More Movement in the college hockey world

Image via WikipediaThis is the article I submitted to Inside Hockey.

Today the National Collegiate Hockey Conference added two more teams bringing the number of league teams to eight, Western Michigan University and Saint Cloud State University officially accepted invitations to join the NCHC. Here are some of the comments and themes that emerged from today’s press conference that was held at Saint Cloud. With the subtraction of SCSU the WCHA now has eight teams; Bemidji State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Northern Michigan University, Michigan Tech University, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks. The WCHA is waiting to see if Bowling Green State University will accept an open invitation to join the WCHA.

Not originally in the Mix:

When the NCHC was first announced this past summer the SCSU Huskies were originally left out of the mix and were not one of the founding charter members of the NCHC. After being originally snubbed by the NCHC, there were a lot of things that were said by the SCSU President Dr. Earl Potter; frankly some of his comments were puzzling and bordered on stupidity. Ironically today, SCSU accepted an invitation to join the NCHC. I have always been told that you don’t want to burn bridges that you might have to cross again as you retreat. Today the SCSU athletic department was in full retrograde mode as they gladly accepted a bid to join the NCHC without reservation. I think that’s what rubs some fans from other teams in the NCHC the wrong way. Their administration said a lot of things when the National was first announced and today it was like they had never made those comments.

Here is what Saint Cloud State University President Dr. Earl Potter had to say today about the selection process. During this past summer we had heard from Potter how SCSU was not interested in joining the NCHC and how the teams in the NCHC were only concerned about themselves. This is what he had to say today.

“They [National] needed room to come together to think to create a process, which they did, in the middle of the summer, a rational fact based process that would be based on the core principles of the new conference and then gather information from potential members that they could use; hold up against their core principles and determine whether or not there was a good fit. “

UND athletic director Brian Faison was asked the following question; “now that the conference is at eight members do you see that as being an optimum number or do you see it growing beyond that.” I think in reading these comments, I think most of us know which team Faison is talking about when he talks about the prospects of future teams being added to the mix.

Yes and no. I don’t think there is a set number in our mind, eight works very well in the sense that it’s a a perfect round robin schedule right now because everyone is in everyone rink. From a conference post season perspective, eight works well, in terms in how you structure that, but at the same time that doesn’t preclude us from looking at nine and if it’s the right team is out there for number nine, we would definitely look at that.

Where do we go from here:

If I were a betting man I would say that there are a few more dominoes yet to fall yet this year. Bowling Green State University has one day left in their 30 day period where they need to tell the WCHA commissioner if the Falcons intend to join the league or not, some seem to think that they’re not on a hard dead line and might still be looking for an invitation to join the NCHC. The other team that has yet to pick a conference is Notre Dame and the Irish seem to be waiting to find out where the rest of their sports teams are going to up when Division I football and Basketball are done blowing their conferences up. This isn’t done yet folks.

Related articles

• RW77′s Take on Conference Realignment Part 2 (mvn.com)
• Waiting to Exhale, the WCHA is Back (mvn.com)
• NCHC Extends Membership Invitations to St. Cloud State and Western Michigan (mvn.com)
• What's up SCSU? (mvn.com)
• WCHA to expand... (mvn.com)

UPDATE: Video from the St. Cloud State presser

Watch live streaming video from

Here is the video from the SCSU press conference that was held earlier today. The press conference starts at about 26 minutes.

St. Cloud, Minn. - St. Cloud State University has accepted an invitation to join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference beginning with the 2013-14 season. The acceptance of this invitation for St. Cloud State’s hockey program was announced today by University President Dr. Earl H. Potter III.

“We are delighted to join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference,” Potter said. “We believe that the conference’s strength of play and commitment to college hockey and student athletes is strong and deep and we look forward to an exciting future with The National.”

The Huskies along with Western Michigan University were extended invitations to join the The National on Sept. 21. The Huskies will join current league members Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of North Dakota when the league begins play in 2013-14.

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RW77's Take on Conference Realignment Part 2

Ok, Conference Realignment is the 2011 Storyline of the Year. It's all over the place in Football, basketball (by default due to schools switching in one sport usually go in all sports), and hockey. Ok, all college sports, but I could care less about DI basket weaving.

The latest is that the NCHC invited WMU and SCSU to join its conference (scroll down to read the story). WMU is one of the purely financial and exposure based moves we've come to expect from an NC$$ entity, so I am not going to say much more than I don't think WMU is going to be as bad as everyone thinks and I think with current coaching and the competition level the other teams provide, WMU will improve as well.

I will say that inviting SCSU is a VERY bad move. I know I'll get flamed for it, but I do not care. Why am I against it? Not because of what the hockey team has or has not done over its tenure in DI. I think Motzko is a good coach and though they are on what seems like a downward spiral at the moment, they do seem to be competitive in hockey since Motzko's hiring. I'm against SCSU joining the NCHC due to institutional reasoning. Here's a few reasons:

1. Entitlement Attitude: This summer SCSU's President Potter III, came out and flamed the NCHC and acted what could only be described as a spoiled child who believed he deserved better though he did not earn such a privilege. It has always been a joke (at least since I got into College Hockey) that SCSU was derogatively called "Jan Brady State University" or "JBSU" for its attitude of being the red headed stepchild of Minnesota hockey who is always and forever jealous of UMTC (among other WCHA teams). They (especially the fans) hate this attribution because it is not flattering to SCSU. Uh, that's obvious folks. It's not supposed to be flattering. The problem is, they've never once did anything to try to distance themselves from the attribute through institutional actions. They always seemed to be the ones who felt just as entitled to whatever it is as UMTC and, what seems to really grind their gears, that UND gets afforded the courtesy they feel they should have gotten when it comes to the whole rivalry and intra-conference respect that UMTC garnered towards UND. And I know what you are thinking: "UMTC always goes out of its way to put down UND." True, but they also have shown respect at times to UND as well. SCSU, to my knowledge, has never been that much of a team player... unless you consider teaming up with MSUM, MTU, and UAA against the schools like UMTC, UND, DU, CC, and UW to be a team player.

2. SCSU enjoys conflict as a means of self promotion. It seems to me that they, over their DI history, have thrived on making themselves known or felt through controversy and conflict. It's not the Anti-Semitic tendencies that they've shown in their academic realm that highlights the fact. It is the fact that SCSU was one of the pioneers in leading the whole racism campaign. This pointed Myles Brand into his second Bobby Knight crusade: The Nickname issue. I'm not sure if they are the point of the proverbial spear in this issue, but they certainly are flag wavers. Originally they made the most noise about this issue about the same time as the Antisemitism issue... interestingly enough. Seems like a political circus maneuver to blow the smoke of disdain away from St. Cloud and pointed somewhere else. Again, the jealous tendencies prevailed and pointed (with the liberal agenda already fanning those flames) to colleges like William and Mary, UND, and a few others.

Goon has claimed that the NCHC is only looking for "like minded" institutions to join the NCHC and he's right... until now. Because SCSU does not have the same minded approach to collegiate athletics altogether let alone hockey as the original six who split. They do not add anything to the NCHC except for a voice of jealous contempt and stubbornness that got us to this point in the first place.

I have nothing against the players and coaches of SCSU. Goon dislikes Aaron Marvin and I can't say that he handled himself very well on the ice, but overall, I thought their program was on the up swing after they fired the Dahl-li Llama.

I just feel that the NCHC should have waited until Notre Dame made its move. SCSU, to me, is an adequate fall back option even with their attitude problems, but they shouldn't have been pursued until Notre Dame decided between the Big 10, Independent (long shot), HEA (long shot apparently), and the NCHC.

Actually, I think they should have also waited until they found a commissioner. With a commissioner in charge, the direction of the NCHC gets further streamlined and then we know for sure if teams like SCSU fit better than a say, BSU or even UAH.

Now, on the other hand, if Notre Dame still decides to come to the NCHC, perhaps the NCHC should investigate throwing a bone to UAH. Sure, they'd surely be a cellar dweller, but every conference has one or two. Even the vaunted SEC in college football has Vanderbilt.

I only wonder if Gino had something to do with it.

NCHC Extends Membership Invitations to St. Cloud State and Western Michigan

Here is the official press release from today’s announcement of WMU and SCSU joining the NCHC. I will add my thoughts on this decision later this afternoon when I get a chance.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The National Collegiate Hockey Conference today announced that it has invited St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University to join the new NCAA Division I men's hockey conference which will begin play in the 2013-14 season.

St. Cloud State, located in St. Cloud, Minn., and a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and Western Michigan, located in Kalamazoo, Mich., and currently competing in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, would join conference founding members Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha, and University of North Dakota.

"After a thorough and deliberate evaluation process, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference is delighted to extend invitations to St. Cloud State and Western Michigan to become members of what we believe will be the premier college hockey conference in the United States," said Brian Faison, director of athletics at North Dakota and spokesperson for The National's Athletic Directors Committee.

"Both universities fit perfectly with the established goals of our conference membership," said Faison. "Their programs are highly competitive and produce quality student-athletes. Each institution has made significant commitments to the continued success of their hockey programs and they are both located in tradition-rich hockey states. St. Cloud State and Western Michigan, with their passionate fans, will add a great deal to The National and we look forward to welcoming them."

"With the launch of the inaugural season for The National just two years away, and with greater clarity regarding membership, we are confident the strength of our schedules and the success of our teams will produce outstanding hockey with regional and national appeal, and strong contenders for the national championship on an annual basis," Faison added.

In addition to advancing its membership process, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference has been conducting a national search for its first commissioner and expects to have its top executive in place by the end of the calendar year.

Notre Dame to the ACC? Part 2...

Image via WikipediaI have been watching this story unfold and I have to admit that it's been like a car accident, you don't want to look, but you have to. I am still holding out hope that Notre Dame doesn't end up in the B1G, so once again a certain Gopher know it all fan will be wrong on another prediction. This was the same person that said Scott Sandelin to Penn State was a done deal.

Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports --- If I’m Notre Dame today I’m on the phone to Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters in Greensboro, N.C. because tomorrow may be too late.

If I’m Notre Dame today, and I see the Big East in mid-implosion, see that the ACC has essentially left a spot for me (temporarily) and see the long-term demographic trends for the Midwest, I’m spending the afternoon having a long, soul-searching look in the independence mirror.

And then I’m starting negotiations to join the ACC, not the Big Ten, my persistent local suitor and the one everyone assumes I’ll eventually marry.

“Obviously they are the most attractive option out there,” one ACC athletic director told Yahoo! Sports on Monday, noting he had no knowledge of any discussions between the school and the league. Speaking generally, however, he added: “every league would want Notre Dame and we’re no different.”

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More on Notre Dame's conference selection.

Image via WikipediaOmaha Sioux posted this article in the comments of another article earlier today. It appears that Notre Dame would like to remain a independent in football.

ESPN.COM --- The Fighting Irish compete in the Big East in all sports but football. "I think college football has just taken control of everything," former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said in an interview with "Outside the Lines" host Bob Ley. "All these moves are about football and money and greed. And I think, you know, I'm embarrassed ... about the whole thing. And not just because it's affected the Big East. It just seems that things such as integrity and loyalty and congeniality are gone. And our problem is quite simple. We have no one in charge.

"What we have are little fiefdoms who have conference names and we're living in a society where it's almost like it's Wall Street. Greed is good and I'm Gordon Gecko," he added.

According to a source close to Notre Dame, the Irish's first choice is to remain as an independent in football and stay in the Big East in all other sports.

If the Irish decide they can't remain as a football independent then the choice would be to pursue the ACC before the Big Ten.

But the latter is not the ideal scenario for the fiercely independent Irish. The Irish don't want to give up independence unless forced.

Dustin Byfuglien charged with boating while intoxicated

Image via WikipediaDustin Byfuglin was charged with BWI, seems like this case has gotten a little more complicated. Maybe this is why Dustin Byfuglin had refused to take a blood or urine test?

TORONTO - Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien was charged Tuesday with boating while intoxicated three weeks after his arrest in Minnesota.

According to a criminal complaint from the Hennepin County Sheriff's office, a water patrol officer on Lake Minnetonka stopped Byfuglien's boat the evening of Aug. 31 because the navigational lights weren't on. According to the officer, Byfuglien's speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and watery, he was unsteady on his feet and he smelled of alcohol. There were three people in the boat with him.

Authorities also said Byfuglien admitted to taking a muscle relaxant but couldn't remember the name of the drug and he said he takes a "handful of supplements from 16 or 17 different bottles every day."

Byfuglien was charged with third-degree boating while intoxicated, a gross misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to a year in jail, and refusing to submit to a test. He was also charged with failing to display the proper warning lights on the boat and not having enough flotation devices for everyone on board.

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2011-12 NHL rule changes

Brendan Shanahan and of the NHL and Mathieu Schneider of the NHLPA explain the rule changes for the 2011-12 season. The rule that one that everyone is concerned about is rule 48, illegal hits to the head. Gone are the words, lateral and blindside, also, the head can not be target or a principle point of contact. If a player puts themselves in a vulnerable position that will be taken into consideration as well. There is also some flexibility to call a 2 minute penalty instead of a 5 minute major.

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Notre Dame to the Big Ten?

Image via WikipediaThis would be an interesting turn of events but not unpredictable because there has been a lot written on this subject during the past week.

Neil Hayes; Chicago Sun Times --- The tectonic plates beneath the college football landscape may soon be shifting, which could increase the likelihood of Notre Dame joining the Big Ten in the future.

Brian Kelly is aware that Big East Conference members Pittsburgh and Syracuse have submitted letters of application to the Atlantic Coach Conference, which could impact Notre Dame basketball and other sports. With other significant changes to major conferences expected, joining the Big Ten might make sense now than it did a decade ago, especially if Texas is involved.

Imagine a Big Ten “Western” division that includes Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, llinois and Northwestern and an “Eastern” sub-conference featuring Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue and Indiana. Such a scenario would maintain many of the Big Ten’s geographical rivalries as well as allowing Notre Dame to continue to play traditional foes such as USC and/or Navy.

“I know personally as the head coach, you’re always listening to what’s going on out there,” the Notre Dame coach said. “How it affects our day-to-day operation is none. It doesn’t affect what we do. Nothing is going to be decided during this season.

So if Notre Dames decided to join the B1G that would mean that the Fighting Irish would join the B1G in all sports to include Division I hockey as well, meaning that the Fighting Irish would not be in the NCHC. I don't think it's as devastating to the NCHC as some hockey fans have predicted or hoped. Let's get real, the NCHC in it's current form is still more of an attractive option than the WCHA. One scenario I would like to see happen is, if Notre Dame ends up going to the B1G, I would hope the NCHC would extend an invitation to BGSU and WMU to join the NCHC. I would also caution the NCHC about offering an invitation to SCSU to join the NCHC.

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Waiting to Exhale, the WCHA is Back

This season I will be writing for Inside Hockey with a big blog from out east run by Tim Rosenthal… I will be one of the WCHA writers this season. Here was the first article that I submitted.

The whirl wind summer that saw a bunch of realignment in college hockey has finally come to an end and now college hockey fans can worry about... watching college hockey games as the hockey season is once again upon us. Most college hockey teams have already started their captain’s practices and college hockey coaches are allowed by NCAA rules to practice for two hours each week with their teams until October 1st 2011.

The college hockey season will officially kick off their exhibition games during the first weekend of October. The following weekend all 12 WCHA teams WCHA teams will kick off their non-conference and preseason tourney games. Here is the link composite WCHA schedule for the 2011-12 season. [Link to the composite WCHA schedule]

Re-alignment almost set?

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph; this past summer has been a whirl wind for college hockey fans of the WCHA with the defections of teams to the B1G (Wisconsin, Minnesota) and the defections of teams to the newly formed and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (Colorado College, Denver University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha and University of North Dakota), the WCHA in its present form will change after the 2012-13 season.

Starting in 2013-14 the WCHA will consist of the following teams, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Tech University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Northern Michigan University, and Saint Cloud State University. Two other schools have been given invitations to join the WCHA from the CCHA, Western Michigan University and Bowling Green State University have been given invitations to join the WCHA but neither school has accepted or declined the invitation at this point. The WCHA would like to add WMU and BGSU as members to the WCHA because without either school, none of the schools in the WCHA are Division I in any other sport besides hockey.

Teams bolting for super conferences:

We already have an idea what the new WCHA will look like; there may be an addition or subtraction in the future. Based on the moves that have taken place this summer, it also appears that there will no longer be a CCHA. While re-alignment is almost over for the WCHA there are still a few moves yet to be played out. While holding up the show for most of the summer, Notre Dame has yet to pick a home for its college hockey team; there have been rumblings that the Fighting Irish are close to selecting a conference. Stay with me now; there are three or four scenarios in play for them right now, Notre Dame could join the NCHC, Hockey East, go independent or join the Big Ten. The later scenario has surfaced in the last week or so.

Big Ten driving re-alignment:

Due to a very generous donation from PSU alumnus Terry Pegula; Penn State University will now have a college hockey team to start the 2012-13 college hockey season. Peulla opened his rather large wallet and wrote Penn State a check for 88 million to help the Nittany Lions build Pegula Ice arena. That donation rocked the college hockey world, now that the Big Ten “will have” six teams that play college hockey, they are required by conference rules to have a B1G hockey conference. The addition of one college hockey team set the ball in motion for a very chaotic summer. The Big Ten Schools that used to be in both the WCHA and the CCHA are now going to form the Big Ten Hockey Conference.

Not to be out done and in response to the Big Ten hockey conference formation; Miami University from the CCHA decided to join North Dakota, Denver University, Colorado College University Nebraska Omaha to form the NCHC. The NCHC schools have been trying to lure Notre Dame to become a member of the six team super conference. WMU is also said to be very interested in joining the NCHC, and they have spent the summer trying to convince the NCHC that they would be a worthy suitor in the NCHC. If WMU is unable to join the NCHC they will probably join the WCHA. BGSU has yet to make decision but are leaning towards joining the WCHA.
There have been rumblings that if Notre Dames doesn’t join the NCHC that SCSU “might” get an invite to the NCHC but at this time they are still on the outside looking in. This move would stink with hypocrisy especially after Saint Cloud State University President Dr Earl H. Potter III said he wouldn’t join the NCHC even if his school was offered a spot in the conference. Potter has since backed off this statement.

How will things shake out?

While I don’t get a vote in the WCHA media pre-season poll, this is how I think the standings will shake out for the 2011-12 season. The top six – seven teams in the WCHA are pretty equal and could finish anywhere from first to seventh. Like last season, we could see one or both B1G schools failing to make the Final Five once again. I believe Denver, Colorado College and North Dakota are cream of the crop in the WCHA this season. In the future I will break down the teams to watch in the WCHA.

1. Denver
2. Colorado College
3. North Dakota
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska-Omaha
6. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota-Duluth
8. Alaska-Anchorage
9. St. Cloud State
10. Bemidji State
11. Michigan Tech
12.MinnesotaState

Jaroslav Halak's mask honor's Pavol Demitra

s/t to In Goal Magazine. St Louis Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak's mask will honor the memory of his former Slovakian teammate Pavol Demitra who was killed last week when his KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team flight crashed after take off.

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Brett Hextall is no Matt Cooke...

I want to preface this blog post by saying that, I liked what Brett Hextall brought to the table during his three seasons at the University of North Dakota, however I am disappointed that Brett would compare himself to a gutless puke like Matt Cooke. I don't think we will every see Hextall suspended for the playoffs because he hit someone with a dirty elbow or an illegal hit... While Hextall plays the game with an edge I wouldn't say that he is a goon or a dirty player.

Pro Hockey Talk --- Phoenix Coyotes prospect Brett Hextall signed a pro contract this April and will be wreaking havoc all over the Coyotes training camp this week. He spent two seasons with Junior A Penticton before moving on to the University of North Dakota.

“Yeah, [the chippiness] probably my strongest point—at least when I’m playing my most effective,” Hextall explained. “I’m really getting under people’s skin just because I’m a pest. Like a Max Talbot, Matt Cooke, or someone like that. If I can be a relentless guy, [play] in-your-face, winning pucks, and just getting under people’s skin because I’m always around, always there, and always getting a piece of them. That’s definitely when I’m at my best.”

That’s right. A Hextall just said that he’s at his best when he’s playing like Matt Cooke. Not surprisingly, it’s something he’s learned from his family. He’s known from the start what it would take to be a good hockey player.

One player that I would probably compare Brett Hextall to is Boston Bruins forward and pest extraordinaire Brad Marchand. In case you have already forgotten, Marchand, was the player that the Montreal Canadians and the Vancouver Canucks came to hate during the Stanley Cup playoffs, by the end of both series Marchand was in Canadians and Canucks heads. Brett Hextall like Brad Marchand has been known to throw players but also whole teams off their games being a super pest, if you don't believe me just ask the Denver Pioneers.

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Former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone interviewed by Mike Chambers

Wow!!! Here is one for the record books, self professed Fighting Sioux hockey hater and beat writer for the Denver Post; Mike Chambers, has come a long way, Mike Chambers was able to interview former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone without insulting the Fighting Sioux hockey team and or mentioning the Brad Malone's check on Jesse Martin. Goon's World must give Mike Chambers credit where credit is due, now the question is; will Mike Chambers be able to write to columns/blog posts in a row without doing either.

Mike Chambers All things AV's --- (Brad)Malone, listed at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, was a first-line center as a senior at UND, but he is pegged as a third- or fourth-line grinder as a pro. He has embraced that model and would love to be the next Cody McLeod for the Avs.

“Keeping it simple. I don’t think there anything real mysterious about my game,” Malone said. “Just shooting pucks out (of the defensive zone), shooting pucks in, being physical, limiting mistakes. I don’t think I’ll have a scoring role, but . . . I try and resemble myself after a guy like (McLeod).”

That would include fighting, an art that would require Malone to shake off some rust. (Of course, the NCAA hands out ejections and suspensions for fighting, so it doesn’t happen much.)

“I haven’t played junior hockey or anything in four years, but you know what, it’s part of the game,” he said of fighting. “I’m not going to go out and look for it, but with the physical play and the way that I play, I’m sure things are going to come around. You can’t really shy away from it. We’ll see what happens.”

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Burke on Frattin - “He’s going to get a good look in camp.”

With the new season comes new chance for former Fighting Sioux hockey players to get their shot at playing in the NHL, this season former Fighting Sioux power forward Matt Frattin is making an early impression and has a decent chance of making the NHL out of the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp.

Kevin McGran; The Star --- One of few players who may actually get some ice time with the Leafs this year is Matt Frattin, easily the best player on the ice Tuesday night. The puck followed him around, it seemed. He scored the Leafs’ first goal, on a fine feed from defenceman Jake Gardiner.

It was a power-play goal with Frattin — a forward — playing the point.

“He clearly showed some of what he can do and I think he still has more to give,” Eakins said of Frattin. “We used him in all situations. We had him on the point on the power play, up front on the power play, 5-on-5, 4-on-4, penalty killing and he wasn’t falling away. It looks like he’s fairly fit as well.”

At 23, Frattin was one of the older players at the four-team tournament. It was expected he would dominate and he did. GM Brian Burke was impressed.

“I think he’s a good player,” Burke said of Frattin. “He’s going to get a good look in camp.”

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Vancouver Canucks beat writer still bitter?

From time to time I check out the Orland Kurtenblog because I find his posts to be interesting and thought provoking. Seems like Vancouver media just can't get over losing to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup finals, not only did Brand Marchand get under the skin of the Vancouver Canucks, it appears that Brad Marchand also got under the skin of the Vancouver media as well. Hell I think that makes Marchand even more valuable.

Orland Kurtenblog --- The $5 mil total also proves that, if you want to make some serious money in the league, you should try speedbagging a Sedin.

I mean, let’s be real here. Marchand is a good player and you can’t downplay his postseason effectiveness — but everyone knows how he made a name for himself, and it wasn’t for relentless back-checking. Marchand whaled on the Art Ross trophy winner, bragged about it, and everybody ate it up. Fans, media and television talking heads were tripping over each other to anoint him the rodent du jour, taking the “next Ken Linesman” label away from Dave Bolland (who, to be fair, took it away from Steve Ott. I think the point here is the “rat king” label frequently changes holders.) This wasn’t necessarily wrong, just overblown. On the list of things that prevented Vancouver from winning, Marchand’s agitation skills were somewhere in the middle

Brad Marchand plays on the edge all the time and during the Stanley Cup finals Marchand was up in Daniel Sedin's grill for most of the series... Just a little reminder in case anyone forgot, how about this move by Brad Marchand as he showed Daniel Sedin if you going to keep skating after the whistle Marchand is going to protect himself. [Click to view video] Again, did people expect Marchand to just let Sedin run him?

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Hockey is in the air...

Waking up this morning I noticed some frost on the roof of my garage and have come to the conclusion that our short summer in the north land is officially now over and the hockey season is upon us. The Fighting Sioux hockey team play their exhibition game on October 1st against Regina 16 days from now.

Some of the first media and pseudo media have begun to release their preseason rankings/ballots [Bucky's Fifth Quarter], [Western College Hockey], [Roman Empire]

This is how I see the WCHA shaking out this season.
1. Denver
2. Colorado College
3. North Dakota
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska-Omaha
6. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota-Duluth
8. Alaska-Anchorage
9. St. Cloud State
10. Bemidji State
11. Michigan Tech
12. Minnesota State

Fratts making an impression

From reading all of the press clipping coming from the Toronto newspapers it sounds like former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin has made quite an impression on the Toronto Maple Leafs brain trust during this week’s rookie camp and Matt Frattin may have a chance to make the Leafs rosters out of training camp.

Frattin looking good at camp [Toronto Sun]

OSHAWA - The playing field is about to level for Matt Frattin.

But the 23-year-old Maple Leafs freshman couldn’t have had a better send-off to training camp as he played in all situations and shone in a 4-3 Leafs loss to the Ottawa Senators in the rookie tournament closer at the General Motors Centre.

“He clearly showed some of what he can do and I think he has more to give,” said Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins, who was behind the Leafs bench. “He didn’t fall away. And it looks like he is fairly fit as well, which is encouraging.”

Frattin played the point on the power play and one-timed a shot past goalie Robin Lehner late in the second period during a man-advantage. He also killed penalties, and his smarts demonstrated why he should have a good shot at winning a spot on the Leafs’ roster when camp breaks. He played in one game for the Leafs last season.

Leaf's Roster has WCHA flavor

If you glance at the Toronto Leafs training camp roster you will see a hint of a WCHA influence. Currently there are seven former WCHA players on the Leaf's training camp roster. [Toronto Maple Leafs training camp roster]

Brad Malone also making an impression with AV's

Sounds like former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone is also making an impression with the Colorado Avalanche coaching staff as well. Here is what the Mile High City had to say about Brad Malone.

Brad Malone: The first thing that jumped off the ice about Malone yesterday and was only reinforced today was that he moves well for a guy his size. He's a smooth skater with a long, powerful stride who isn't blessed with great acceleration but has a top speed that won't cause him to be overwhelmed in the NHL. He was focused on firing a few more pucks past goalies today (same for Landy, who he's living with at a hotel near Park Meadows) and used his quick, compact release to pick some corners. Maybe most surprising on the day was some actual hitting showed up as he and Landeskog came together in front of Pickard for an amusing confrontation. Later during the scrimmages Malone received a pretty significant body check from O'Byrne and took it in stride. As they skated down the ice, Malone was definitely looking to let O'Byrne know he saw the number of that freight train and seemed anxious to get into O'Byrne. Sadly, everyone remembered it was day 2 of rookie camp and the two quickly skated away with smiles on their faces. Don't be surprised to see Malone happily lay into O'Byrne this weekend. From what I saw, Malone had himself a pretty solid day and I'm really liking his potential to make an impact on the bottom 6 this season. It may not be immediate but I wouldn't be surprised to see Malone donning an Avs jersey at some point in this campaign.

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• Joe Colborne has size on his side in Leafs battle (canada.com)
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ND Attorney General Seeking Dismissal of UND Students' Nickname Lawsuit

Image via WikipediaHere is the latest news involving the Fighting Sioux nickname. I have to agree there was no reason for this lawsuit to be filed, I also think it would be a long shot to prove that these 8 students had their 14 amendment rights violated.

GRAND FORKS (WDAZ-TV) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem's office has filed a motion asking the Federal Court to dismiss a suit by eight current and former UND students over the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

The students allege the state law requiring the school to keep the nickname violates the state constitution and reverses a court-ordered settlement between UND and the NCAA that retired the logo.

In the motion to dismiss, the Attorney General's office says the settlement with the NCAA does not require the nickname and logo to be retired, but only specifies the penalties that will ensue if the nickname were to remain.

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Sidney Crosby on headshots

Image via WikipediaThis is what Sidney Crosby the face of the NHL had to say about headshots. Unfortunately the face of the NHL hasn't played a game since January 5th of this year.

Bill Beacon; Globe and Mail--- (Sidney) Crosby has been out of action with concussion symptoms since early January after taking shots to the head in consecutive games. While the Pittsburgh Penguins centre is optimistic he will be able to play again, no date has been set for his return.

The 24-year-old urged the league to take action on shots to the head when he met with the media Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh.

“As a league, as a union, I think we've all educated ourselves a lot in the last six or seven months,” Crosby said. “I think it can go further. At the end of the day, I don't think there's a reason not to take (headshots) out.”

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