Nickname retirement may cost $750,000

Here is the latest on the Fighting Sioux nickname, $750,000.00 that's a lot of money and that isn't including "the costs" of removing the logos from the REA. My next question is, who is going to pay for this?

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- UND officials have estimated the cost of retiring the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo at nearly $750,000, not counting the cost of changes that may occur at the privately-held Ralph Engelstad Arena.

University President Robert Kelley sent the estimates last week to a budget analyst and auditor with the North Dakota Legislative Council, in response to a request made by Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England.

Schatz, who has declared that he will not support an attempt in next month’s special legislative session to clear the way for retirement of the name and logo, said he asked for the cost information so he could attach a fiscal note to any bill contemplating that action.

“I wanted all the legislators to know the figures that the president estimated it would cost,” Schatz said Tuesday. “I think that’s been left out of the conversation so far.”

Spirit Lake nickname foes 'embarrassed' by 'threats'

Color me surprised!!! You just knew it was just a matter of time before this story came to the forefront of the Fighting Sioux nickname issue. I am not sure if I am the only one that sees this, but it always seems to be the same people that are being consulted on the anti-Fighting Sioux nickname issue. At times I have also wondered why the anti-Fighting Sioux nickname crowd seems to get the lion’s share of the press when it comes to people that are against the Fighting Sioux nickname?

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- Several Fighting Sioux nickname opponents at the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe have written an open letter to Grant Shaft, president of the state Board of Higher Education, saying they are “embarrassed by the threats our fellow tribal members are making on behalf of the Spirit Lake Nation” over efforts to retire the name and logo.

Late last week, the pro-nickname Committee for Understanding and Respect warned the state board, UND and others looking to drop the symbols that they should expect consequences “far more severe than any sanctions UND claims will exist by keeping the name.”

The committee’s efforts to preserve the Fighting Sioux name and logo at UND have been endorsed by the tribal council, which adopted a resolution authorizing the group to speak for the tribe. That followed a 2009 referendum in which a substantial majority of tribal members approved UND’s continued use of the name.

But Erich Longie, a longtime advocate for UND dropping the nickname and logo, and 10 others told Shaft that they speak for the minority of more than 300 tribal members who voted “no” in that referendum.

Will this hit warrant a suspension or Not?

Check out this hit by Penguins Kris Letang on the Jets Alex Burmistrov during last night's game in Winnipeg. I don't think this boarding call is worthy of a suspension and I don't think the NHL needs to suspend every player that commits a questionable play/penalty.

Related articles

• Suspension coming for Penguins' Kris Letang? (aol.sportingnews.com)

Badgers in overtime Since 2002-03

Image via WikipediaOne thing that has become very apparent is that the Badgers under head coach Mike Eaves has had a dismal record in overtime, the Badgers have lost three games this season already in overtime. This is the Badgers record in overime since the 2002-03 season. s/t Madison.com If my math is right the Badgers own a record of 12-21-45

2011-12 -- 0-3-0 overall, 0-2-0 WCHA
2010-11 -- 1-3-4 overall, 0-3-3 WCHA
2009-10 -- 0-0-4 overall, 0-0-3 WCHA
2008-09 -- 0-3-4 overall, 0-2-3 WCHA
2007-08 -- 0-3-7 overall, 0-2-5 WCHA
2006-07 -- 2-3-4 overall, 2-3-3 WCHA
2005-06 -- 2-1-3 overall, 0-0-3 WCHA
2004-05 -- 0-1-4 overall, 0-1-3 WCHA
2003-04 -- 5-1-8 overall, 1-0-7 WCHA
2002-03 -- 2-3-4 overall, 2-2-4 WCHA

An early look at the PWR.

For a good laugh on this Monday afternoon, the Michigan Tech University Huskies are leading the Pair Wise Rankings after four games. You might want to take a picture because I am sure you will see this change as the season continues and the games play out. 

Don Cherry apologizes to tough guys on CBC

Last Saturday night during the Coaches Corner, on Hockey Night in Canada Don Cherry apologized for his comments where he berated Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson the week before.

CBC.CA --- Cherry called Grimson, Nilan and Thomson "turncoats" and "hypocrites," accusing them of not wanting players to make the same living they did.

He also accused those who want to end violence in the sport of taking advantage of the three deaths to make points on fighting.

Poll Monday Sioux 5tth and 6th...

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because I find them interesting. I don't think you can rank a team like Yale in the top three when they haven't played a game yet. Also, I think Union is ranked a bit high.

1. Boston College
2. Colorado College
3. Yale
4. Michigan
5. Denver
6. Minnesota
7. Union
8. North Dakota
9. Miami
10. Merrimack
11. Notre Dame
12. Western Michigan
13. Boston University
14. Colgate
15. Dartmouth
16. Alaska Anchorage
17. RIT
18. Providence
19. Michigan Tech
20. Ferris State

Dropped out: Minnesota Duluth, New Hampshire, Maine, Alaska, Air Force
Bubble-licious: Alaska, Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Quinnipiac

Brian Elliott's sick save against the Sharks.

Check out this really sick goalies save by former Badger goalie Brian Elliott on San Jose Shark Dan Boyle. I am sure that will probably be a candidate to be on of the top ten saves of the week. Elliot was making his season debut for the Blues and stopped 34/36 shots to give the Blues the win.

Sioux tie Black Bears 3-3

Cross Posted at Inside Hockey.
Image via WikipediaGrand Forks, ND — The Fighting Sioux hockey players that played on last season’s squad, have been looking forward to a rematch with the Maine Black Bears for some time. Last Season the Fighting Sioux left Orono, Maine with a bad taste in their mouth. After they were swept handedly by the Black Bears on October 23, 2010, the Fighting Sioux hoped they would get one more crack at the Black Bears during the NCAA tourney. That didn’t happen. The Fighting Sioux went on to the Frozen Four and the Black Bears went home after they lost in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs. Fast forward to this season. This weekend’s theme has been about looking for a little revenge against the Black Bears.

The Black Bears took over where they left off from last night’s game and again proved to be a miserable team to play against. The first break went to the Black Bears, as they went on the power play at the 3:05 mark of the first period.

Brock Nelson took a minor penalty for interference and the Maine Black Bears scored less than a minute later at the 4:02 mark of the second period on a power play goal by Black Bears forward Bryan Flynn. Assisting on the goal was Will O’Neal and Spencer Abbott.

The Black Bears outshot the Fighting Sioux 7-9 and did a good job getting in the passing lanes and taking away the Fighting Sioux’s time and space.

The second period proved to be a wild one as the Maine Black Bears came out on fire and wasted little time as they scored 46 seconds into the period. The goal was a thing of beauty, as Maine Defenseman Will O’Neil took a nice pass from Kyle Beatie and shot the puck into the net, as Fighting Sioux goalie as Aaron Dell was trying to get over and cover the post.

The Fighting Sioux fortunes changed at 3:32 mark of the second period. The Fighting Sioux got a much needed break, as Black Bears forward Kyle Beattie was penalized (boarding), and defenseman Mark Nemec (high sticking) were sent to the penalty box, giving the Fighting Sioux a two-man advantage. Fighting Sioux defenseman Nick Mattson wasted little time making the Black Bears pay when he scored a powerplay goal from the left point just 43 seconds later.

The Maine Black Bears took another untimely penalty at the 5:17 mark of the second period, when Ryan Hegarty was penalized for hooking. The Sioux wasted little time again making the Black Bears pay, as Danny Kristo scored a power play goal just 10 seconds later at the 5:27 mark, with a howitzer from the left point to tie the game.

The Fighting Sioux got another goal on the power play at the 17:25 mark of the second period with a goal from Kristo, as he blasted another hard shot from the left point through traffic. That was the third point of the third period for Kristo and the third power play goal for the Fighting Sioux.

Things got more interesting for the Sioux during the third period. Fighting Sioux defenseman Andrew MacWilliam was called for interference. On the power play, the Black Bears tied the game with a goal at the 12:18 mark of the third period. Ryan Hegarty deflected a pass from Spencer Abbott past Aaron Dell through the five hole. The Fighting Sioux outshot the Black Bears during the third period 8-6.

The game was tied at the end of regulation and went to overtime. The Sioux outshot the Black Bears 3-1 in overtime, and Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell had to come up with a huge save at the end of the game on a breakaway by Spencer Abbott to preserve the tie for the Fighting Sioux.

There were a lot of bright spots for the Fighting Sioux on the weekend, junior forward Corbin Knight went an impressive 37-11 in face-offs for the weekend. While the Fighting Sioux were outshot 31 to 21 on Friday night, the Sioux managed to close the game as they were only outshot 28-27 by the Black Bears on Saturday. The Fighting power play who went 0-6 on the power play on Friday night went impressive 3-5 for five on the power play on Saturday. Fighting Sioux junior forward Danny Kristo has four points on the weekend (2g-2a-4pts).

Box Score

Sioux vs. Black Bears game 2

Image via WikipediaSioux vs. Black Bears

Tonight’s TV: FSSN, MidcoSN3 (GF Ch. 323), Fox College Sports Central, DirecTV 623.

Fighting Sioux

Forward lines

16 Mark MacMillan – 10 Corban Knight (A) – 7 Danny Kristo
9 Mario Lamoureux (C) – 29 Brock Nelson – 15 Michael Parks
21 Brendan O’Donnell – 27 Carter Rowney –11 Derek Rodwell
28 Stephane Pattyn 14 Taylor Dickin – 20 Joe Gleason

Defensive Pairings

4 Derek Forbort – Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A) – Dillon Simpson
5 Nick Mattson – 22 Andrew Panzarella

Goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
35 Tate Maris

Scratches for the Fighting Sioux: 8 Dan Senkbell, 17 Colten St. Clair, 19 Rocco Grimaldi, 13 Conner Gaarder

Maine Black Bears

Maine Forward Lines

13 Spencer Abbot (A) – 10 Brian Flynn (C) –18 John Swavely
26 Adam Shemansky – 21 Kyle Beattie – 29 Conner Leen
11 Theo Anderson – 91 Klas Leidermark - 24 Mark Anthoine
5 Andrew Cerretani – 22 Stu Higgins – 15 John Parker

Defensive Paring

27 Will O’MNeill (C) – 57 Matt Mangene
44 Ryan Hegarty – 3 Mark Nemec
71 Nick Pryor 2 Mike Cornell (A)


Goalies

30 Dan Sullivan
51 Martin Ouellette
31 Josh Seeley

Refs for tonight's games - R: Matt Ulwelling 23, Craig Welker 17, AR: Andy Dokken (70), Nathan Freeman (78).

   

Wisconsin loses to Tech on questionable goal

First off props to Michigan Tech Guide for the video. What a horrible way to lose a hockey game and you have to feel for the Wisconsin Badgers. In looking at this video, I don't know how this goal counted for the Huskies. There looks like there is definite contact behind the Wisconsin goal. I am not sure what the WCHA officials saw there?

This is a perfect example of why fans in the WCHA hold the on ice officials in contempt, this was a horrible call and this goal should have never counted and the blown call could end up causing Wisconsin home ice or a a spot in the NCAA tourney.

Apparently the Badgers were unamused by the call as well. Andy Baggot had to say about the incident.

Replays showed Pietila skated into Ramage and drove the UW captain into Peterson, who was trying to play the puck behind the net. The cage was empty when center Brett Olson fed Baker alone in the slot for the controversial winner.

It seemed that a penalty was warranted on the sequence, but referees C.J. Beaurline and Pat Britt had a different view.

"If nothing else, interference," UW coach Mike Eaves said after jawing angrily with the two officials before leaving the bench. "Judging by the sheepishness of the two young referees, they had no command of the play."

This is why the WCHA officials are looked at as a bunch of bumbling buffoons and have no respect. This also one of the reason that you will see fans of the teams that are going to the NCHC not wanting the WCHA officials reffing their games in the future. I am just hoping that the NCHC leadership will not allow WCHA officials to ref games in the new league. I would be willing to bet that the B1G isn't going to want these refs in their league as well.  

Doug Fullerton Interview.

Image via WikipediaThis is an interview that someone posted over on Sioux Sports and it's worth a look; its a Sacramento State Sports Question and Answer session with Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton. [click to read the whole article]

There has been a lot of controversy surround one of the new members, North Dakota. Some of it has involved you. What do you think about North Dakota’s logo controversy?

That’s a tough one because they didn’t have the controversy when we got them in the league. They already had signed on. I think our presidents have a real concern about the action taken by the (North Dakota) legislature (to keep the Fighting Sioux logo). We did not and will not get into the fight. I know they tried to get us into the fight. Whether or not the logo is appropriate or inappropriate – what we worry about is the NCAA had a deal with them and now they were forced to back out of that deal. If they are in violation and the NCAA sanctions remain in place, we’re afraid of what the outcome of those sanctions will create at the University of North Dakota in two ways. No. 1, the pure NCAA sanctions of not being able to host a postseason event will really hurt their ability to be successful in football. That’s one of the things that we really think is important. But more important, as long as the NCAA has those sanctions, we’re starting to see a grass roots protest against the University of North Dakota. We know that they’ve lost scheduled games. We know there have been mini demonstrations when they travel. If those kind of things grow, then their use to us as a solid Division I program in the Big Sky begins to diminish. At that point in time, then it could affect if we want them as members. People try to drag us into this fight whether the Sioux nickname is appropriate or not appropriate. That’s the not where our presidents are. They are engaged in the second part of that conversation.

Jason Blake's arm cut in game against Sharks

This isn't pretty and I hope that former Fighting Sioux forward Jason Blake isn't hurt too bad. Let's hope that Jason makes a speedy recovery and will be back in the Duck's line up soon.

Los Angeles Times --- Ducks forward Jason Blake was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange and was in need of sutures Friday night after suffering what was described as a severe cut on his left forearm late in the team’s 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center.

Blake, 38, was injured almost midway through the final period of the Ducks’ home opener. He was taken out of the arena on a special stretcher that allowed him to keep his arm upright as he was sitting, not lying on his back, a team spokesman said.

Fighting Sioux Stop Black Bears 3-1

Cross Posted at Inside Hockey.
Image via WikipediaGrand Forks, ND — Going into this series the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux had lost four games in a row to the Maine Black Bears and they were swept last October in Orono, Maine by a score of 7-3 and 4-2. This week one could describe the theme for the Fighting Sioux as looking for a little revenge against the Black Bears.

On the other side of the ice the Maine Black Bears knew that the Fighting Sioux were going to be looking to even the score and wouldn’t be looking past the Black Bears, especially after last season results.  Tonight the Fighting Sioux’s fortunes changed against the Black Bears, the Fighting Sioux lead by Corbin Knight and Ben Blood (a goal and an assist each); combined with a goaltending gem by Brad Eidsness gutted out a hard fought 3-1 win.

The First period started out slow for the Fighting Sioux as they had to kill two Maine power plays in the early going. After killing the two Black Bears power plays the Fighting Sioux had trouble getting on track as the Black Bears did a good job of limiting the Fighting Sioux’s time and space. The Fighting Sioux were out shot by the Black Bears 11-6 in the first period.

Goaltending coming into the week was one of the major question marks for the Fighting Sioux. Last year’s first team All WCHA first team goalie Aaron Dell was shaky last weekend in two games during the Ice Breaker Tourney against Air Force Academy Boston College. Dell was pulled in the second period against the Boston College Eagles and senior goalie Brad Eidsness relieved Dell in the second period and stopped the bleeding for the Fighting Sioux. Eidsness looked sharp against the Eagles stopping seven of eight shots, after the game against the B.C. Eagles some questioned if there was a goaltending battle brewing in Grand Forks.

After tonight it appears that some of those goaltending questions have been answered as Brad Eidsness stopped 30 of 31 shots, many of those shots were close in from the slot as the Maine Black Bears were all over the Fighting Sioux through two periods of hockey.

I don’t think it would be inaccurate to say that Brad Eidsness stopped at least five very difficult shots from close in during the first period and second periods keeping the Fighting Sioux in the game, if Eidsness had not been sharp the game could have gotten out of hand. In retrospect, this was probably one of Eidsness’ best game in a Fighting Sioux uniform.

The game was a scoreless tie until Fighting Sioux freshman winger Michael Parks was called for interference penalty at the 01:58 mark of the Second period. The Maine Black Bears didn’t take long to capitalize on the power play as they scored five second later on a goal by Maine forward Spencer Abbot took a shot from the point that blew past Eidsness. That’s all the Black Bears would get past Eidsness who stoned the Black Bears the rest of the way.

The Fighting Sioux evened the score about three minutes later when Parks made up for his miscue and scored his first goal of his Fighting Sioux career at the 5:01 mark of the second period to tie the game.
The Sioux went into the third period being out shot 26 – 14 by the Black Bears, did manage to out shot the Black Bears 7-5 during he third period. Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness continued to stand tall in the early minutes of the third when he stopped Maine forward Abbott close in to keep the game at 1-1, that save by Eidsness would prove to be a game saver for the Fighting Sioux.

The Sioux finally started getting the better of the Black Bears and in the third period and took the game over. Black Bear forward Joey Diamond took three ill advised penalties in the third period and at the 14:32 mark planted Fighting Sioux defenseman Ben Blood into the boards.

Blood enjoyed the best revenge three seconds later when  he took the feed from Corbin Knight off the face off and blasted the puck past Maine Goalie Martin Ouellette.  After the game Black Bears head coach Tim Whitehead said that Diamond would be watching tomorrow night’s game from the stands after taking three penalties in the third period.

The Fighting Sioux closed out the scoring at the 18:35 mark when Blood returned the favor and fed Corbin Knight a nice pass who was standing at the goal mouth and shot the puck past Ouellette who was out of position. The Sioux and the Black Bears play game two Saturday night at 7:07 pm.

Box Score

Sioux vs. Black Bears

Image via WikipediaUND Fighting Sioux vs. University of Maine Black Bears

Fighting Sioux

Forward lines

16 Mark MacMillan – 10 Corban Knight (A) – 7 Danny Kristo
9 Mario Lamoureux (C) – 29 Brock Nelson – 15 Michael Parks
14 Taylor Dickin – 27 Carter Rowney –11 Derek Rodwell
21 Brendan O’Donnell – 28 Stephane Pattyn – 13 Connor Gaarder

Defensive Pairings

4 Derek Forbort – Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A) – Dillon Simpson
5 Nick Mattson – 22 Andrew Panzarella

Goalies

31 Brad Eidsness
32 Aaron Dell
35 Tate Maris

Scratches for the Fighting Sioux: 8 Dan Senkbell, 17 Colten St. Clair, 19 Rocco Grimaldi,  20 Joe Gleason

Maine Black Bears

Maine Forward Lines

13 Spencer Abbot (A) – 10 Brian Flynn (C) – 39 Joey Diamond
26 Adam Shemansky – 21 Kyle Beattie – 29 Conner Leen
11 Theo Anderson – 91 Klas Leidermark - 24 Mark Anthoine
5 Andrew Cerretani – 22 Stu Higgins – 15 John Parker

Defensive Paring

27 Will O’MNeill (C) – 57 Matt Mangene
44 Ryan Hegarty – 3 Mark Nemec
71 Nick Pryor 2 Mike Cornell (A)

Goalies 

51 Martin Ouellette

30 Dan Sullivan

31 Josh Seeley

Refs for tonight's games - R: Matt Ulwelling 23, Craig Welker 17, AR: Andy Dokken (70), Nathan Freeman (78).

Jay Beagle vs Arron Asham

Check out this fight between former UAA Seawolve and Arron Asham. The fight was a decent one and was going well for Beagle until he caught a punch by Asham and was K.O., post fight  Asham caused quite a stir with his post fight antics (you're out motion). The after the fight antics by Asham lacked a bit of class. Asham has since apologized for the guesture. This is what Barry Melrose had to say about the fight, love him or hate him Melrose is right.

Washington Post --- “And the people that are against fighting, right there is what fighting is for. It was a message sender. There was a reason that fight happened. It wasn’t just violence. It wasn’t just two guys trying to put on a show. Asham was sending a message to the Washington Capitals, Beagle was trying to send a message from Washington to Pittsburgh. And right there you see the value of a fight in the game. It changed the game around for a while, Pittsburgh took control of it after that, ended up tying it up and it went into overtime where Pittsburgh lost. Protect the skilled players. The player is the deterrent. The referee’s not protecting the player, the player’s protecting players on his own team.”

Jake Hanson, Minnesota is supposed to be the premier program

Image via WikipediaMinnesota Gophers forward Jake Hanson has stirred some discussion with his comments that he made in the Pioneer Press. If I was a head hockey coach I am not that I would want to hear that coming out of one of my players mouth. What do you think?

Ray Richardson, Pioneer Press --- The Bulldogs' title has magnified the questionable stature of the Gophers' program. For Gophers players, it's unsettling to know the NCAA championship trophy is only three hours north of the Twin Cities.

"For a lot of years, we have been the dominant program over Duluth," said defenseman Jake Hansen, one of only seven seniors on the Gophers' roster. "They have the crown now...that's a little strange. The University of Minnesota is supposed to be the premier program. That's what we're trying to get back to this year."

While I don't think historically Hansen is wrong, however, you don't want to wake up a sleeping giant. You let sleeping dogs lie. If I was the Bulldog head coach I would take these comments put them on the bulletin board and use these comments to my team's advantage. That being said, this should prove to be a great college hockey series and should be an early measuring for both the Bulldogs and Gophers. 

Spirit Lake tribe's warns UND, NCAA, SBoHE and Big Sky

The Fighting Sioux nickname issues just got more and more interesting. I guess Frank Black Cloud wasn't kidding when he said, "watch the paper you going to see a big wave coming from this way" during an interview with Scott Hennen back on August 15th, 2011. 

Here is the latest development in the on going saga with the Fighting Sioux nickname. The Tribe from Spirit Lake is fighting to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname and they are unamused with the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference. The Spirit Lake Tribe also wrote a three page letter to the  University of North Dakota, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, the Big Sky Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletic Administration. Here is a link to the letter. 

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- In a statement released by the Committee for Understanding and Respect, which has been authorized by the Spirit Lake Tribal Council to speak for the tribe on the nickname issue, the committee warned UND, the state board, the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference to stop acting “against our honorable name as given to UND by our ancestors.”

If those organizations don’t stop working to retire the name, they should expect consequences “far more severe than any sanctions UND claims will exist by keeping our name,” according to the statement.

The committee also said Kelley and Shaft should resign their positions for failing in leadership.

Frank Black Cloud, a committee spokesman, said he was “not at liberty to say” what the “more severe” consequences might be.

It looks like the Spirit Lake Tribe "could" end up suing UND, NCAA the NDSBoHE and the Big Sky conference if the Fighting Sioux nickname is retired.

Friday morning reading...

Image via WikipediaThe Boston College Eagles are back up and running and are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Check out the classic quote by Eagles head coach Jerry York. One think I learned from last weekend is that York always has something witty to say. You have to love the quote about playing cupcakes.

ESPN Boston ---- Last weekend, Boston College sat at No. 5 in the two major national hockey polls. That was before the Eagles swept through the annual Ice Breaker Tournament, downing Michigan State (5-2) and then No. 3 North Dakota (6-2). Coupled with losses by Miami and Notre Dame, those results made the Eagles the overwhelming choice as the nation's No. 1 team in both polls.

"It was a good start for us, but we emphasized all week that it's just a start," said BC coach Jerry York. "We've always tried to schedule teams like Denver or North Dakota early. If you put a cupcake schedule in front of your kids, it can create a sense of false manhood, because they think 'Hey, we're really good, because we're undefeated.' You've got to be tested."

The Eagles passed their first-week exams with flying colors. But things don't get any easier for York's crew, as they host WCHA heavyweight Denver, sitting at No. 3 in both polls, on Friday night, and then travel to No. 15/16 New Hampshire on Saturday. Of course, the same can be said for the Pioneers, who open their 2011-12 campaign with a Northeast swing through the iron of Hockey East, playing at Boston University on Saturday after their stop at BC.

Here is what Rachel Lenzi beat writer of the Maine Black Bears has to say in today's Portland Press Herald. Looks like both teams know what is on the line this weekend when they face off in the Ralph.

Portland Press Herald --- In last Friday's 2-1 loss to Merrimack, the Black Bears (1-1) believed they put forth the effort but didn't assert themselves in front of the opposing goal.

In Sunday's 6-3 win over Northeastern, Maine captain Will O'Neill said his team brought a certain attitude and edge to its game, one that the Black Bears, ranked 17th in the USCHO.com top 20 poll, will have to sustain not just this weekend against North Dakota (1-1) but through the season.

"When we came out Friday night, we thought we were ready," O'Neill said. "We thought we were prepared. We thought we were going to go out there and work. The effort was there Friday night, but we needed to work hard in the right areas.

"On Sunday, we had more focus and we utilized our hard work and our tenacity. It's very difficult to sustain that in sports, but that's what good teams do. Good teams show up every night and very rarely do they lay an egg. That's where we want to be."

The Fighting Sioux represent that standard. The Sioux have won seven national championships and when they face the Black Bears at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., will return 14 players from last year's team that reached the Frozen Four, losing 2-0 to Michigan in a national semifinal.

UND MEN’S HOCKEY: Sioux eager for another shot against Maine [Grand Forks Herald]

How to watch this weekends games

RADIO: 96.1 The Fox (KQHT-FM) • WEBCAST: www.fightingsioux.com
TV: Fighting Sioux Sports Network, Fox College Sports Central, MidcoSN3,
DirecTV 617 (Friday), DirecTV 623 (Saturday)