Hey! It's just a game. Moron of the week...

Star Tribune

First off the fan/buffoon that did this regardless of what fan base they were from needs to realized that they just committed a crime, it’s called damage to private property and they should have been carted out of the Xcel Energy Center in hand cuffs and stuck in the back of a police car. The newspaper writer that recorded this event should have called the usher and or Xcel Energy Security Staff and had this person confronted and removed from the arena. That’s unacceptable behavior and it’s also socially unacceptable, what kind of animal does that? The Fan that punched a hole in the Xcel Energy Center ceiling is my candidate for "moron of the week."

Star Tribune --- We have not, however, ever punched a hole in the wall of a public sporting arena (or anywhere else, for that matter). This UND fan cannot say the same. After Michigan scored an empty-netter in the final minute to essentially seal the game, he stood up and pounded the wall high above him. Then he did it again, producing that hole you see in the picture. And then they left.

As fans we also need to remember that when we are wearing our team’s uniforms/colors whether at home or on the road we are representatives of the school and our behavior whether good or bad also reflects on our school and us as people as well. There is also some question if the guy wearing the green shirt flipping off the Michigan player is actually a Sioux fan or not…

I was sitting near this clown... for what it's worth, he was decked out in head-to-toe UMD Bulldog gear for the championship game last night... including an authentic Bulldog sweater. As was his sig other. Tough to tell what or who he was a fan of... maybe just disliked Michigan, which many can understand. Ranger

Teemu Selanne gets into 2nd fight of his NHL career...

Check out this fight between Kyle Clifford vs Sheldon Brookbank, but also the Teemu Selanne and Brad Richardson bout, that was only the second fight of Selanne's NHL career. Again, you don't want your star players fighting because they could get hurt but there is a time and a place where a player has to stand up for himself and take matters into his own hands if the refs don't protect the players. s/t Puck Daddy

The Ducks Blog --- “You don’t see that very often,” Selanne said, smiling. “When you feel that somebody tried to hurt you, you have to do some action out there. I had to do what I had to do.

“I can look after myself. Usually you don’t want to hurt your hand and stuff, but I was pretty mad. I know when somebody’s trying to hurt me. That shouldn’t be the case in this league.”

Selanne’s last fight was so long ago that there’s confusion about who his opponent was. The Web site hockeyfights.com lists Chicago’s Chris Chelios as the player Selanne scrapped with, noting the date of the bout as Jan. 19, 1993.

"'to the victor belong the spoils"

With Success come worries about players leaving early. There are going to be some teams looking at J.T. Brown, maybe not this season but they will next season if he keeps playing like this.

Heck of an exciting win by the Bulldogs. I was here but not working, so I got to watch the UMD postgame press conference without any time restrictions. After all, I wasn't on deadline. What a pleasure to watch, especially well-spoken Kyle Schmidt, who scored the winner. He was hilarious in the postgame, and there were several funny, touching moments.

Justin Fontaine is a free agent, and the Wild may have interest. He attended last year's development camp and the Wild likes him. He didn't do much last night, but JT Brown did. I'd assume he returns to school, but in a year, he may be as hotly contested as Casey Wellman and Stephane Da Costa.

Who coaches Tech?

There is a vacancy at Michigan Tech University for a head hockey coach; you would think that Michigan Tech will probably want to fill that coaching vacancy before too long, because the offseason isn’t that short and there are many coaching duties that need to be carried out during the offseason, recruitment, player evaluation, preparations for next season, etc... You would have to wonder who would want to coach the Michigan Tech hockey team a perennial doormat team. Matt Wellens threw a couple of names out there back in March after the Huskies head coach resigned.

Minning Journal --- Let the debate begin. Who can take over the historic Michigan Tech University hockey program and bring it out of the basement?

Longtime University of Michigan and Red Berenson assistant coach Mel Pearson sounds great, especially since he is an MTU alum.

North Dakota assistant Cary Eades would be considered a steal for any WCHA team hoping to compete with the Fighting Sioux.

Nebraska-Omaha and former Minnesota assistant Mike Guentzel, former Miami and current Denver assistant Steve Miller and another Tech alum, Ron Rolston at the U.S. National Team Development Program, are all great head college coaching candidates as well.

But if Michigan Tech hires any one of them, the Husky hockey program will continue to be the punching bag of college hockey's elite.

It's time for Michigan Tech to be more like Northern Michigan University, as painful as that may sound to MTU alumni.

TJ Oshie Praying for a Goal

I taught him that.

Nathan Gerbe's propels Sabres into the playoffs with this awesome goal...

Check out this goal by former B.C. Eagle Nathan Gerbe, unbelievable goal by the little guy. The goal by Gerbe tied the game for the Sabres who then won the game in overtime with a goal from former Golden Gopher Thomas Vanek which was also a thing of beauty as well.

ND Governor Jack Dalrymple; Time for the NCAA to Explain Themselves to the People of North Dakota

I couldn't agree more. listen to the audio right here

FARGO, ND – An April 22nd gathering of NCAA executives, North Dakota state representatives and the University of North Dakota’s Board of Higher Education should be open to the public as an opportunity for the NCAA to “explain to the people of North Dakota” their position regarding the Fighting Sioux Indianhead logo, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple says.

Appearing on the Scott Hennen Show yesterday, Dalrymple advocated an open-door meeting with the involved parties so that statements made by the NCAA could be subject to a public reception…not confined to a legal document.

“I think it’s time for the NCAA to explain to the people of North Dakota why they are doing what they are saying they’re going to do. I think the time is come for them to articulate that, and not in a legal document.” Dalrymple said.

It took 81 games to figure this out?

ESPN Photo

In the past, I have not been on the fire Todd Richards movement but after reading this, I have ask; why wasn't this line combination tried untill last night? Also, it appears that Todd Richards might be on the verg of coaching his last game this weekend. In my opinion, Wild Forward softie Antti Miettinen would be lucky to be a third line player on a lot of teams in the NHL and shouldn’t be a first line player on the Minnesota Wild.

Good chemistry The Wild might have unearthed a bona fide right winger to play with Mikko Koivu next season: Bouchard (Pierre-Marc Bouchard).

For the first time in a full 60 minutes this season, Richards tried to kickstart the offense by replacing Antti Miettinen with the playmaking Bouchard.

The result was instant chemistry, with Bouchard and Koivu each recording three assists.

Asked if Koivu and Bouchard could be a possible tandem next season, Richards said, "It could be. It's something to look at."

On the Sioux; They’re one of those teams who don’t recruit, they reload

Check out what Chris Petters from United States of Hockey had to say about the Fighting Sioux after they lost in Thursday's semi final.

Eulogizing the Fallen

North Dakota

North Dakota played a great game. They just didn’t score. Can’t win if you don’t score goals. (How do you like that analysis?) To be honest, it felt like, for much of the third period, there was literally nothing the Sioux could do that would have helped them win. Hunwick was just too good. It just looked like fate was not on North Dakota’s side.

The Sioux had a very good team this year and it’s a shame for their senior class, that stayed together through thick and thin, won’t have a shot at the title. They were sure they’d win and it didn’t work out. That’s a tough pill to swallow.

Bright side for Sioux Fans: North Dakota has one of the top recruiting classes in the country for 2011-12. The Sioux have two really exciting players to watch in Rocco Grimaldi and J.T. Miller coming to Grand Forks. They’re one of those teams who don’t recruit, they reload.

Let's grab some reality...

Press Enterprise

In case you have seen it, check out this post on Sioux Sports.

You must also be a Minnesota Twins fan. Consistently able to get to the playoffs, but just as consistent losing when they get there.

Another thing people should look at is Hakstol has made all these Frozen Fours, but he has only made the title game once. That shows a consistent pattern of (cough cough) not being able to win the big one.

Hakstol = Doug Woog with hair

Here is my response to a poster over on Sioux Sports, I refer to these people as the Debbie Downers or Negative Nellie’s of the World...I have no idea who this person is or do I have any thing against said person. Could be my next door neighbor for all that I know.

So you would rather have Scott Sandelin coach the Sioux than Dave Hakstol? First off Sandy isn’t ever coming back, the word on the street is that his wife hated it here in Grand Forks, ND, I have heard this numerous times so I tend to believe this.

We could start comparing numbers of the two coaches and if Sandy's team doesn't win the NCAA championship I would say that Coach Hakstol is still quite a bit better coach than Scott Sandelin, one could probably still make the argument even if his team wins it all tonight. Let’s not forget that disgruntled UMD fans were calling for this same coach’s head on a silver platter just a short time ago. There were people that wanted to run him out of town on a rail

It amazes me that the Dave Hakstol haters come on here and the minute his team loses a big game and demand that coach Hakstol fired...What is the University go to fire him for? The Fighting Sioux almost won the Triple Crown of College Hockey; they basically were on game short. There is no just cause to fire Coach Hakstol what-so-ever. The haters got all of the answers. Ok hey Hakstol haters, I have a suggestion for you; if you want Hakstol to be fired, I suggest you step up to the plate and open your wallet and buy out Hakstol’s contract, do you have 500,000.00 to a couple of million sitting around in your check book to buy him out? Unless the Fighting Sioux have a string of losing seasons and or a major ethical or criminal scandal with the program the head coach isn’t going anywhere unless; the professional ranks come calling, which is possible.

My next question is; who the hell do you want to coach this team? I would be willing to wager that no matter who was coaching this team Thursday night would have had the same result in the end. Do you think that Blais would have an answer for the way the Wolverines played? Coaches don’t put on skates and score goals and or make body checks. The Wolverines are coached by a 71 year old future college hockey hall of fame coach and his team beat the Sioux at their own game. We really need to give credit where credit is due; that was a hell of a good job exploiting all of the Fighting Sioux tendencies. If any thing we might need to applaud Red who has been coaching probably longer than many in the business have been alive.

Hey let the debate begin...

DU's Joe Colborne and UND's Matt Frattin to make Leaf debuts

If you live in Grand Forks, ND or have Midco Net in this area you can watch Matt Frattin play on channel 16 CBC tonight, so Fighting Sioux fans if you don't want to watch/stomach the Frozen Four check out Fratts as he makes is professional debut versus the Montreal Canadiens or "Les Habitants". According to Pension Plan Puppets Matt Frattin, will play on a line with Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadr. We might get a look into the Maple Leaf's future tonight's line up additions.

The Star ---- Joe Colborne — the 21-year-old prospect the Leafs got from Boston in the Tomas Kaberle trade — will make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

So will Matt Frattin, the 23-year-old NCAA forward who signed a two-year entry level contract Friday night. Frattin, a finalist for U.S.

college player of the year — losing to Miami (Ohio) forward Andy Miele, despite leading NCAA scorers with 36 goals — was picked 99th overall by the Leafs in 2007.

Former Herald beat writer sums it up well.

I always loved Virg Foss’ work while he was a beat writer for the Fighting Sioux Hockey team and this article sums it up well. I think most of us are still in a state of shock.

Grand Forks Herald --- And so it stings and it will for a long while. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.

But remember this. The pain we feel as fans is nothing compared to what is felt by the players, coaches and staff. They formed a championship-caliber team, but couldn’t win the big one on the biggest of stages.

No matter how flowery the words of praise we heap on this team for remarkable and memorable achievements, the players, more than the fans, will never forget how this season ended.

It ended in shock, disbelief, great sadness and extreme hurt. And there re no words any of us can write or say to make that go away soon, if ever.

Miele wins 2011 Hobey Baker Award

Fox News Photo

Congrats to Miami forward Andy Miele for winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award this afternoon. While I and other Sioux fans are probably a little disappointed with UND Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin not being selected for the award, Andy Miele is a very deserving candidate as well.

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Executive Committee announced Friday that Miami-Ohio RedHawks forward Andy Miele was named the 31st winner of college hockey's most prestigious individual honor.

Named after a legendary Princeton hockey player who died in World War I, the award recognizes strength of character in players both on and off the ice.

During his senior season, Miele led all of college hockey with 71 points (24G, 47A) in just 39 games. He also took home the CCHA scoring crown after posting 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) in 28 contests. His 40 assists were more than any other player had points, which was a first in league history.

Season over, time to move forward. Putting it all into perspective...

There has been a lot of scuttle butt on the blogs and message boards about how UND not winning the NCAA title makes this season a bust or a lost season. I saw where some troll put that UND just finished one of the biggest choke jobs of all time. This is probably a fan of a team that hasn’t played in almost a month already, this is the same team that’s fan base is hoping their schools athletic director fires head hockey coach. But I digress.

I do think it’s disappointing that the Fighting Sioux didn’t win the NCAA title this season especially when they were built to run deep into the NCAA tourney. As we found out once again, the best team doesn’t always win the NCAA title, this was proven in 1997 and again this season as well.

You can expect the unexpected to happen in the NCAA tourney as well. Just ask Miami fans whose team who looked like they were well on their way to winning their first NCAA title, lost the game after having a two goal lead only to watch lead evaporate in 42 seconds in the final minute of the third period. The Terriers then won the game in overtime off a screened goalie/deflection. What do you do? In a one and done tourney you are more apt to see the unexpected happen then if the teams played 5-7 game series where mistakes wouldn’t be as magnified.

Here is the 64,000.00 question; was 2010-2011 a successful season?



In my opinion I think this season has to be looked at as being a success, while some will say it wasn’t the Fighting Sioux came within a game of winning the Triple Crown (Broadmoor trophy, Macnaughton cup and NCAA title). The Dave Hakstol haters will want Hak removed from his position as the head coach of the Fighting Sioux but I think that opinion is short sighted, UND went 32-9-3 and 21-6-1 in the WCHA also they finished second in the nation with goals scored at 4.05 and finished third in the nation in team defense with 2.14. The two teams that finished ahead of the Fighting Sioux were ECAC teams so they might actually have been the best defensive team in the nation this season. The Sioux have been to the NCAA Frozen Four five out of the seven seasons that he has been the coach of the team… That means his teams have finished at least third four times and was the runner up in his first season. That is a huge accomplishment, but I am interested in what the fans think.

Season over, Live chat @1200 pm central Friday - Therapy session with Goon

Lacking of class

First off we win with class and we should lose with class, said fan in picture is not exhibiting class.

In fact that is unacceptable in my opinion. The Sioux got beat by a good hockey team tonight that took UND time and space away and got in the shooting lanes. I don't think there is any shame in losing to Michigan they are historic and good hockey team. You have to give credit where credit is due.

Sioux fans let not your hearts be troubled, this was a tough way to end a magical season but life goes on and I think it's a good idea to have a chat and talk about what lies ahead for the Fighting Sioux hockey team. I think we will see a player or two leave and there are some awesome recruits coming in next season. Fighting Sioux hockey. 

Lines for UND and UM

USCHO has the lines posted for tonight's game between UND and UM Some have said that this is de facto national championship game I think one could make the argument that it is.

MICHIGAN

Forwards

12-Carl Hagelin, 29-Louie Caporusso, 10-Chris Brown
3-Scooter Vaughan, 11-Kevin Lynch, 21-A.J. Treais
16-Ben Winnett, 19-Matt Rust, 23-Luke Glendening
9-Luke Moffat, 22-Jeff Rohrkemper, 18-Derek DeBlois

Defense

24-Jon Merrill, 7-Chad Langlais
4-Kevin Clare, 2-Greg Pateryn
13-Lee Moffie, 37-Mac Bennett

Goalies

31-Shawn Hunwick
35-Bryan Hogan

NORTH DAKOTA

Forwards

19-Evan Trupp, 22-Brad Malone, 21-Matt Frattin
17-Jason Gregoire, 10-Corban Knight, 26-Brett Hextall
15-Brent Davidson, 29-Brock Nelson, 7-Danny Kristo
9-Mario Lamoureux, 27-Carter Rowney, 11-Derek Rodwell

Defense

4-Derek Forbort, 24-Ben Blood
2-Andrew MacWilliam, 5-Chay Genoway
3-Derrick LaPoint, 25-Jake Marto

Goalies

32-Aaron Dell
31-Brad Eidsness

"Sloppy seconds" get into srap in practice. - Sean Avery

Good ole Sean "sloppy seconds" Avery gets into an altercation with his teammate Michael Sauer. There seems to be a reoccurring theme that Avery doesn't play nice with others. h/t SNY Rangers Hockey blog.

NHL throws the book at Raffi Torres for his hit on Jordan Eberle

Last night Chris Wassel, Tim Rosenthal and I were discussing the Raffi Torres hit on Jordan Eberle during the Program radio show and I mentioned that the NHL has pinned themselves into a corner and they have to act and give some teeth to the Torres hit. Personally, I never thought the NHL would put this much teeth into this particular head shot. That being said, Raffi Torres will miss the first two games of the Canucks playoff series.

There are some that are upset with the way the NHL front office has responded to this hit, I don't think it's an understatement to say that they responded in a very punitive fashion, rightfully so! A word to the wise, don’t hit someone in the head with a elbow if you don’t want to be suspended by the NHL.

The fact that people are defending this hit and saying it’s not worthy of a suspension are oblivious to the fact that Torres hit a player in a vulnerable position in the head with a chicken wing elbow. Raffi Torres is a buffoon for thinking this is a clean hit, "If they are trying to get rid of clean hits like that, what's this league going to be in a couple of years?" This was a blatant elbow to an opposition players head.

Per the Nick Kypreos --> Canucks Torres gets suspended for 4 games...

Torres gets four games for elbow

The anticipation is killing me – the Frozen Four is here…

I have to admit that it’s hard to really think about anything but the game tonight. This past week it's been tough to stay focused on the task at hand, however, I am sure that I am not the only Fighting Sioux fan that feels this way. I have to admit that I think this is the best time of the year (the NCAA hockey playoffs, the start of the Stanley Cup) and it’s hard to sit inside and concentrate on the real day job when there are important hockey games to watch. But I digress.

I have had a lot of people ask me if I am going to the Frozen Four, I am not going this year, I almost bought tickets when the Frozen Four lottery applications were being taken, but I thought the prices they were charging at the time were pretty high, in retrospect I think it’s still a good idea. I ended up having some family obligations that wouldn’t have allowed me to go anyways. Anyways, go Fighting Sioux...

Here is the break down of the UND Fighting Sioux roster. Contrary to public belief UND is not “Manitoba’s Pride on Ice” as some have suggested, there are 14 Americans and 13 Canadians on this season roster… Just for the record there are four Manitoban's on this years squad...[Fighting Sioux]

Here is the article by Tib write Rachael Blunt; four focused coaches... [Star Tribune]

U-M's Shawn Hunwick ready for 'dangerous' North Dakota attack [Detroit News]

Frozen Four team capsules... [USA Today]

Frozen Four thumbnails... [Boston Globe]

The Mullet, Barry Melrose talks about the Frozen Four... [click to view]

Fighting Sioux fans to watch Frozen Four hockey tournament at Grand Forks arena [The Republic]

ESPN says that the Fighting Sioux are Frozen favorite [ESPN.COM]

Questions with Bob Sansevere: North Dakota hockey players Matt Frattin... [Pioneer Press]

Keys to grabbing a Frozen Four victory for Michigan, North Dakota... [Michigan Daily]

Skating full circle; Sioux forward Kristo returns after career nearly derailed... [Minot Daily News]

Fighting Sioux back up goalie Brad Eidsness wins Elite 88 Award at Frozen Four... [Fighting Sioux]

Ugly Helmets goalie Shawn Hunwick goes from walk-on to leading Michigan hockey team to Frozen Four... [Mlive.com]

Michigan hockey team expects fierce fight with North Dakota tonight in Frozen Four semifinal... [Ann Arbor.com]

Three things to watch for as 2011 Frozen Four begins today... [Pro Hockey Talk]

Hum!!! They said what?

Checking out an Opposition blog. I guess I could say that I expected more from the Blog that Yost Built. Whatever!!! LOL!!! Really not very creative for a self professed Big Ten blogger.

Blog that Yost Built --- Our opponents in the National Semifinal are those Nazi-loving, inbred hicks from the prairie: The North Dakota Fighting Sioux TBDs.

Coming into the tournament, it was kind of a toss-up for the team that everyone wanted to avoid: BC or North Dakota. The Eagles were knocked out in the first round, but no such luck with the Sioux. They dispatched RPI 6-0 in the lone opening-weekend game that I didn't watch a significant part of. They then beat Denver 6-1 to make it to the Frozen Four.