denver tomorrow, I would be willing to bet that morning practice won't be fun tomorrow.

Back to clichés again, there are no mails in points in the WCHA and while the SCSU Huskies aren’t a very good hockey team this season, you still have to play hockey for 60 minutes to beat them, your team can’t a period of hockey off and still expect to win the hockey game. I thought the Sioux took a few shifts off tonight and were caught not moving their feet during the middle part of the game.

I thought the Sioux had trouble with turnovers as well and failed to get pucks deep at key times in the game, twice this lead to goals for the Huskies. The Fighting Sioux defense also left their goaltender in vulnerable situations at key times in the game, the power play goal that SCSU scored the Ben Hanowski was a perfect example of what not to do while killing a penalty, the Sioux defenders were standing and not clearing out the front net and Aaron Dell was screened on the shot, that can't happen in the post season. That's unacceptable the coaching staff will make adjustments.

The game started out well tonight, the Sioux raced to a 2-0 lead before they kind of fell off of the quick pace they set in the first period and stopped moving their feet. I thought that the Sioux had a really good chance at ending their unimpressive winless streak in the National Hockey Center as well, but it wasn’t to be tonight. My reason for optimism, was two fold, SCSU isn't having a very good season and that SCSU starting goalie Mike Lee had been dismal against the Fighting Sioux, Lee has an 0-4 career record against the Fighting Sioux and an unimpressive 5.32 goals-against average and a lackluster.863 save percentage against the UND Fighting Sioux. Tonight it wasn't meant to be I guess. On the flip side of that equation, the Fighting Sioux have an 8-1-1 record the last ten games at the National Hockey Center on Saturday nights.

Here are some stats for you on how valuable Matt Frattin is to the Fighting Sioux, according to the UND SID, UND's Matt Frattin has four goals and three assists in his last four games. He has scored 35 goals in 45 games dating back to last Feb. 13 at SCSU.

Goon's three stars of the game

1.) Matt Frattin (2g-0a-2pts)
2.) Corban Knight(0g-2a-2pts)
3.) Brett Hextall (1g-0a-1pts)

Box Score

SCSU vs UND lines

RWD favorite college hockey beat writer Brad Schlossman has posted the lines for tonight's game between the Fighting Sioux and the SCSU Huskies. The Fighting Sioux are an uninspiring 0-7-3 in their last 10 Friday night games at the Concrete Center National Hockey Center...

UND’s Forward Lines

19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
17 Jason Gregoire–10 Corban Knight–26 Brett Hextall
14 Taylor Dickin–29 Brock Nelson–27 Carter Rowney
15 Brent Davidson–9 Mario Lamoureux–11 Derek Rodwell

Defense

2 Andrew MacWilliam–25 Jake Marto
4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood
3 Derrick LaPoint–20 Joe Gleason

Goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

[UND Stats]

St. Cloud State’s Forward lines

10 Ben Hanowski–9 Garrett Roe–22 David Eddy
11 Jared Festler–17 Aaron Marvin–12 Travis Novak
23 Cam Reid–19 Drew LeBlanc–26 Nic Dowd
28 Mitch MacMillan–13 Jordy Christian–16 Nick Oslund

Defense

25 Oliver Lauridsen–14 Nick Jensen
7 Kevin Gravel–6 Brett Barta
3 Sam Zabkowicz–4 Taylor Johnson

Sieves Goalies

30 Mike Lee
44 Dan Dunn

[SCSU Stats]

Bruins get Tomas Kaberle in a trade with Leafs.

Before you start laughing with this statement; so I am busy for a couple of hours this afternoon and then I come back to computer to find out that the Boston Bruins have made some major moves. There’s a couple of big trades for the Boston Bruins this afternoon. First the Tomas Kaberle was traded to the Leafs for Joe Colborne and two draft picks. This trade wasn’t that big of a shocker because it was being talked about most of the week. The Boston Bruins get their high end defenseman they have wanted and needed for some time now, the Bruins give up former DU Pioneer Joe Colborne who I think is a more talented version of Blake Wheeler big soft forward that’s not very physical, the Bruins also give up “their own” 2011 first-round draft pick, and a conditional 2012 second-round draft pick.

The Bruins also traded former Golden Gopher Blake Wheeler and former C.C. Tiger Mark Stuart to the Atlanta Thrasher for Boris Valabik and Rich Peverley. Rich Peverley has 14 goals and 20 assists in 59 games and will add some offensive talent to the Bruins attack.

As a Bruins fans I am very happy because that the Boston Bruins get rid of two big soft forwards... They also got a big time puck mover on the back end that they needed desperately. I am sadden by the Trade of Mark Stuart, he wais one of my favorite Bruins defenseman because he was tough and has a lot of grit and wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves.

Links to the Story

Bruins acquire Peverley and Valabik for Wheeler and Stuart [Boston Globe]

Kaberle trade official [Boston Globe]

Leafs deal Kaberle to Bruins for prospect, picks [NHL.COM]

Kaberle to the Bruins? UPDATED...

It looks like the Bruins and Leafs might be making that trade they have been talking about according to Damien Cox, unfortunately, it appears that former Gopher forward Blake Wheeler is not one of those on the way out of Boston. I also see that former DU Pioneer Joe Colborne might be on the move which really wouldn’t be that big of a loss for the Boston Bruins since I think is just a bigger version of Blake Wheeler, a big soft forward that doesn’t like to hit.

All signs are pointing to Tomas Kaberle becoming a Boston Bruin today.

This could change, either in a league trade call that has yet to take place between the Leafs and Bruins, or if the teams miscommunicate in the way they did back in June, 2009 when a deal involving Kaberle for Phil Kessel literally fell apart on the draft floor because Brian Burke and Peter Chiarelli believed they were talking about different deals.

Or, of course, the B's might feel better about their prospects after pounding the Islanders last night.

But right now, it's believed the Leafs would get Boston's first round pick this June (not the second of two first rounders sent to the Bruins in the Kessel deal) and a prospect. Winger Blake Wheeler is apparently not in play, but the Leafs might be zeroing in on one of two good Boston prospects, Ontario junior Ryan Spooner or Providence centre Joe Colborne.

For Leaf fans, Colborne might be the prospect they'd be happiest with, given that he's 6-foot-5 and was Boston's first rounder back in 2008. Spooner has been a more prolific offensive player, particularly this year with Doug Gilmour's Kingston Frontenacs, but he's not as big as Colborne.

I am still holding out hope that the Maple Leafs still get Blake Wheeler, he played with Phil Kessel in college at Minnesota for one year and it would be nice to see those two reunited again. Before Minnesota fans jump down my throat, I am not anti Wheeler as a person, I just am not impressed with his game, he is a big soft forward that doesn’t like to hit and he doesn’t fit the big bad Bruins mold. During the playoffs last spring his game was uninspiring and he couldn’t have hit water if he was standing in a boat.

This is from the Boston Globe hockey blog --- According to a league source, Tomas Kaberle is on the verge of being a Bruin. The Bruins would acquire Kaberle from Toronto for former DU Pioneer Joe Colborne and their own 2011 first-round pick.

Friday morning links - the dog days of winter are upon us

There is a lot of great breaking hockey news going on today… It’s crunch time and shall we say the dog days of winter in the NHL and NCAA hockey and there are a lot of great story lines developing.

Huskies record post Christmas and what to make of it?

First there is a lot being made of the SCSU Huskies going 7-3-2 since Christmas, what hasn’t been talked about is who the SCSU Huskies have played. The Huskies while having won seven games since Christmas the Huskies have only beaten two hockey teams with a winning record (Miami and UMD) and have gone a lack luster 1-3-2 their last six games. I am not saying the Huskies won't beat the Sioux I am just saying that for the most part the Huskies wins have come against bad teams.

Story lines for this weekend's games

The Pony Express is delivering big time. Here is what Brad Schlossman had to say about the all senior line.

UND’s top line of Evan Trupp, Brad Malone and Matt Frattin has a combined 20 points in the last four meetings against St. Cloud State. Prior to Feb. 13, 2010, in St. Cloud, Frattin had 17 goals in 96 career games. On that day, he started a stretch of 33 goals in 44 games.

In the rumor mill department, apparently there is some question on whether Wisconsin Defenseman Jake Gardiner is going to go pro or not after this season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out but I would be willing to bet that we won’t see Jake back at Wisconsin next season. Just a hunch… [Madison.com]

Over at USCHO our favorite EZAC writer Brian Sullivan has the Sioux in third in his weekly top 20 poll… [USCHO.COM]

Predictions

Goal Gophers has Chris Miller back with him this week making predictions and I must say that this guy must be a real hoot. I have enjoyed reading Goal Gophers predictions the past few weeks.

Old Charlie. He pretended he was enjoying his stay in the Red River Valley, but you know dang well he was on the next phone screaming at his agent for booking him anywhere north of St. Louis. Roman has established the Sioux (are they still the “Fighting Sioux?”) as the team to beat down the stretch, and who am I to argue? The Huskies will steal one this weekend, though, for a ... Split

Roman: The Sioux have clinched home ice, now they want to win the MacNaughton Cup which goes to the regular-season champion. They have a one point lead, a three-game win streak and a hot, hot player. Jason Gregoire, since returning from an injury, has eight goals and four assists in eight games. No wonder Dave Hakstol said he did backflips when he heard Gregoire was healthy again. The Huskies are coming off an impressive three-point weekend at UMD, but finish with a brutal sked: NoDak, Wisconsin and Denver. The Sioux swept SCSU 3-1, 6-2 at the Ralph earlier. ... UND sweep

USCHO gives us their weekend predictions Let's hope that both writers are wrong in their predictions again this week. Both WCHA writers are predicting a SPLIT in the series between the Fighting Sioux and the SCSU Huskies.

No. 2 North Dakota (21–8–2, 16–6–0 WCHA) at St. Cloud State (12–14–4, 8–11–3 WCHA)
Theresa: This has developed into a nice little rivalry over the past two years and should prove to be an interesting weekend. Despite injuries, the Sioux have been rolling along just fine (as coach Dave Hakstol has said, they’re not technically short-handed). The Huskies, meanwhile, may have found their stride at the perfect time in the season. I believe home ice is a stretch for them (don’t quote me on that), but, like BSU above, they can make their league positioning a lot more favorable. As a result, I believe we’ll see a split — SCSU Friday, UND Saturday.

Tyler: UND’s key injuries (Genoway and Kristo) make it a little more of an even playing field with the series played in St. Cloud. This is probably the last bump in the road for the Sioux before they end the season with Bemidji State and Michigan Tech. Meanwhile, centers Garrett Roe and Drew LeBlanc are finally making strides for SCSU. Split.

Jess Meyers has a nice story about the Big Ten Hockey Conference and I am sure we will see more of these stories as the calendar turns to the 2012-2013 season. Like I have previously said, I think the Big Ten Hockey Conference is ill conceived and hasn’t been thought out yet and could cause more damage than good for NCAA Hockey.

The Hobey Tracker is up at INCH and not a lot of love for the Western College Hockey players, Western being WCHA hockey players. [INCH.COM]

Mike Eidelbes from INCH has their yearly 4 X 4 and he is predicting that the Fighting Sioux are going to be in St Louis and with a first round match up against Dartmouth followed by the winner of the UNO and Union game. I guess Mike is assuming that Union would get by UNO, I don't know if I would bet against Dean Blais.

The NCAA purportedly doesn’t care about attendance in favor of “bracket integrity”, but it almost seems like North Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha have to end up in St. Louis in order for anyone to show up. The thought of a NoDak-Union regional final is quite appealing.

It looks like the DU Pioneers have decided on their starter in net as freshman Sam Brittain will make his third start for in a row for the DU Pioneers. Last Saturday night DU goalie Sam Brittain was shelled against the Gophers giving up 4 goals on 14 shots.

Fans want Canadiens to acquire some muscle

Apparently the Montreal Canadian fans are tired of seeing their team getting pushed around physically on the ice and would like to see their team add an enforcer to their line up. Seems logical after the Boston Bruins handed them their ass earlier this month.

MONTREAL -- As the NHL trade deadline draws nearer, Montreal Canadiens fans believe their inconsistent and undersized squad should ply the market for more muscle.

A QMI-Leger Marketing poll suggests 50% of Habs fans believe the team needs to pick up a bigger, tougher player if they hope to return to the Eastern Conference final. Hard-nosed Ottawa Senators winger Chris Neil was at the top of the fans' wish list.

The Canadiens, who haven't had an enforcer since Georges Laraque was bought out in January 2010, are noticeably smaller than such rivals as the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers. Defenceman P.K Subban is the team's leader in penalty minutes, but ranks only 31st in the league with 86 minutes in the box.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

We have 6 league series this weekend again. The top 4 teams are separated by only 2 points. Also 6th place thru 10th place is only separated by 4 points. It looks like the last home ice playoff spot will come down to the last weekend of play, the way things are going. Just think, in one month (March 17th) the Final Five will be starting in St. Paul. I think it is safe to say the current top 4 teams will be hosting a first round playoff series. UND is the first team to officially lock-up a home playoff series.

I figured it’s that time of year again, conference playoffs are just around the corner and the NCAA tournament is lurking in the background. So, I’m changing my ranking numbers this week. Previously I was going off the USCHO poll, now I’ll be using the PairWise Rankings. Since the PairWise mimics the selection process of who does and doesn’t make the tournament.

WCHA Standings

TEAM……………..…....W-L-T...Pts
1. North Dakota……….16-6-0…32
2. Denver………………14-5-3…31
3. Minnesota-Duluth.....13-5-4…30
3. Nebraska-Omaha…..14-6-2…30
5. Wisconsin……..….…11-9-2…24
6. Colorado College…11-11-0…22
7. Minnesota……..……9-10-3…21
8. Alaska-Anchorage….9-13-2…20
9. St. Cloud State…......8-11-3…19
10. Minnesota State……7-13-4…18
11. Bemidji State……….7-12-3…17
12. Michigan Tech………1-19-2…4

WCHA

#19 Minnesota @ #15 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Badgers were swept by the UNO Mavericks in Omaha and Gophers split with the DU Pioneers in Minneapolis.

These teams met earlier in the season in Minneapolis with the Badgers taking 3-points with a 6-0 win and a 3-3 tie. By going pointless last weekend the Badgers are now in fight for a home ice spot. The Gophers by getting points again last weekend are only a point out of the last home ice spot. The Gophers have played well in 2011 against the upper half teams, so they have hope. The Badgers have not fared well against top teams, but have taken care of business against the lower teams this season. The Badgers are good at the Kohl Center posting a 13-4-1 home record and the Gophers sport a 5-4-1 road record this year. It is interesting that the Gophers have scored more goals in WCHA play than the Badgers, 67 versus 60. But the Badgers are the best defensive team, allowing a league low 49 goals, where the Gophers have let in 64 on the season (middle of the pack). SPLIT

Michigan Tech @ #4 Denver
Last weekend Huskies got a point playing the BSU Beavers in Houghton and the Pioneers split with the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.

The Huskies are closing in a dubious record, that the CC Tigers own, the longest winless streak. MTU is up to 25 games, going abysmal 0-23-2 since October 16th, they only need to go winless in their next 4 games to tie the record. The Pioneers have cooled down, going 2-2-0 in their last four games. The Pioneers need to take MTU seriously and take care of business and not look ahead to their next series, a road trip to Omaha. PIONEERS SWEEP.

#7 Nebraska-Omaha @ Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend the Mavericks swept the UW Badgers in Omaha and the Seawolves were swept by the UND Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks.

This being the Mavericks first year in WCHA action, has them sniffing at a league title with three weeks to go. UAA has been in the league for over a decade and has yet to finish in the top half. But the Seawolves are in the hunt to host a first round series, just 2 points out of 6th place. This will be the second meeting between UNO and UAA, they played Oct. 14, 2006 in Anchorage (Nye Classic) and tied 2-2. The Mavericks have taken a long plane ride before, when they had to visit Alaska, in Fairbanks, their old CCHA foe. The Mavericks will need points this weekend if they want to keep on the heels of the WCHA leaders. UNO plays their “neighbors” the last two series, DU and UMD. After this weekend, the Seawolves only have 1 WCHA series left, a trip to Mankato, to play the other Mavericks (UAA plays Alaska next weekend). Omaha has dropped some games to teams that they probably shouldn’t have this year, namely BSU, QU, and UAH. The Mavericks are 6-7-1 on the road this year. I don’t think the Seawolves are throwing in the towel this year. I think coach Shyiak will have his team ready this weekend. SPLIT


#3 North Dakota @ St. Cloud St.
Last weekend the Sioux swept the UAA Seawolves in Grand Forks and the Huskies took 3-points from the UMD Bulldogs in Duluth.

These teams met in early December with the Sioux sweeping that series, 3-1 and 6-2 in Grand Forks. The Huskies got their first win over a top half of the league team last weekend. This year SCSU has not lived up to preseason expectations, they started off this year’s campaign ranked #4 and have slid since then. Home ice for the first round is still possible, but not likely, since they need to make up 3 points and play UW and DU after this weekend. The Sioux have officially locked up a home ice spot and are now looking to put a lock on the league’s top spot. UND has an easier schedule then SCSU does down the stretch, the Sioux host BSU and travel to MTU to end the season. The Huskies have squandered a pair of 3-goal leads in two of their past three games. The Sioux will need to continue their style of play this weekend to grab more points. SIOUX 3-POINTS

#18 Colorado College @ Bemidji State
Last weekend the Tigers split with the MSUM Mavericks in Colorado Springs and the Beavers took 3-points for the MTU Huskies in Houghton.

The Tigers are clinging to the last home ice playoff spot by a point, and the Beavers are clinging to hopes of climbing into that spot. BSU still has a chance at home ice, but they need to sweep CC to keep that chance alive. The Tigers control their own fate, put together some wins and they can maintain their spot, drop too many games and, well, others will control their fate. The Beavers have struggled in their first year as a WCHA member, but have been in most of their games. For instance in 2011, the Beavers have played 5 overtime games in their 8 league games. BSU is a more defensive minded team this season, as their numbers show, scoring 47 goals and giving up 56 goals. If the scores remain low this weekend, they have a chance of winning. SPLIT

#6 Minnesota-Duluth @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Bulldogs got 1-point against the SCSU Huskies in Duluth and the Mavericks split with the CC Tigers in Colorado Springs.

The Bulldogs have only 1 win in their last 4 games, going 1-1-2, since their sweep of the hapless (MTU) Huskies. The Mavericks need to sweep this weekend if they want any shot at home ice, since they have only 1 WCHA series after this weekend (UAA Mar.4-5). UMD slipped from a first place tie into a tie for third (with UNO) last weekend, thanks to SCSU making themselves at home in Amsoil arena. The Bulldogs are an impressive 9-2-3 (overall) away from Duluth this season. Both teams know the end of the season is near, and points are becoming expensive, it’s just a matter of which is willing to pay the price. SPLIT.

Thursday afternoon links - crunch time!!!

I was thinking about the Fighting Sioux record against the SCSU Huskies which is 0-7-3 in their last ten Friday night games at the National Hockey Center, so according to the record books the UND Fighting Sioux haven’t won a game against the SCSU Huskies on Friday nights in National Hockey Center since the 1998 season. That is kind of unheard of based on how good UND has been since 1998.

So on the flip side of that equation, the Fighting Sioux have been an impressive and almost unbeatable 8-1-1 on Saturday Night in the National Hockey Center since the 1998 season. I believe that something has to give this weekend, Mike Lee has never won a game in two seasons against UND and he has been the better of the two SCSU goalies. SCSU senior goalie Dan Dunn has a 2-4-1 record, .887 save percentage and G.A.A. of 3.27. Sophomore goalie 10-10-3 record, .905 save percentage and a G.A.A. of 2.83

Sioux have dominated the SCSU Huskies

The Sioux have dominated the Huskies as of late, the Fighting Sioux have a 12-4-4 record in the last 20 games dating back to the 2006-2007 season. The Sioux have also won the last four games against the Huskies.

Links of interest

Devils Lake Freshman defensman Keaton Thompson would like to play for the Fighting Sioux one day. [Slightly Chilled]

Husky Hockey Time; has their series preview for Sioux vs Huskies [Husky Hockey Time]

Former DU Pioneer defensman William Wrenn was accidentally given credit for being in the fight against Gopher Jake Hanson. Wrenn left the Pioneers back in January to play in the WHL. [Denver Post]

DU, North Dakota lose captains at crunch time in WCHA [The Denver Post]

There has been some debate about the SCSU Huskies wearing black this weekend but apparently it’s next weekend that the SCSU Huskies are having a Throwback Jersey Night on February 26, 2011 when the Huskies play the Wisconsin Badgers at the National Hockey Center. [SCSU Athletics]

As always, here is the audio from Ryan Cardinal's appearance on 1130 the KFAN [Click to Listen]

Sioux fans favorite hockey analyst Kevin Gorg was on KFAN during the yesterday talking hockey as well with the PA. Personally, I don’t mind Kevin Gorg because I like his take on the game on hockey. I can’t fault someone for being a homer or fan of their favorite team. [click to listen]

Is Tomas Kaberle coming to Boston?

According to the Darren Dreger of the Dreger report , he's reporting that the Boston Bruins are very close to trading for Toronto Maple Leafs offensive defenseman Tomas Kaberle. The Boston Bruins are also close to getting rid of former Golden Gopher Blake Wheeler as well. According to CSNNE's Joe Haggerty the possible deal with Toronto Maples Leafs is likely to include Blake Wheeler and a draft pick for Tomas Kaberle.

Dreger Report TSN --- Failing a complete meltdown - which has scuttled at least one previous trade involving the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tomas Kaberle, and the Boston Bruins - there's strong belief that Kaberle will be traded to Boston.

It's unlikely the deal gets done today, but sources say it's close and say the deal doesn't hinge on Kaberle signing an extension with the Bruins.

The dynamics of the trade haven't been entirely worked out and sources indicate the Leafs are waiting for Boston to put the final pieces of the puzzle in place - a process which may take another day or two to finalize.

Cap space is somewhat of an issue for the Bruins - who are believed to be working on a secondary trade (not involving Toronto) to create some cap flexibility.

With the addition of Chris Kelly, Blake Wheeler has become a likely target - primarily because of his $2.2 million salary.

Wheeler is a versatile forward who's comfortable playing both the wing and at centre and is believed to be drawing interest from other teams.

Stay tuned.

Also, it looks like former C.C. Tiger Mark Stuart might be headed to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. Stuart was a healthy scratch in eight straight games before playing in the last two games for the Boston Bruins.

The B's are discussing sending rugged defenseman Mark Stuart to the Chicago Blackhawks, who are looking for a little more toughness around their net.

The Stuart deal would net the Bruins a draft pick, and would be strictly for salary cap relief rather than instant roster improvement.