UND Defenseman Derek Forbort named to 2012 U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeMEN’S HOCKEY – DECEMBER 5, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - University of North Dakota sophomore defenseman Derek Forbort has been named to the preliminary roster of the 2012 United States National Junior Team, announced today by USA Hockey.

The group will gather for a camp in Camrose, Alberta, on Dec. 17, with the final 22-player U.S. National Junior Team roster expected to be named Dec. 22. The camp will include exhibition games against Russia (Dec. 20), Switzerland (Dec. 21) and Slovakia (Dec. 23).

The 2012 U.S. National Junior Team will compete at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2010-Jan. 5, 2011, in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta. Team USA will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.

Forbort was key member on the 2011 U.S. team that won the bronze medal in Buffalo, N.Y. The Duluth, Minn., native appeared in all six games and helped lead the U.S. to its second straight medal.

In 16 games this season with the 19th-ranked Fighting Sioux, Forbort has a goal (PPG) and three assists. A first-round draft pick, 15th overall, of the Los Angeles Kings in 2010, Forbort produced 15 assists and led all Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) rookie defensemen with plus-21 in 38 games as a freshman last season.

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because I find them to be interesting and they make me scratch my head in disbelief. B.C. is pounded on Friday night and they come back to get the win on Saturday night but still are third in the power rankings.

1. Minnesota
2. Minnesota Duluth
3. Boston College
4. Merrimack
5. Colorado College
6. Notre Dame
7. Ohio State
8. Colgate
9. Western Michigan
10. Union
11. Ferris State
12. Denver
13. Boston University
14. Cornell
15. Michigan State
16. UMass Lowell
17. Yale
18. Lake Superior State
19. Providence
20. North Dakota

Dropped out: Miami, Michigan Tech, Nebraska-Omaha

Bubble-licious: Air Force, Michigan Tech, Nebraska-Omaha

Related articles

• WCHA Power Rankings - December 5 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 28 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 21 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 13 (insidehockey.com)

Sioux back in the USCHO Poll...

After being absent from the USCHO poll for a couple of weeks The Fighting Sioux UND Hockey team makes an appearance at number 20.

Related articles

• Hump Day Links... (mvn.com)
• Beavers End Streak, Beat Sioux 1-0 (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux Tip Huskies at Engelstad (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux hold on to Sweep Tigers (insidehockey.com)

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 12/04/2011

Each week Zach Friedli and I do the WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY.

1.  Minnesota Duluth – (9-2-1 WCHA, 11-3-2) The Bulldogs swept the Michigan Tech Huskies (5-3, 5-3).  The Bulldogs sit one point out of first in the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs have played 10 games (7-3-0) at home and are undefeated in six road games (4-0-2) on the road. The Bulldogs are 10-0-2 in the last twelve games and have not lost a game since they were swept by the Gophers 10-15-2011. The Bulldogs travel to Madison, Wisconsin to play the Badgers who were idle this past weekend.

2. Minnesota – (10-2-0 WCHA, 13-4-1) The Gophers swept the Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks in two hard fought wins (3-2, 4-2). Up next for the Golden Gophers a home series against the upstart Michigan Tech Huskies who were swept by the UMD Bulldogs (5-3, 5-3).  

3.  Colorado College – (6-4-0 WCHA, 8-4-0) The Tigers beat the Denver Pioneers 4-3 O.T. in a single game on Friday night.  Friday’s game was an entertaining affair and with the game tied 3-3, the Tigers got the break that they needed. At the 3:46 mark of overtime Tiger forward Alexander Krushelnyski was hauled down by the Pioneers David Makowski; the on ice official awarded a penalty shot to Krushelnyski and the sophomore forward made the Pioneers pay by scoring the game winning/ending goal on the ensuing penalty shot.  This week Tigers entertain the struggling UAA Seawovles.

4.  Denver – (4-3-3 WCHA, 6-5-3) The Denver Pioneers lost a single game to Colorado College Tigers in Colorado Springs, CO on Friday night 4-3 in overtime. With the game tied 3-3 Pioneer Defenseman David Makowski pulled down Alexander Krushelnyski; the on ice officials awarded Krushelnyski a penalty shot which he scored on to win the game 4-3 for the Tigers. The Pioneers travel to Bemidji, MN to play the BSU Beavers.


5. North Dakota – (6-6-0, 8-7-1) The Fighting Sioux swept the UAA Seawolves (5-2, 4-1) in Anchorage, Alaska this past weekend.  With the sweep, the Fighting Sioux improved their all-time record of 17-14-1 against the Seawolves in Anchorage. Sweeps of the Seawolves in Anchorage have been hard to come by for the Fighting Sioux and that was the first sweep of the Seawolves in Anchorage since the 2008-09 season. The Fighting Sioux will entertain the UNO Mavericks this weekend.  The Fighting Sioux appear to have righted the ship as they have won four out of the last five games and five of the last six games.  In two short weeks the Sioux have gone from 11^th place to tied for fourth place in the WCHA standings. The Tigers have two games in hand on the Sioux.

6.  Nebraska-Omaha – (6-3-3 WCHA, 8-7-2) The Mavericks split with the University of Alabama Huntsville (1-3 L, 6-2 W) this past weekend in Nashville, TN. Following the Mavericks 3-1 loss to the Chargers, UNO head coach Dean Blais said, “I am embarrassed.” The Mavericks have had a tough time against the former CHA teams; the Mavericks own a 1-5-2 record against the BSU Beavers; and also have a 2-2 record against the UAH Chargers. The Red Mavericks travel to Grand Forks, ND to play the Fighting Sioux.

7. Wisconsin – (4-7-1 WCHA, 7-8-1) The Badgers were idle this past weekend. The Badgers are the WCHA’s version of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this season; the Badgers are (7-3-0) at the Kohl Center and (0-5-1) on the road this season.  This weekend the Badgers will entertain the high flying UMD Bulldogs who are 10-0-2 in the last twelve games and have not lost a game since they were swept by the Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-15-2011.

8.  Michigan Tech – (5-6-1 WCHA, 8-7-1) The Tech Huskies were swept by the UMD Bulldogs this past weekend (5-3, 5-3). Up next, the Huskies travel to Minnesota to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers.  The Huskies are (6-3-1) at home and (2-4-0) away from the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

9. St. Cloud State – (4-5-3 WCHA, 6-8-4) The Huskies took one point (6-6 T, 3-1 L) from the BSU Beavers this past weekend in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.  The Huskies are idle this weekend. The Huskies were 1-for-8 on the power play in the series against the Beavers. The Huskies since beating the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first game of a home and home series are on a five game winless streak (0-3-2).

10. Bemidji State – (4-6-2 WCHA, 6-8-2) The Beavers took 3-of-4 points from the SCSU Huskies in Saint Cloud this past weekend. The Beavers penalty kill was 7–for-8 during the series against the Huskies.  Beaver senior defenseman Brad Hunt recorded his 100^th point of his career with a goal against the Huskies.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (2-9-1 WCHA, 5-9-2) The UAA Seawolves were swept by UND Fighting Sioux in Anchorage, Alaska (5-2, 4-1). The Seawolves travel to Colorado Springs to play the C.C. Tigers.  

12.  Minnesota State – (2-9-1 WCHA, 3-12-0) The Minnesota State Mavericks played the Minnesota Gophers tough all weekend yet came up emply (2-3 L, 4-2 L). This weekend the Mavericks entertain the UAH Chargers in a non-conference match-up. 

Related articles

• WCHA Power Rankings - December 5 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 28 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 21 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 13 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings: November 1st (insidehockey.com)

Jordin Tootoo runs over Ryan Miller.

First off I have no idea what Jordin Tootoo is trying to do in this instance, compare and contrast this with the Lucic incident, Miller is in the blue paint and Lucic ran into Miller going for a puck. In Tootoo's case he simply left his feet and ran over Miller, you can not just run over the the goalie like Tootoo did. I think Jordin Tootoo is going to be getting a suspension from the NHL for this move.

I guess since no one from the Sabres initially responded to Milan Lucic running over Ryan Miller I guess other players around the league think that it's O.K. to run over Ryan Miller and other goalies around the NHL over. This time the Buffalo Sabres responded the correct way to Tootoo's knuckle headed move.

Related articles

• Tootoo runs Miller in return from concussion (thestar.com)
• A Wild Melee Broke Out Last Night When An NHL Player Absolutely Obliterated A Goalie (businessinsider.com)
• Adam Has Goal, Assist as Sabres Top Predators 3-2 (nytimes.com)
• Adam picks up Sabres in Miller's 1st game back (sports.espn.go.com)

Sunday evening rumblings

2011-2012 WCHA STANDINGS

		WCHA Games								Overall
		GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA		W	L	T	GF	GA
1	Minnesota	12	10	2	0	20	43	23		13	4	1	75	36
2	Minnesota Duluth	12	9	2	1	19	52	27		11	3	2	66	39
3	Nebraska Omaha	12	6	3	3	15	44	41		8	7	3	60	58
4	Colorado College	10	6	4	0	12	44	36		8	4	0	52	38
	North Dakota	12	6	6	0	12	37	35		8	7	1	49	48
6	Denver	10	4	3	3	11	39	34		6	5	3	51	44
	Michigan Tech	12	5	6	1	11	36	35		8	7	1	48	43
	St. Cloud State	12	4	5	3	11	36	37		6	8	4	57	58
9	Bemidji State	12	4	6	2	10	32	42		6	8	2	43	52
10	Wisconsin	12	4	7	1	9	35	43		7	8	1	52	52
11	Alaska Anchorage	12	2	9	1	5	20	47		5	9	2	37	56
	Minnesota State	12	2	9	1	5	34	52		3	12	1	39	64
What a difference 5-6 games can make. I don’t think it would be an understatement to say that the Fighting Sioux had a rough stretch in November. The Fighting Sioux started the month by being swept by the Gophers in Minneapolis,  Minnesota(2-0, 3-2), the Sioux then traveled to Bemidji where they split their series with the BSU Beavers (5-2 W, 0-1 L).  After the Sunday’s game against the Beavers it was very apparent that the loss to the Beavers didn’t sit well with the Fighting Sioux. You could tell by his body language, that Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol was upset with this teams play on Sunday afternoon.  The Fighting Sioux returned from the trip to Bemidji and went to work, the Fighting Sioux started their week following the Sunday loss in Bemidji with a 6:30 A.M. bag skate. At the Wednesday press conference coach Hakstol took some of the blame for the Sunday loss and said, “that he wasn’t very with the job he did on Sunday.”  I have to admit that things were not looking good for the Fighting Sioux hockey team going into the series with the Colorado College Tigers. There were a lot of people that said the Tigers were going to take it to North Dakota. It seemed a bit premature, but the self professed hockey experts and prognosticators were giddily kicking dirt on the Fighting Sioux season, declaring that their season would be over in March.  I heard it this week as well. Just when some of in our own fan base were ready to write the Fighting Sioux hockey team season off, the Fighting Sioux hockey team changed their fortunes around and went on a semi mid-season run winning flour game in a row and five out of the last six games. Things have starting turning around for the Sioux, after a measly scoring 2.0 goals per game to start the season the Sioux have turned things around on the score sheet and are now scoring 3.06 goals per game and during the last six games the Fighting Sioux have scored 5, 0, 7, 4, 5, 4 goals per game. That is an average of 4.16  goals per game.    During the last four games, the Fighting Sioux have gone  9-for-23 on the play, that’s 39 % on the power play.  Someone name Scott posted this comment in the Fighting Sioux chat last night. “Said at beginning of the year that  Kristo/Knight/Nelson line could be this year's version of UMD's Connolly/Connolly/Fontaine line. Thru almost 16 games: Kristo 8-11-19, Knight 6-15-21, Nelson 14-7-21. Last year thru 16 games: M. Connolly 11-11-22, J. Connolly 6-17-23, Fontaine 9-12-21”

Related articles

• WCHA to expand... (mvn.com)
• Waiting to Exhale, the WCHA is Back (mvn.com)
• Sioux-Beavers Series Preview (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 28 (insidehockey.com)

Austin Lee Save.

There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about for the Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks this season, however, this is an awesome save by the Mavericks goalie Austin Lee. I have to agree with LaPanta, how did that stay out of the net? I think we will be seeing more of the Mavericks net minder.

Related articles

• UMD-Minnesota State Preview (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 13 (insidehockey.com)

Kristo goal against UAA

This was the third goal by the Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo against UAA tonight. Drawing the assist on the Kirsto goal was Brock Nelson. s/t BadgerSioux.

Related articles

• North Dakota-Alaska Anchorage Preview (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux hold on to Sweep Tigers (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux Tip Huskies at Engelstad (insidehockey.com)
• Series Preview: Sioux vs. Tigers (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux Outlast Tigers in Barnburner (insidehockey.com)