Friday, January 13, 2012

The Gloves are off - UND and UMN


I thought I would get this open thread started. UND Fighting Sioux Hockey vs. the Minnesota Gophers is one of the premiere match-ups in college hockey. I am not sure how many more of these series we have?

One of the bad things about the formation of the NCHC and the B1G Mistake is that there might not be a yearly dismantling of the Gophers by the team from University of North Dakota formally known as the Fighting Sioux... I guess this will make this weekend's series historic.

Minnesota's Pansies on ice are coming to Grand Forks, ND to play the UND Fighting Sioux Hockey Team in a two game series. Some of the hockey pundits are already penciling Minnesota in for a two game sweep.

Of course we are going to hear how UND is a bunch of knuckle dragging  Neanderthal Goons, even though UND is ranked 11th in the WCHA for Penalty Minutes.

We will also hear how Grand Forks, ND is a back water sewer from Gopher fans but you will see many Gopher fans enjoying the game in the picturesque Ralph Englestad Arena. 

Like I said over on Sioux Sports... There really isn't much difference between teams one through six in the WCHA. UND non-conference record is better than UMN. If you take away Minnesota's three wins against AHA cupcakes teams Minnesota is 12-7-1. UND is 11-8-2 not much of a difference in records.

If the Gophers lose this weekend's series to the UND Fighting Sioux Hockey team there will be two prevalent excuses. Refs were unfair and penalized Minnesota too much, see game against Northeastern last weekend. They were tired, referring to the two players that traveled all the way to Alberta to play in the WJC tourney in Calgary Alberta.

NOTE: This is a fun series and this post is meant to be humorous, if you cant see the hilarity or humor in this post you might need to check yourself into an anger management clinic.
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A battle between two states; Minnesota vs. North Dakota?


Tonight the 17th ranked University of North Dakota; formerly known as the Fighting Sioux hockey team, hosts the No. 5th ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers in a two-game series at Ralph Engelstad Arena (7:37 tonight, 7:07 p.m. Saturday); it will be the last time these two teams play at the Ralph Engelstad Arena as WCHA foes.

On a sad note; this series is historic because it will be the first series that the UND Men’s Hockey team will no longer be known as the Fighting Sioux as well.

Here are some of the stories of significance leading up to this historic series between UND and UMN. Roman Augustoviz and Chris Miller of the Star and Tribune break down their picks for this weekend’s WCHA series.
Minnesota at North Dakota

Chris: So Roman tells me one of my favorite hockey teams can’t use its nickname any more and I say “What? I have to call them the Charleston hockey club now? And what’s the story with that dog?” Prediction: Two ties.

Roman: The Gophers have either beat or played everybody close. Six of their seven losses have been by one goal. So Chris is not being totally silly be forecasting two ties. U beat UND 2-0 and 3-2 in series at Mariucci in early November.

But UND is surging, 7-1-1 in its last nine games and it’s after Christmas now. Coach Dave Hakstol’s team always get better. His teams have a winning percentage of .577 before Christmas in his eight years at UND, and .707 after. He needs two wins to reach 200. Gino Gasparini is the winning coach at North Dakota with 392 wins, Blais is next with 262. Prediction: Split
Roman Augustoviz from the Star Tribune has a story about the Erratic Gophers hockey team remains a mystery [Star Tribune]

A Tradition of Excellence has his Thursday Morning and Friday Morning Coffee additions. I also like coffee, Caribou or Starbucks are my poison.

Brad Schlossman has a bunch of good stuff to read leading up to the tilt at the REA; UND - Minnesota week: One last WCHA tilt at The Ralph [Grand Forks Herald]

UND Men's hockey: UND, Gophers to resume rivalry [Grand Forks Herald]

UND Men's Hockey: Finding a way to get it done [Grand Forks Herald]

Here is the Gophers Puck Live Podcast. [Click to Listen]

Here is the link to KFAN and Cardinal’s Country Clomp Feast [KFAN.COM]

Tyler Buckentine and Brian Halverson from USCHO.COM broke down this weekend’s series between UND and UMN.
No. 5 Minnesota (15-7-1, 11-3-0 WCHA) at No. 17 North Dakota (11-8-2, 7-7-0 WCHA)

Tyler: The Gophers have played rather sluggish since Christmas, with home losses to Northeastern, and then Notre Dame last weekend. What a great time to have a rivalry game on the schedule to wake Minnesota up. UND isn’t head-and-shoulders above the Gophers in the physical play department as evidenced by the first two games between these teams in November. UND is banged up but slowly getting healthier but nothing will slow the team down this weekend. This one’s going to be fun to watch as always and I don’t see either team letting the other grab a big edge all weekend. Split

Brian: Minnesota holds a 5-3-2 edge over the series’ last 10 games but North Dakota is 6-3-1 vs. the Gophers in the most recent 10 at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The last time Minnesota traveled to Grand Forks holding a double-digit lead in the rankings, No. 17 UND swept the seventh-ranked Gophers (5-3, 7-3) on Jan. 9-10, 2009. Neither team has swept a four-game season series since Minnesota managed the feat in 1991-92 (4-2, 8-2 in Mpls.; 10-1, 5-3 in GF) and it won’t happen this year either. North Dakota, winners of seven of its past nine (7-1-1) games, sweeps the series.
Nate Wells from SBNation has this write up on the Minnesota Gophers. Gophers Hockey: Erratic Play Catches Up To Minnesota In 4-3 Loss [Daily Gopher]

Sean Lee talks to assistant UND coach Carey Eades about the Gophers, Canada and the Packers [UND Sports]

Thursday, January 12, 2012

UND vs UMN - Time to drop the puck.

I took this screen shot off of the official Minnesota Gophers hockey page, I know it's hard getting used to as over the course of two weeks the Sioux logo and name have evaporated into thin air. I never thought I would see this day come. Anyways, Go UND Fighting Sioux, beat the Gophers.



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Shawn Thornton vs Tony Gallagher


If you haven't seen this video it's funnier than heck. Talk about being PWND. Shawn Thornton has a point too, he had like six or seven guys on him after Alex Burrows chopped/speared him with his stick.

Here's NESN's Michael Hurley's take on the exchange. This is some good stuff, nice thing about Thornton he held his own and put Gallagher in his place.
he Province columnist Tony Gallagher from Vancouver. The writer was explaining to the host some of the finer points of fighting, and he claimed that to try to fight a player in the same period he's already fought is not OK, that it crosses some sort of line. In this case, the player was Dale Weise, who had already fought Nathan Horton but looked ready to dance with Thornton later that period. Once Thornton dropped his gloves, though, Weise backed out.

Little did Gallagher know that Thornton was waiting in the wings, ready to be the third man in, so to speak.

"You think it was easier fighting seven guys for a minute than fighting one guy?" Thornton said with his opening jab.

He was, of course, referring to the pile of Canucks players that toppled him in the first period on Saturday, including one player getting in on the action from the bench. One of the players in that 5- or 6-on-1 was Weise, and once Thornton had the chance to square off with him face-to-face, the B's tough guy was ready and willing. Weise? Not so much. He backed away and offered a wry smile as Thornton was escorted to the penalty box. That smirk quickly disappeared, though, when Weise himself was ushered to the sin bin for unsportsmanlike conduct.
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Why Zucker didn't play last weekend.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logoImage via WikipediaTwo Colorado schools C.C. and DU kept their two high end players that just returned from the World Junior Championship out of the line up last weekend. DU forward Jason Zucker who is one of the top five forwards in the WCHA and probably soon to be a member of the Minnesota Wild went home to visit family while his team split with the UAH Chargers. That lose could be costly for the Pioneers.

Colorado College forward Jaden Schwartz, who is also a top five forward in the WCHA, was held out of Friday's game as well and the Tigers ended up losing to the Cornell Big Red, another costly personnel move, as the Tigers lost and tied the Cornell Big Red. 
Mike Chambers, the Field House --- DU coach George Gwozdecky said of the decision to keep Zucker out of the non-league set — a decision that was second-guessed by some in the wake of the upset loss to the nation’s only Division I independent program on Friday night. That loss conceivably could cost DU an NCAA tournament berth, considering its impact on the Pioneers in the PairWise rankings. Gwozdecky said the precedent was set after defenseman Matt Carle played for the champion U.S. team in 2004.

“Matt was part of that gold-medal team and he came back, and we didn’t know from experience what the whole thing was like and what it was going to do to Matt,” Gwozdecky said. “He was absolutely emotionally drained, physically drained, and his level of urgency wasn’t there for at least three weeks. After the first period of the first game he was back, it was like, ‘Oh, my God, I think we made a mistake here,’ because he was just shot. You certainly understand that. You’re playing for a gold medal on the world stage in front of huge crowds and all of a sudden, you’re coming back and playing against Bemidji or Wisconsin. It just doesn’t have the same luster.
I don't buy this argument that the players that return from the WJC need to be held out of games, they can get their rest as time allows, during the up coming weeks, there are also bye weeks in the schedule.

The reason I am not buying this argument is that you're talking about 19 year old kids who are world class athletes and not a bunch of 30-35 year old men playing in the house league. You have a limited number of games and the WCHA has taken a beating in the out of conference games and has an unimpressive inter-conference record of 26-25-8 and that could end up costing the WCHA come NCAA tourney selection time. 

Edit: I you click on this link you will see that Dan Myers of College Hockey News discussed this issue as well on the College Hockey News blog.
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TV Contract coming for the NCHC?

Brian Gomez of the Colorado Springs Gazette has this little news nugget in his media blog today, sounds like a TV deal is coming soon for the NCHC.

Also, it looks more and more like the NCHC is going to have it’s conference tourney in the Excel Energy Center. This is not the first time that I have heard this and former Colorado Gazette Colorado College beat writer Joe Paisley had posted this as well in one of his weekly Gazette chats.
Brian Gomez, Gazette.com --- A TV contract for Colorado College’s new conference will be announced within the next three weeks, and the NBC Sports Network, formerly called Versus, as well as Fox Sports regional affiliates have emerged as legitimate competition for CBS Sports Network.

National Collegiate Hockey Conference commissioner Jim Scherr (above) told CC play-by-play man Ken Landau of the timetable for the eight-team league that will begin in the 2013-14 season during Tigers coach Scott Owens’ radio show Tuesday on 103.9 FM RXP. A total of 75 games are being broadcast this season on Fox College Sports, Fox Sports North and Fox Sports stations in Colorado, Michigan and Wisconsin; NBC Sports Network has 16 games, including the Hockey East Tournament; and CBS Sports Network has 23 games.

Before Scherr was appointed last week as the NCHC’s first commissioner, an agreement with CBS Sports Network for 16 games was thought of as imminent. Earlier Tuesday, on a USCHO.com radio show, Scherr said the TV deal will offer “uniform exposure across the conference,” adding the NCHC will “have a strong package
Here is the bit on the NCHC tourney. I think the NCHC getting the Xcel Energy Center makes perfect sense because there is no way that the new revamped WCHA is going to be able to fill the arena without UND, UMD and SCSU.
The inaugural NCHC Tournament – rumored to be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., the site of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five in March – no doubt will be carried by the conference’s TV partner. Scherr didn’t confirm St. Paul as the 2014 site with USCHO.com, saying only that the event will be held at a “geographic location that makes sense for the fan bases to get there and support their teams.”
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NCAA Hockey is on the Score...

NCAA Division I college hockey is going to get some much needed exposure in Canada. This week the Canadian TV Channel the Score announced that they were going to broadcast college hockey games as part of its programming. Here is the schedule.

The games will be delayed broadcast unless noted. Looking at the schedule you will see that four of UND's games will be on.

(All games at 5pm except where noted)
Saturday, January 14
Minnesota at North Dakota
Saturday, January 21
Colorado College at Minnesota
Saturday, January 28
Wisconsin at North Dakota
Saturday, February 11
Minnesota at Denver
Saturday, February 18
Denver at Wisconsin
Saturday, February 25
Minnesota at Nebraska-Omaha
Saturday, March 3
Minnesota State at North Dakota
Saturday, March 10
North Dakota-TBA (1st round WCHA playoff)
Saturday, March 17
WCHA Semi-Final
Saturday, March 17 – LIVE at 8pm
WCHA Championship Game
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Blood and Kristo for Hobey.

English: Hobey Baker, while at Princeton Unive...Image via Wikipedia
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota hockey fans can vote for senior defenseman Ben Blood and junior forward Danny Kristo in the 2012 Hobey Baker Award fan balloting, which began today. 

The Hobey Baker Award recognizes the top player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey each year. To submit a vote, visit www.hobeybaker.com and click on the ‘Vote for Hobey Baker’ tab. 

Blood, who logs more minutes than any other UND player, has emerged as one of the top two-way defensemen in NCAA hockey. The Plymouth, Minn., native has played in all 21 games this season, registering two goals and eight assists. Both of his goals have been game-winners, tying him for fifth-most by a UND defenseman in a single season. Blood leads all active UND skaters with 139 games played and has appeared in 121 straight games. His career rating of +40 also tops all active UND players. Last season, Blood led the nation with a +32 rating and was named to his second straight Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Academic Team.

Kristo is tied for the team scoring lead with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 21 games and leads the team with three game-winning goals. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native has figured in on seven of UND’s 11 game-winning goals this season, scoring three and assisting on four. He is also tied for the team lead among forwards with a +5 rating and has enjoyed eight multi-point games this season. The 2009-10 WCHA Rookie of the Year, Kristo is UND’s active scoring leader with 88 points (34g, 54a) in 96 career games.

This first phase of fan balloting will run now through March 4, 2012. Phase two of fan balloting will begin on March 16 from the list of Top 10 Hobey Baker finalists. The fan vote accounts for a full 1 percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient.

UND has had two previous Hobey Baker Award winners: Ryan Duncan in 2006-07 and Tony Hrkac in 1986-87. UND’s 19 Hobey Baker Award finalists are tied for the most in the nation with Michigan State and Boston College.
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Shawn Thornton penalty shot goal


The days of the one dimensional tough guys that play five minutes a game and get into to a fight or two are becoming extinct and soon could be no longer needed, the tough guys of the future are going to need to fight as well as score goals and contribute in the score sheet. Check out this move, that's the second goal in the last four games for the Boston Bruins tough guy. Thornton was an assist away from having the Gordy Howe hat trick.

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He said what?

English: Logo for the University of MinnesotaImage via WikipediaLol... I was wondering if Roman Augustoviz was trying to create some bulletin board material to fire up the Golden Gophers. Having been to numerous Wednesday press conferences and post game conferences, this is not an uncommon response for Coach Hakstol. In my opinion coach Hakstol is more concerned about his teams mental and physical make up then some meaningless poll ranking.
HAKSTOL SAYS

"We are finding ways to win games any way we can," said UND coach Dave Hakstol, who needs two victories to reach 200. A sweep of the Gophers this weekend at the Ralph would get him to that milestone.

North Dakota is 8-2-1 since being swept by the Gophers in early November.

Asked if the No. 5-rated Gophers are for real this week, Hakstol said, "I an not really worried about them. I care about the guys in our locker room and the steps they are taking. We will be ready to play Friday."

Uh-oh.

UND is coming off a 3-1 victory over Clarkson on Saturday in Winnipeg, Canada. Forward Carter Rowney had two goals in that game. He has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in the last 11 games since they played at Mariucci.

Also hot for North Dakota is defenseman Dillon Simpson with 10 assists in 10 games.

* One of the key players hurt is first-line wing Corban Knight, who suffered a lower-body injury three games ago. He has missed the past two games.
Actually UND is 9-3-1 since they were swept by the Gophers, Minnesota on the other hand is 6-6-1 since the UND series.
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UND loses another recruit to the CHL - QMJHL

This is what a lot of us feared. Stefan Matteau will not be coming to UND next year and will play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for Armada. It's been a tough year for NCAA hockey.

Here is a story that you can read on this subject as well, I had to used google translate to be able to read the article because I do not speak French.
TVA Sports --- In recent months, Matteau had mentioned that it could evolve with the Fighting Sioux of the University of North Dakota next year. This possibility is now excluded.

The rumored for quite a few weeks about the possibility of the young Matteau join his father in the Armada. The latter acts as an assistant to head coach Jean-Francois Houle.

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Stupid is as stupid does

North Dakota State Bison athletic logoImage via WikipediaIf you haven't see this article, it's worth a read. In the old days when the Sioux and the Bison played in football there used to be a lot of vitriol in the stands and at tail gates for football, Ironically, in their finest hour after watching their team win the FCS championship in football some dolt of the fans  in the crowd just had to say "Sioux Sucks"... Wow!!! Stupid is as stupid does, right?
Kevin Schnepf, Forum Communications ---- Flash forward 22 years in Frisco, Texas — where NDSU won its first national championship since its 1990 trip to Florence. As the Bison team marched toward its locker room before the game, the three-block long line of fans chanted “Here We Go Bison, Here We Go.” In between the cheers, one fan yelled “Sioux suck.”

Really? Your team is about to play for a national title and that’s all you can think of? Never mind that your team hasn’t played the Sioux (I mean North Dakota) since 2003.

Later that same day when fans gathered in front of the Fargodome to welcome home their team, Gov. Jack Dalrymple started the same cheer “Here We Go Bison, Here We Go.” Little did the Governor realize that the chant must mysteriously spark a certain impulse to be insulting.

As if on cue, a small group of supporters started yelling “Sioux suck.”

Really? Your team just won its first Division I championship and that’s all you can think of. Never mind that your football team may not be playing the Sioux (I mean, North Dakota) for at least another decade.
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Monday, January 09, 2012

Shanny throws the book at Brad Marchand


So I wonder if there are still any conspiracy theorists out there that think that the Boston Bruins get all of the breaks because Colin Campbell's son Greg Campbell plays for the Boston Bruins. I think we can say that ship has sailed. This suspension should quite down those people who wrongly feel this way. We all knew that the NHL was going to suspend Brad Marchand, however, NHL Senior VP Player Safety - Brendan Shanahan has been very inconsistent with his rulings so far this year.

I have no problem per se, with Shanahan suspending Brad Marchand but  in the matter of  13 days  earlier in the season, Shanahan let very dangerous hits against the Minnesota Wild go unpunished, if you have forgotten already, Lennart Petrell's drove Marek Zidlicky into the boards, Zach Bogosian planted Pierre-Marc Bouchard into the board, followed up by ignoring Colorado Avalanche's talentless hack Cody McLeod try to put Wild Defenseman Jared Spurgeon through the end boards. Two of three Wild players on the receiving end of these dangers hits missed time after being slammed into the boards.

I still think if you're going to suspend one you have to suspend the others. Brendan Shanahan is no better than Colin Campbell's  "Wheel of Justice" and if someone like Steve Ott had done this to one of the Wild players I wonder if we would  be looking at the same punishment.

Apparently Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is less than impressed with the suspension handed down from the NHL. Chiarelli said, “While we respect the process that the Department of Player Safety took to reach their decision regarding Brad’s hit on Sami Salo, we are very disappointed by their ruling."
NEW YORK -- Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games and will forfeit $152,439.02 for clipping Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo during NHL Game #598 in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 7, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Marchand, who received a two-game suspension in March 2011, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 18:47 of the second period. Marchand received a major penalty for clipping and a game misconduct.

Marchand will miss games Jan. 10 vs. Winnipeg, Jan. 12 vs. Montreal, Jan. 14 at Carolina, Jan. 16 at Florida and Jan. 17 at Tampa Bay. He will be eligible to return Jan. 19 at New Jersey.
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INCH Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. Minnesota
5. Boston College
6. Merrimack
7. Colorado College
8. Union
9. Colgate
10. UMass Lowell
11. Boston University
12. Cornell
13. Western Michigan
14. Denver
15. Michigan
16. Nebraska-Omaha
17. North Dakota 2 Is it another second-half surge for North Dakota? They've gone 7-1-1 in their last nine, since splitting a series with Bemidji State in November. 11-8-2 (7-7-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Clarkson, 3-1 (Winnipeg, MB). THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota, vs. Minnesota.
18. Northeastern
19. Ferris State
20. Miami

Dropped out: Michigan State, Lake Superior State

Bubble-licious: Maine, Mercyhurst, Lake Superior State, Quinnipiac

Here is this week's INCH Power rankings. Every week I like to include the INCH Power Rankings because I find them interesting.
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Good news for college hockey fans.

My first question will be what channel is on, especially DirecTV?

Poll Monday - UND moves up to 17th

Sunday, January 08, 2012

College Hockey fan behavior.

Fighting Sioux (University of North Dakota) vs...Image via WikipediaThis is an article that I wrote for the Illegal Curve back in October 21, 2009.


My dad sent me an account of a Gopher fan’s experience at Ralph Engelstad Arena this past weekend. Was I sitting in a different arena this past weekend?

Sioux Gophers and idiots on both sides.

I was at the Sioux/Gopher hockey games this weekend. The games were in Grand Forks and I was wearing Gopher gear on Friday night. Our tickets were also in the student section. We sat on the very far side of the student section. There were some Gopher fans in front of us who were clearly from the U. They were receiving a bit of heckling, and for the most part it was all in good fun, but there were a few weekend warriors” that went over the line from the UND side of things. They were invading some personal space and getting face to face with the kids from the U. Lots of you are a bitch. and you suck balls. Luckily for everybody involved where I was at, the Gopher kids stayed very chill about the

The UND kids clearly had had way too much to drink. The problem was they kept coming back trying to instigate more and more each time. It could have turned bad pretty easy. Check out the story below. On Saturday night we also had student section tickets. I was not looking forward to the abuse again.

 The night before there was a very drunk kid behind us who fell into our seats a few times. We were standing each time, but my wife got kicked once. He’s lucky he did not catch the 4 year old girl with a foot. So we got lucky Saturday nights, while we were waiting in line to get into the game some kids from the U said they had normal tickets but wanted to sit in student section. I overheard this and we traded our 4 student tickets for their 4 normal tickets. It was a much better game Saturday and we did not have to get kicked by drunk 19 year olds. All around a better experience.

While this weekend I didn’t see a lot of this stuff going on, I have witnessed this type of behavior first hand in the past at venues like the Final Five at the Xcel Energy Center. Who uses this type of language when talking to another fan from a different team in front of young children? These people should have their mouths washed out with soap. That does cross the line of what is considered acceptable behavior at a sporting event. If I brought my two year old daughter to the game I don’t want her to have to listen to this kind of vile stuff. Just because you’re a college student doesn’t give you the right to act like an ass. There is no birthright to sit in that seat at the arena; if you can’t behave, I am sure the REA management can sell that prime seat to someone will be able to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner.

Not to pick on the college students there are many examples of adult fans, both Sioux and Gopher fans, getting out of hand and acting like imbeciles as well. I heard from a friend that a female Gopher fan who happened to be pregnant was heckled and jostled at the arena this past weekend. Who the heck does that kind of a thing? Imagine your girlfriend, wife or mother having this happen to them.
In yesterday’s Grand Forks Herald there was a letter to the editor in which a person described an experience where someone dumped a beer on a Gopher fan’s head from the upper deck. That kind of behavior is unacceptable and only a moron would defend behavior like this. People like this are going to ruin it for the rest of us that like to enjoy a beer without having the game ruined by drunk, belligerent idiots. I can foresee a time where the REA might ban beer sales to college students and or everyone.

These types of incidents do not paint a positive picture of Grand Forks, ND, the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota or the WCHA. As fans collectively we must behave better, we don’t want to look like a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.

I know, call me old-fashioned, but some of the stuff that happened this past weekend seems to be borderline criminal or at least anti-social behavior and should be deemed as inappropriate and unacceptable. None of us should have to be a witness to this type of crap. To top off the weekend, we had an incident between two fans that could be classified as felonious with one person ending up in the ICU wing of Altru Hospital. There is nothing about this series that should lead any of us to start throwing punches at each other.

I am as pro-Fighting Sioux hockey as they come: I am all for a loud arena and an intimidating atmosphere, but some of this stuff is atrocious behavior and unfit for television. My boss who is new to the area went to a Sioux hockey game for the first time and I am sure she was impressed with the F’ the Gophers cheer, way to go UND. Remember there is friendly acceptable back and forth banter and then there is crossing the line. I also have friends that are Gopher fans, and some of them won’t even come up to Grand Forks anymore based on the type of treatment they have received from our fans.

I have to wonder if it is time for college hockey to institute a fan code of conduct for its fans like some NFL teams have. Eventually the University of North Dakota is going to have to address the behaviors of its fans at the REA.
Fan code of conduct
“The National Football League and its teams are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all fans, both in the stadium and in the parking lot. We want all fans attending our games to enjoy the experience in a responsible fashion. When attending a game, you are required to refrain from the following behaviors:
» Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature.
» Intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behavior.
» Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
» Interference with the progress of the game (including throwing objects onto the field).
» Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.
» Verbal or physical harassment of opposing team fans.
“Event patrons are responsible for their conduct as well as the conduct of their guests and/or persons occupying their seats. Stadium staff will promptly intervene to support an environment where event patrons, their guests, and other fans can enjoy the event free from the above behavior. Event patrons and guests who violate these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and loss of ticket privileges for future games.”
Like another hockey fan suggested from DU, I like the NFL fan code of conduct policy and I am all for this if being enacted at REA. If you’re an unruly fan and you can’t act in an acceptable manner, your ticket should be taken from you and you will no longer be allowed to be able to attend events in the arena. Attending college hockey is a privilege, not a right. If you can’t act like a member of the human race, do not bother coming to the arena. Someone else will gladly pay a handsome fee for that ticket and act in a respectful manner in your place.
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Canucks GM Mike Gillis is whining again.

Rose Bud Mag
Wow!!! In a way I am kind of sad that the Boston Bruins don’t get to play the Vancouver Canucks more.

That being said, I think it’s funny that Mike Gillis has the gall to say this when his teams has on it’s roster some of the biggest Rats hacks in the NHL; Alex Burrows aka Count Dracula, Maxim Lapierre who spends all game running his mouth on the ice until he is called out and then he “usually” turtles and won’t fight. Yesterday his fight with Greg Campbell was an enigma.

You have no moral ground to stand on anymore Mike. That ship has sailed, last summer after the hockey world saw your team's bag of tricks. There is so much material evidence and so little time. I am sure you called for Keith Ballard's suspension when he low bridged Jamie McGinn during the Stanley Cup playoffs. That is is far more violent than the one in question.
When the Vancouver Canucks defenceman was low-bridged by Brad Marchand late in the second period on Saturday, the Boston Bruins winger was assessed a clipping major and game misconduct and could face further supplemental discipline from NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan because it’s a hit the league is trying to eliminate.

[Marchand]“A dirty play by a dirty player,” said Gillis.

Salo went head over heels on the play and landed awkwardly and may have suffered a whiplash effect when his neck was stretched. He threw his stick aside in disgust as he exited the ice for good reason. The big Finn was having a solid season and arguably the most consistent blueliner for the Canucks. Having suffered 40 career injuries, Salo set up the opening goal Saturday in a big 4-3 win over the Bruins and has 16 points (7-9) in 37 games after agreeing to return this season on a one-year deal for a bargain $2 million to take another serious run at a Stanley Cup. He has never won a major championship outside the club level in Europe.

Bruins coach Claude Julien didn’t exactly let his player off the hook when asked if Marchand went too far with the hit and crossed a line. [The Providence]
Again like I said last summer, the Canucks are a bunch of cry babies, and they don’t like it when they are called out for their on ice antics. I guess they also forget that Alex Burrows hit Daniel Paille, then hits Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton in the throat with his stick, starting a line brawl, of course he won’t drop the gloves and fight Thornton. How did the Canucks expect the Boston Bruins to respond to Burrow's act of stupidity?  And then this gem from Kevin Bieksa, the guy that loves to beat up other teams skilled players that don't fight, then will turn around and avoid fights the tough guys who fight when he is asked, had this to say.
Bieksa on Brad Marchand's big hit: "We play hard, but we are a disciplined team. That’s what separates us from them. They obviously play hard, but they tend to do stupid things. The Marchand hit was a pretty stupid thing and I’m sure he’ll be getting a phone call for that one. There is no reason for that."
I wonder if the Canucks fans remember this hit or not. Is this not the  same as the Marchand hit? Here is the link to the video of that hit. [Click to view]

This is what Claude Julien had to say on the hit in question, when I saw the hit for the first time that is the first thing that comes to mind is that Marchand was trying to duck under a hit from Salo. My next question is; is a player required to let his opponent hit him? Shouldn't we want a player be allowed to duck under a hit and avoid contact if they want to? The size difference between the two players is pretty significant.
Matt Kalman, The Bruins Blog --- “We all have our opinions on what is going on with the game and the hits and everything else. All I’m going to tell you is that I always told my players that they need to protect themselves,” said Julien. “The last thing I want my players to do is get hit and then end up with a concussion, and they have to protect themselves. Whether it’s the right way or the wrong way, it’ll depend on how the league looks at it. I’d rather have a guy take a two-minute penalty than turn his back to the play, stand up straight, and then get his face knocked into the glass and be out for maybe the rest of the year with a concussion, or maybe end his career like [Marc] Savard.
Lastly, I expect that Marchand will get some form of punishment from the Brendan Shanahan based on the whining and complaining coming out of the Canucks front office. Like I mentioned before, there is more than enough video evidence to prove the Vancouver Canucks don't hold the moral high ground.Check out this hit by Mason Raymond on Brad Marchand. [Click to view]


The Classiest comment that I read today was from the Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault


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Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 1/9/2012

This is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEYZack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind and I will be doing the weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1.  Minnesota Duluth – (10-2-2 WCHA, 14-3-3) The Bulldogs swept future NCHC foe Western Michigan University (4-1, 5-2) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Bulldogs travel to Omaha, Nebraska to play the UNO Mavericks.

2. Minnesota – (11-3-0 WCHA, 15-7-1) Minnesota lost to Notre Dame (1-4) in the Hall of Fame on Saturday night. I wouldn’t be an understatement to say that the Gophers looked out of sync and unimpressive. Since sweeping North Dakota on November 5th, 2011 Minnesota has a record of 6-6-1. Minnesota travels to Grand Fork, ND to play UND this weekend.

3.  Nebraska-Omaha – (7-4-3 WCHA, 10-8-4) The Mavericks played Quinnipiac Bobcats this past weekend in Omaha, Nebraska (2-2 T and 4-1 W). The Mavericks entertain the high flying UMD Bulldogs this weekend.

4. Denver – (6-5-3 WCHA, 11-8-3) We keep hearing about how good the Denver Pioneers are going to be when they get their injured payers back, Beau Bennett (wrist), John Ryder (knee) David Makowski (unknown) Sam Brittain (knee) are all out with injuries; so one might say that the Pioneers are still a work in progress, however, the time is ticking on the clock. The Pioneers split with the lowly University of Huntsville Chargers this past weekend in Denver (2-3 L and 5-2 W). This weekend the Pioneers entertain the Bemidji State Beavers

4. North Dakota – (7-7-0, 11-8-2) The University of North Dakota beat Clarkson University 3-1 in Winnipeg Manitoba at the U.S. College Hockey Classic. It would be an understatement if I said that the University of North Dakota has been hit by the Injury Ninja and the following players are currently out of the line up for UND;  Corban Knight (lower body), Rocco Grimaldi (knee), Derek Forbort (unknown) and Derek Rodwell (shoulder, season ending).

6.  Colorado College – (12-7-1 WCHA, 9-5-0) The Tigers are a hard team to figure out, and this past weekend the Tigers got their highly talented sophomore forward Jaden Schwartz back from the Canadian WJC team. In what could be classified as a puzzling move, the Tigers scratched Schwartz from the line up for Friday night’s game. Schwartz returned to the line up on Saturday night and he would help lead the Tigers to a (3-3) tie against the Cornell Big Red. This weekend the Colorado College Tigers entertain the Saint Cloud State Huskies.

7.  Michigan Tech – (6-7-1 WCHA, 9-11-1) The Michigan Tech Huskies were idle this past weekend after being swept the weekend before in the Great Lakes Invitational (1-3 L, 1-2 L). The Huskies have lost four straight games and hope to get back to their winning says as they entertain the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in Houghton Michigan.

7.  Bemidji State – (5-7-2 WCHA, 11-9-2) The Beavers Swept Bowling Green State University last weekend (4-1 W, 2-1 W). Since the Beavers beat UND (1-0) on the 20th of November the Beavers have gone an impressive (7-1-1) and are unbeaten in the last five games (5-0-0).

9. St. Cloud State – (5-6-3 WCHA, 8-10-4) The Huskies were off this past weekend and travel to Colorado Springs Colorado to play the high octane Tigers. Since the Huskies beat the Minnesota Gophers (4-3) in Saint Cloud on November 18th, the Huskies have gone a lack luster (3-5-2). 

10. Wisconsin – (4-8-2 WCHA, 9-9-2) The Wisconsin Badgers have ann impressive 9-4-1 record at home and after sweeping AHA foe cupcake RIT (6-3 W, 2-1 W). This weekend the Badgers travel to Mankato Minnesota to play the last place Minnesota State Mavericks. On paper you would think this is going to be an automatic two wins for the Badgers. Maybe not; the Badgers are an unimpressive 0-5-1 on the road and hope to pick up their first two wins at Mankato half way through the month of January.  Until the Badgers can start winning games on the road they will remain in the bottom rung of the WCHA standings and rankings.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (3-10-1 WCHA, 6-10-2) The Seawolves haven’t played in an actual game since the 10th of December, 2011 when they split with the C.C. Tigers (6-3 W, 3-4 L) so the Seawolves could be a little rusty when they travel to Houghton Michigan to play the Michigan Tec Huskies.

12.  Minnesota State – (2-11-1 WCHA, 6-15-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their series with the Saint Lawrence University Saints (3-4 L, 3-1W) in Canton, New York this past weekend. The Mavericks entertain the Wisconsin Badgers this weekend at the Verizon  Wireless Center
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Saturday, January 07, 2012

Compare and contrast


This is video proof to prove the hypocrisy of the Vancouver Canucks fans and the Vancouver media. There are a lot of hockey fans that whine about every thing the Boston Bruins do. This just proves that the Vancouver Canucks are just as bad as the team that they are whining about.

There are fans that think that there's actually a league conspiracy and that the NHL favors the Boston Bruins because Colin Campbell's son Greg Campbell plays for the Boston Bruins.

This video is from last years Stanley Cup Finals in game one where Vancover Canucks Defenseman Dan Hamhuis hits Boston Bruins forward  Milan Lucic low just like Brad Marchand did on Sami Salo and in the process Hamhuis injured himself. There was no penalty on the play, nor was there was there a suspension. Why the double standard? Yet there are fans from the Canucks and other fan bases as well as people from the hockey media calling for Brad Marchand to be suspended.  Why wasn't Hamhuis' hit suspension worthy? Where is the out cry? You can imagine the whining if Marchand isn't suspended or at least fined. [Box Score]



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