Brad Marchand fights Hab's P.K. Subban

First let me preface this with, I don't like Hab's defenseman P.K. Subban one bit, first Subban plays for the evil empire the Montreal Canadians. Second I think Subban is a big mouth punk. If you think I am exaggerating focus on Subban during a game he skates up and down the ice running his mouth than ussally hides behind the refs when someone calls his bluff. Of course he only proves my point by picking a fight with a much smaller player like Marchand.

That being said, I do think Subban is an awesome hockey player, he is big and skates well, he got a great shot from the point and he is a decent puck mover. I would like see more hockey and less unsportsmanlike/questionable behavior. Subbans on ice antics is what really ruins it for me.

I actually think if you took a poll Subban would be ranked as one of the biggest punks currently playing in the NHL. This fight was bound to happen, however, the refs saved Subban earlier in the night when the two agitators tried to fight only to have the linesmen intercede. On paper this fight would seem to be a miss match Subban is quite a much bigger body at 6'0" and 206 pounds while Brad Marchand is relatively smaller player at 5'9" and weighs 183. If anything Subban should be fighting Milan Lucic or Shawn Thornton.

Related articles

• Habs edge Bruins (theglobeandmail.com)
• P.K. Subban is in the building (theglobeandmail.com)
• P.K. Subban and Carey Price Expected to Lead Montreal Canadiens into the Future (bleacherreport.com)
• Subban a veteran on Habs' battered blue-line (cbc.ca)

Paul Kelly on Jordan Schmaltz

Highly touted Fighting Sioux hockey recruit Jordan Schmaltz has been a hot topic of discussion lately up in Canada and on the hockey blogs. You can listen to what Paul Kelly had to say on the matter as well.

Bob McCown;  Sportsnet 590 --- "For Mr. Rychel to make some of the statements he made in his article [sic] that this player [Jordan Schmaltz] isn't exploring his options and needs to make a decision and we're going to better prepare him for the NHL more so than North Dakota is quite frankly, laughable." ... Frankly, if you go back to 2003, 2004, and compare North Dakota to Windsor Spitfires, what you will find is both programs have put 15 players into the National Hockey League over that time. But the Windsor Spitfires players in the National Hockey League have played half the number of games as have the players coming out of the University of North Dakota. The players coming out of North Dakota who include Zach Parise, Drew Stafford, Travis Zajac, Jonny Toews, Matt Greene, they've had three times the number of points ... the point is, to say North Dakota's not preparing players for the NHL, that's a joke." (Prime Time Sports)

Goon's Weekly Predictions 10-28-10-29

There are eleven teams playing this week in the WCHA, the walking wounded of Minnesota State University Mankato have a bye and they are off this weekend. There are five league game and one non-conference match-up between C.C. and RPI. Following last week record of (7-5) + (7-9) the week before I am now 14-14 for the season in my picks.

Denver vs MTU - DU Sweep
Bemidji vs UMD - Split
St. Cloud State vs UND - Sweep UND
UNO vs Wisconsin - Sweep Wisconsin
Minnesota and Alaska Anchorage - Split
C.C. vs RPI - Sweep Tigers

A look at the numbers, UND has played ECAC teams.

Image via WikipediaEveryone's favorite blogger from USCHO is at it again. Here is the latest from Brian Sullivan, that first question that I asked, was someone hitting the Scotch while blogging? Seriously?

While I can't speak for the other teams in our league but my favorite school has played a number of ECAC foes over the years.

But wait, there's more

The facts are also that it is surprisingly, even incredibly difficult to fill a 12-game non-conference schedule. AHA and Hockey East teams only have seven non-league slots each year. The WCHA and CCHA, six. While this may seem like a great opportunity to get nationwide exposure with games against far-flung foes, or to boost the ol' RPI in anticipation of the PairWise rankings, it's nowhere near that easy. For starters, the 14-point bucks - the real big game of the college hockey landscape - are limited in number: Boston College, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, Boston University, Maine, Notre Dame and New Hampshire draw very well and make regular appearances in the NCAA tournament. (Denver, Colorado College, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, Ferris State, and Western Michigan are on that cusp, but don't yet have the long-term cachet.) Everybody wants them on their schedule.

But who do they want to play? Each other, of course. North Dakota has undeniably little incentive to play Colgate, Brown, or St. Lawrence, home or away... at least until the Raiders, Bears or Saints start becoming regular fixtures in the Sweet 16. Even the powerhouses of neighboring Hockey East frequently feel that they are better served by making Western road trips than by visiting or hosting local ECAC squads.

Hey Brian you might want to check out the schedules of UND, they have played a fair number of ECAC schools. Dean Blais scheduled ECAC schools during his tenure at UND as well.

1999-00 At Clarkson (x2)
2000-01 St. Lawrence(2x) At Princeton (x1)
2001-02 At St. Lawrence & Brown (1x)
2002-03 At Yale (1x) and Princeton (1x)
2003-2004 Yale (x2)
2005-06 Harvard(x2)
2006-07 At Dartmouth (x1) and (x1) St Lawrence
2008-09 Cornell (x2)
2008-09 AT Harvard (x2)
2009-10 At Cornell (x2)
2011-12 Harvard (2x)and Clarkson (1x) in Winnipeg.

Something stinks in Huntsville...

After reading this newspaper article it also appears that there is an out of control university administrator running the UAH.

Also, university president Dr. Malcolm Portera, had no other intentions but to kill the UAH Chargers and there was no other plan. If I was a fan of UAH hockey program I would be very upset.

Shanon Lampton; Madison County Record --- Portera said that the hockey team, which has been independent since the CHA conference folded, cannot continue to exist as without a conference affiliation. According Portera, he was told that it would cost $1.5 million to join a conference and this is money the university just doesn’t have.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner Bruce McLeod, disagrees. He said that the conference has no minimum budgetary requirements, and none were given to Portera. Portera also shared a concern that because of the distance from other conference schools UAH would be required to subsidize other teams’ travel expenses. McCleod again disagreed. He says Portera asked him about it and was told it was not a requirement.

Nathan Bowen, who played hockey at UAH from 1996-2000, and coached at the school, wants to know how the numbers break down, and why offers of help were turned away. “We haven’t been given a lot of information. Just give us the breakdown of the figures.” He and other hockey alums and supporters pledged almost $600,000 in funding to be disbursed over the next three years. He knows it is not enough but thinks, given time, they could get there. “I think we could ramp up to the figures we need.”

People wonder why some have so little respect for the people that run institutions of higher education, these highly educated people seem to lack reality or are so out of touch with the "real world". Some of these people  have never had a real job in their life and yet have the power to affect so many people with their decisions.

My heart goes out to the people that are fans of the UAH hockey program.  There has been a group of people working their tails off to save their favorite hockey program and this administrator disregarded the will of the people. Also, it appears that the president lied about the WCHA having budgetary requirements and Bruce McLeod even refuted that claim.  

Related articles

• Alabama-Huntsville Dropping Men's Ice Hockey as NCAA Sport (bleacherreport.com)
• Save - UAH Hockey (mvn.com)
• Save UAH Hockey - a program on the "brink" (mvn.com)
• Effort to Save UAH underway... (mvn.com)

Use of Visors mandatory?

Image via WikipediaThis is the latest argument that has come up, some want to make the use of visor mandatory in the NHL, the AHL visors are already mandatory. Me personally, I think it should be up to the individual player, if they don't want to wear the visor them it should be up to them.

Hockey News --- For most players, like sidelined Flyers forward Ian Laperriere, they simply haven't abandoned their outdated attitudes that wearing a shield means a player isn't tough. Facemasks aren't hip—and only the real macho players are willing to take the ice without them.

Some players once felt the same way about helmets and other protective gear. Now, keeping heads safe is mandatory. Eyes could be next.

The time could be near when visors are as much a part of the game as sticks and gloves.

"Sometimes you have to save the players from themselves," said Pierre McGuire, an NHL analyst for NBC and Versus.

Added Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault: "Visors should be mandatory."

Edit: Tuesday Links...

Image via WikipediaSounds like UND and Wisconsin are going to continue to play after the move to their new leagues. This is good news because the Sioux and Badgers rivalry is one of the best in college hockey.

Andy Baggot; Madison.COM --- The Fighting Sioux don't play here in 2012-13 and the schools head in different realignment directions in 2013-14. UW will make its home in the new Big Ten Conference and North Dakota will take up residence in the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

UW coach Mike Eaves said non-conference scheduling parameters are still being drawn up for the new Big Ten, so any non-conference discussions are on hold.

But there have already been discussions between the schools about committing to a series every year when the new leagues debut. That's how much the rivalry means to those involved.

The Windsor Spitfires of the OHL are hot on tail of highly coveted Fighting Sioux recruit Jordan Schmaltz. The Spitfires management and their head coach have not been shy in their pursuit of Schmaltz either. To be honest with you I am sick and tired of the OHL/CHL going after recruits that are already committed to college hockey programs, but there is nothing that the NCAA teams can do because Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol can't even comment on Jordan Schmaltz until he signs a letter of intent to go to UND. Personally, I wish the NCAA change their rules and allow a CHL player to play in the NCAA and then maybe the NCAA could give them a piece of their own medicine.

Jim Parker, The Windsor Star --- For two years, the Spitfires have had their overtures rebuffed by Schmaltz and his family, who have son Nick Schmaltz eligible for the 2012 OHL Draft.

“It hasn’t been as pleasant as I had expected,” Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel said. “I think he’s making a mistake in not exploring his options.”

At this point, the 18-year-old Schmaltz is playing his third season in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux City Musketeers in Iowa.

Next year, he’s scheduled to attend North Dakota University on a full-ride scholarship, but the Spitfires believe professional hockey will come calling long before he gets his degree.

“He won’t play four years of college hockey,” Rychel said.

Chris Peters of the United States of Hockey had a response to the Windsor Star article and according to Chris the Spitfires are smart in the way they are pursuing Schmaltz because they are taking it public and Hakstol really can't do anything but hope his prized recruit doesn't bolt on him to the Windsor Spitfires. 

Chris Peters; The United States of Hockey --- This piece allows Rychel to let everybody know Windsor wants Jordan Schmaltz and if Schmaltz doesn’t go to Windsor, he’s making a mistake. Whoever reads the piece is getting that as the takeaway.

There will be no rebuttal in public from North Dakota, and likely none from Schmaltz himself, and Rychel knows that. North Dakota Head Coach Dave Hakstol can’t say a word about Jordan Schmaltz publicly because Schmaltz has yet to sign a National Letter of Intent. So for now, there is one public voice on this issue, and it’s the voice Rychel most wants you to hear. His own.

This is not a criticism of Windsor. In fact, I think it might be quite smart. If Schmaltz elects not to go to Windsor, the team has already stated they think that’s a mistake. Then again, perhaps Schmaltz takes the challenge to heart and gives Windsor an extra look (assuming he’s not offended by the public nature of the challenge).

Poll Monday - Sioux drop in both polls.

UAH to end College Hockey

Image via WikipediaCross Posted at Inside Hockey.
The University of Alabama Huntsville’s Interim President Malcolm Portera announced today that following the 2011-12 hockey season, the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers will cease to exist as a Division I college hockey program.

This announcement means that there will no longer be a Division I college hockey program south of the Mason Dixon line.

This announcement officially ends 33 years of NCAA college hockey history for UAH. No other program that’s ever won an NCAA title has ever disbanded.

According to USCHO, UAH Chargers head coach Chris Luongo informed his team of the president’s decision on Sunday night.

There are many factors that have led to this decision; one the major factor is that UAH doesn’t have a conference to call home. After the 2008-09 season, the College Hockey American Conference disbanded and the UAH Chargers were left without a conference.

The Chargers applied for membership in the CCHA during 2009. On August 11^th, 2009 the Chargers were informed that their bid for membership to the CCHA was denied.   Without a conference to call home, the Chargers have had to play as an Division I independent, which put their program in further jeopardy. It’s very hard to get teams to travel to Huntsville to play hockey if they are not in a conference.

The Chargers also have don’t have a building of their own, they share the Von Braun Center with the Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL and are not the primary tenet, meaning the Chargers have had to play their games  at odd times, which further complicates things for the Chargers.

Here is the official announcement from of the UAH interim president Malcolm Portera.

I want to share with you a decision that has been made following months of careful study. As a result of a financial analysis of our athletic program, and numerous conversations I have had with athletic directors, university presidents and commissioners of Division I ice hockey programs, it has become obvious that, for the best interest of this university, our athletic department and the ice hockey program, we move the team from the Division I level back to its original classification as a club sport at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

In conclusion, this is a sad day for college hockey and for the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers hockey team and their fans. This story makes me physically sick to my stomach that in one swoop of a pen, a college administrator can kill a college hockey program with a rich hockey history.

Finally, I have been told by a source close to the UAH program that there is a businessman from Nashville Tennesee that has stepped forward to bankroll the operating expenses for the Chargers. All we know is that he is a top executive of a large corporation.

Related articles

• Save UAH Hockey - a program on the "brink" (mvn.com)
• Save - UAH Hockey (mvn.com)

EDIT - UAH to kill hockey

Holy Cow, after reading this newspaper article it doesn't look good for the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers hockey team. One doesn't really have to look very far into these comments to see where this is going, you have a non hockey friendly college administrator, who probably doesn't know what a hockey puck is, that is hell bent on axing a college hockey program to save money and make a political point... It would be an absolute shame if UAH killed their Division I college Hockey program. 

John Turner, The Huntsville Times ---- Nathan Bowen, a 2000 UAH hockey alum and leader in private fundraising efforts to support the program, said in an email to The Times that $546,875 has been pledged over three years since that point. Bowen and a handful of supporters had hoped to meet with Portera on Tuesday to discuss the decision, but, according to Bowen, that sit-down will be preempted by the announcement.

"It's just been amazing that one person has this much power to end 33 years of tradition," Bowen said. "And it really is coming down to just him. It makes no sense to me.

"He is completely disregarding the mayor, the people of Huntsville, the student council at UAH and 23 athletes that gave up opportunities to play at other places," he continued. "He's completely disregarding those people and going back to his home in Tuscaloosa. To me, it's astounding." Portera Altenkirch UA System chancellor Malcolm Portera, right, will deciding on the future of the UAH hockey program before removing his interim title and appointing Robert Altenkirch as university president on Oct. 31. (The Huntsville Times/Robin Conn)

Portera has maintained that he plans to announce a decision on the program's future before handing over the presidency to Robert Altenkirchen on Oct. 31. In the meantime, Portera has met with various groups associated with UAH or college hockey to discuss the team's status.

EDIT - I just got some very bad news; just a few minutes ago, I got  word from a source that the UA Systems chancellor and interim UAH president Malcolm Portera is going to kill UAH Hockey, the announcement is coming tomorrow. 

Related articles

• With the UAH hockey program threatened, their fans and students try to save it again (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• You: Future of the University of Alabama-Huntsville Hockey Program in Question (bleacherreport.com)
• Save UAH Hockey - a program on the "brink" (mvn.com)
• Save - UAH Hockey (mvn.com)

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings

Image via Wikipedia

Starting this week going forward, Zack Friedli and I will be submitting WCHA rankings every Monday to Inside Hockey. 



1.  Denver – The Pioneers 3-1-0 swept the depleted MSU-M Mavericks (10-2, 4-2) this past weekend. The Pioneers play this upcoming weekend at Michigan Tech 4-2-0.  

2.  Colorado College – The Tigers 2-0-0 were idle this past weekend. The Tigers play at RPI (1-4-0) this up coming weekend.

3.  Minnesota – The Gophers 5-1-1 are red hot after a split with the Vermont Catamounts this past weekend (6-0, 4-5).  The Minnesota Gophers will be looking for revenge as they head to Anchorage, Alaska to play the upstart UAA Seawolves (3-2-1). The UAA Seawolves are the team that swept the Gophers out of the WCHA playoffs last spring.

4.  Wisconsin – The Badgers swept the Fighting Sioux in Madison (5-3, 5-4). The Badgers entertain the UNO Mavericks in Madison this upcoming weekend. 

5.  UMD – The tDogs took three of four points from the Providence Friars of Hockey East and will entertain the BSU Beavers 3-3-0 at Amsoil Arena.  

6.  North Dakota – The Fighting Sioux were swept by the Badgers in Madison (5-3, 5-4). The Fighting Sioux return home in a foul mood, to play the SCSU Huskies.

7.  Bemidji – The BSU Beavers 3-3-0 swept the Tech Huskies this past weekend in Bemidji (6-5, 3-1). The Beavers travel to Duluth to play the Bulldog in Amsoil Arena. 

8. Nebraska-Omaha – The Mavericks swept the UAA Seawovles in Omaha after losing the week before the Seawolves in the Alaska Goal Rush tourney. This week also marked the return Alex Hudson from his four game suspension.  Hudson was held off the score sheet in both games by the Seawolves. 

9. Michigan Tech – The Huskies 4-2-0 were swept in Bemidji by the Beavers (6-5, 3-1), this is after sweeping the Badgers the week prior in Houghton, Michigan. The Huskies play the Denver Pioneers at home this weekend.

10.  Alaska-Anchorage – Swept by the UNO Mavericks in Omaha . Head home to play the Minnesota Gophers 5-1-0

11.  St. Cloud State – A win and a tie against Hockey East team UNH (7-5, 3-3). Travel to REA to play the Fighting Sioux 2-3-1 who were swept by the Badgers.

12.  Minnesota State – The Mavericks have been bit by the injury bug and were swept by the Denver Pioneers last weekend (10-2, 4-2). Off this weekend.

Finding the "Silver Lining" After Being Swept by the Badgers.

Image via WikipediaThe Grand Forks Police department rushed to shut down the bridges that connect East Grand Forks and Grand Forks shortly after the Sioux were swept by the Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin. There were fears that Fighting Sioux hockey fans en mass would jump off of the bridges after watching their team get swept at the hand of the Wisconsin Badgers.

I couldn’t resist that one it's probably more funny on twitter and of course I am kidding… For a second time this season, the Fighting Sioux chat also blew up as a result of the Sioux being on the losing end of a game. It's a long season and there will be more loses. My offer to be a ticket broker for the Sioux fans that want to sell their season tickets is still on the table.

While I am not happy with the Fighting Sioux being swept this past weekend, let’s not forget that the Sioux did lose a “very big chunk” of their scoring prowess from last season's squad. Jason Gregoire 25g-18a—43 pts, Matt Frattin 36g-24a—60 pts, Chay Genoway 6g-31a—37 pts, Brad Malone 16g-24a—40 pts, Evan Trupp 17g-24a—41 pst, Brett Hextall 13g-16a—29pts. If my math is correct that is 270 points from last year’s squad that went 30-7-2.

Rant of the night – Why is it that the bigger schools like the Wisconsin Badgers; that are going to be going to the almighty Big Ten; so they can maximize their schools exposure and bank all kinds of money from their share of the BTN revenue, can’t have "all" of their home games on television so fans of other programs can watch their games when our team plays theirs? Seriously, I think it's a legitimate question. Also, this helps make the case for college hockey having a hockey television package like the NHL’s Center Ice.

On the flip side of that argument, why is it that a relatively small school like UND has all of its home games and a few of their away games on Fox College Sports, so anyone that has the sports packages on Direct TV can watch their games.

While I realized that college hockey is a niche sport, I am sure that there are many fans like me that would spend an extra $10.00-20.00 dollars a month to watch their favorite teams when they're away from home. After watching Friday's game on FSN Wisconsin, I had to spend $9.95 to purchase Saturday’s game from the University of Wisconsin so I could watch the Badgers and Sioux debacle part II. Let me say that I would rather watch a hockey game on my Toshiba flat screen, as opposed to watching it on my lap top that's four and a half to five years old. 

Rare Sweep?

The Fighting Sioux do not get swept very often had not been swept to start a WCHA season opener since the 1994-95 season, when the Fighting Sioux went 18-18-3, incidentally that was also the first year under head coach Dean Blais.

The Good

The Fighting Sioux outshot the Badgers 42-15…

Aaron Dell stopped the Badgers forward Joseph LaBate on a penalty shot to keep the game at 5-3. Dell then stopped the Badgers forward Jefferson Dahl on a break away a short time later during the waning moments of the third period to keep the Sioux in the game.

It would be an understatement to say that junior forward Danny Kristo is on fire, this past weekend Kristo had a 4-point weekend (2-2-4). According to Jayson Hajdu of the UND Sports Information Department, Kristo has scored 20 points in his last 23 games. That’s an impressive clip for the junior forward; I would imagine the Montreal Canadians are also impressed with Kristo’s play so far

Freshman Defenseman Nick Mattson had a two point game and a three point weekend for the Fighting Sioux. After starting off the season without any points, Mattson has 5 points in three games (2-3-5).

Sophomore defenseman Derek Forbort had a better night defensively for the Fighting Sioux on Saturday night as he was only on the ice for one of the five goals that the Badgers scored on the Fighting Sioux.

The Bad

Despite outshooting the Badgers the Fighting Sioux were swept and out scored by the Badgers 10-7.

The Fighting Sioux lost for the first time 2007 when they donned the black jerseys against the Boston College Eagles during the Frozen Four.

Aaron Dell last year All-WCHA and All American goalie ahs a save percentage of .813 and a goals against average of 4.05.

This was probably the last time the Fighting Sioux will play a WCHA conference game in Madison, Wisconsin. The Sioux and the Badgers will be in separate leagues to begin the 2013-14 season and the Badgers only come to Grand Forks, ND next year.

Sophomore Defenseman Derek Forbort had another rough night on Friday as he was on the ice for three of the five goals the Badgers scored.

Sioux vs. Badgers game two

Image via WikipediaUND’s Forward Lines

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

Defensive Parings

4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A)–5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella

Goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

Fighting Sioux Player Stats

Wisconsin’s Forward Lines

16 Joseph LaBate–9 Mark Zengerle–7 Tyler Barnes
25 Michael Mersch–23 Derek Lee–8 Matt Paape
21 Brendan Woods–14 Jefferson Dahl–20 Ryan Little
26 Brad Navin–12 Keegan Meuer–13 Gavin Hartzog

Defense Pairings

4 Eric Springer–6 Justin Schultz
27 Frankie Simonelli–24 Joe Faust
3 Patrick Daly–55 John Ramage

goalies

33 Joel Rumpel
30 Landon Peterson
35 Mitch Thompson

Wisconsin Player Stats

Tonight's officials; Brad Shepherd and Todd Anderson

Video webcasts for each game can be purchased at www.uwbadgers.com. Free (delayed) video streaming of both games will also be available at 10 p.m. each night at Wisconsin Public TV.

DirecTV Threatens to Drop FSN On November 1

Last night while I was watching the Sioux and Badgers game on FSN (Wisconsin) I found this little nugget of news. Apparently, Direct TV is now in a dispute with Fox/News Corp right now and Direct TV customers might suffer because of it.

This is a bad deal because it would affect Sioux fans directly, if you have Direct TV you will not be able to watch next weekend's game against the Sioux vs. Gophers 4th and 5th of November  on FSN.

If "no" agreement is signed between DirecTV and News Corp you will not be able to watch the Minnesota Wild games either until this dispute is resolved.

From Fox Networks: --- Despite Fox Networks’ offer of an extension during our ongoing negotiations, DirecTV has informed us and their customers that unless we agree to their demands, they “will suspend our networks on November 1.”

DirecTV sent us a proposal on Tuesday afternoon. They have given us no chance to respond before taking an unnecessarily aggressive posture and going public. It is disappointing that they have chosen bad faith tactics over meaningful negotiation.

We have proposed to keep the Fox Networks on DirecTV for the same price, and on the same terms as they are currently carried while we attempt to work out a fair agreement. Unfortunately, DirecTV has decided that unless they get their way, they are going to pull the plug on their customers November 1.

Related articles

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• DirecTV at odds with Fox Networks, may drop channels (inquisitr.com)
• Dear DirecTV & Fox, Please Work Hard Not To Suck (lakingsnews.com)
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Badgers Skate Past Sioux 5-3

Image via Wikipedia

Cross posted at Inside Hockey.

Coming into this series, the Fighting Sioux had won five of the last six games against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Badgers fortunes changed for them tonight as five different Badgers scored goals.  They got two points each from Justin Schultz (1-1-2) and Tyler Barnes (0-2-2) to lead the Badgers past the Fighting Sioux 5-3.   

The Wisconsin Badgers got off to a fast start as they opened the scoring at the 08:45 mark of the first period with a goal from Badger forward Mark Zengerle, who took a nice drop-pass from Tyler Barnes and blasted the puck past Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness, who was screened on the play by Fighting Sioux defenseman Ben Blood. 

The Sioux rang the bell 27 seconds later at the 09:12 mark of the first period with a beautiful goal by Fighting Sioux freshman forward Mark MacMillan.  The Fighting Sioux forward blew past the Wisconsin defense and shot the puck over Badger goalie Landon Peterson’s left shoulder.  That was the first career goal for Fighting Sioux forward Mark MacMillan.  

The Fighting Sioux got into penalty trouble at the 18:06 mark of the first period when Mark MacMillan took a two minute penalty for roughing.  Corban Knight followed suit and joined MacMillan in the penalty box nine seconds later for tripping.  The Badgers wasted little time on the power play and scored twenty seconds later at the 18:45 mark on a beautiful goal by Badger defenseman Justin Schultz. 

The Fighting Sioux weren’t done taking unnecessary penalties in this period, as Sioux defenseman Ben Blood continued the Fighting Sioux march to the penalty box when he took an unnecessary penalty for slashing at the 19:25 mark, to put the Fighting Sioux down two men once again, for the second time during the first period.

The Second period didn’t start well for the Fighting Sioux, as Wisconsin Badger Michael Mersch scored on the ensuing power play at the 01:16 mark of the second period.

The Badgers increased their lead when they scored again less than five minutes later, when Badger forward Matt Paape picked up a Ben Blood turnover at the top of the circle and smartly passed the puck to Derek Lee, who shot the puck past an oblivious Brad Eidsness who was caught napping on the play.  That goal ended the night for Eidsness who was relieved by Aaron Dell. 

The Fighting Sioux responded to the Badger goal 23 seconds later with an unassisted goal by Fighting Sioux defenseman Nick Mattson. The Sioux defenseman took a shot from the point that bounced off of  Badger defenseman John Ramage and into the net past Wisconsin goalie Landon Peterson. 

The Fighting Sioux got another goal on the power play at the 9:33 mark of the second period.  With Badger forward Brendan Woods off the ice for a high sticking penalty, Carter Rowney took a feed from Danny Kristo and shot the puck past the Badger goalie Peterson. 

Badgers forward Brendan Woods made up for this mistake when he put the Badgers up by two goals by blowing by Ben Blood and Derek Forbort for the goal. 

The Badgers outshot the Fighting Sioux 11-10 during the second period. 

There was no scoring by either team in the third period and Fighting Sioux coach Dave Hakstol ended up pulling his goalie with two minutes left in third period. Sioux were unable to muster any more real threats as the Badgers collapsed about their net and made it impossible for the Sioux to get any more grade “A” scoring chances. 

Box Score

Badgers vs Sioux

Image via Wikipedia

The Fighting Sioux have won five of the last six games against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin.

Fighting Sioux forward lines

16 Mark MacMillan–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
9 Mario Lamoureux–29 Brock Nelson–15 Michael Parks
28 Stephane Pattyn–27 Carter Rowney–11 Derek Rodwell
8 Dan Senkbeil–14 Taylor Dickin–20 Joe Gleason

Defensive Parings

4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood
2 Andrew MacWilliam–5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella

Goalies

31 Brad Eidsness
32 Aaron Dell

Scratches for UND: Scratches: Gaarder (F), St. Clair (F), Grimaldi (F), O'Donnell (F), Maris (G)

Officials Stats

Wisconsin’s Forward lines

16 Joseph LaBate–9 Mark Zengerle–7 Tyler Barnes
25 Michael Mersch–23 Derek Lee–8 Matt Paape
26 Brad Navin–14 Jefferson Dahl–13 Gavin Hartzog
20 Ryan Little–21 Brendan Woods–12 Keegan Meuer

Defensive Parings

19 Jake McCabe–6 Justin Schultz
4 Eric Springer–55 John Ramage
24 Joe Faust–27 Frankie Simonelli

goalies

30 Landon Peterson
33 Joel Rumpel

Wisconsin Stats

Tonight's officials; Brad Shepherd and Todd Anderson 

Are you confused yet?

I am wondering if anyone is confused yet? The hit above by Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber's hit is worth a $2,500 fine by the National Hockey League. Color my cynical but there just seems to be too many inconsistencies in the recent rulings by NHL Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan.




This hit by Kris Letang  on Alexander Burmistrov of the Winnipeg Jets, in my opinion isn't as bad of a hit as the one by Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber's on Jannik Hansen. Yet one hit is worth two game suspension while the other hit is worth a 2,500.00 fine which is really a drop in the bucket for someone that is making 4-5 million dollars a year to play hockey. WTF? I am really confused here.

Shea Weber boards Jannik Hansen

Shea Weber could be the next one to be suspended by the NHL for his vicious hit on Vancouver Canuck's Jannik Hansen. I wouldn't even like to speculate what kind of suspension that Weber could end up serving, because this past week we saw the Penguins Kris Letang suspended for two games for a less violent hit.

NHL.com --- Nashville's Shea Weber will have a disciplinary hearing Friday afternoon following a boarding penalty assessed to the Predators defenseman for a hit on Vancouver's Jannik Hansen during Thursday's game. At 5:12 of the third period, Weber was penalized for boarding Hansen, and also given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Through these doors- Episode 2 Part 1

Through These Doors is an awesome series and nice look into the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey program. It appears according to @UNDSID that Through These Doors will come out every Thursday. This should also put you in the mood going into the Wisconsin Badgers series.

The tale of two periods.

If you look at the shots charts from last Saturday’s game between the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the University of Maine Black Bears you will see that the Fighting Sioux gave up a lot of quality shots from the slot in the second period.

In the third period, the Fighting Sioux limited the Black Bears to three quality shots in the slot but unfortunately gave up a power play goal by Maine defenseman Ryan Hegarty.

So far this season the second period has been unkind to the Fighting Sioux as they have been out scored 5-8 in the middle frame.