No UND Mens Hockey, time to head to the Ralph for UND Women's hockey

Since there is no Men’s UND hockey this weekend, if you live in Grand Forks, ND you can watch the UND women live at the Ralph Englestad Arena this weekend and record these collee hockey games on your DVR and get your of college hockey. This is the last regular season home game for the UND women of the season as well.

Starting in 2013-14 CBS Sports network will become the home to NCHC Hockey I thought I would include this press release that they sent me in my email.

Number 18-ranked Miami at Number 7-ranked Michigan highlights college hockey action on CBS Sports Network

CBS Sports Network airs a slate of three college hockey games this weekend, highlighted by *No. 18-ranked Miami at No. 7-ranked Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 4 (7:30 PM, ET). Ben Holden and Dave Starman handle the call, along with Shireen Saski reporting rink side from Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The puck drops with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 3 beginning with Providence at New Hampshire (7:30 PM, ET). Eric Frede, Dave Starman and Shireen Saski announce. RIT at Air Force (10:00 PM, ET) follows from Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. Matt McConnell and Jim Paradise call the action.

For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to CBS Sports Network.

EDIT: Game Information - Friday's game on FCS and Midco.net
Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.) Ralph Engelstad Arena - Grand Forks, N.D.

TELEVISION (Friday): UND Sports Network and Midco Sports Net3 (ch. 323), Fox College Sports Central

WEBCAST: www.UNDSports.com

Radio/Audio - : The Fan 1440 AM (Saturday and Sunday)/WDAY 970 AM (Sunday)
www.UNDSports.com

LIVE STATS: www.UNDSports.com

Goon’s WCHA Power Rankings 1/29/2012

Here is this weeks WCHA Power Rankings, Zack Friedli has a previous engagement this week, so here is this week's Inside Hockey WCHA Power Rankings.

1.  Minnesota – (15-5-0 WCHA, 19-9-1) Minnesota swept the Saint Cloud State Huskies in a home and home series (2-1 W, 3-2 W) this past weekend. The Minnesota Gophers limited the SCSU Huskies to 25 shots on net for the weekend. This weekend the Gophers are idle.

2. Minnesota Duluth – (11-4-3 WCHA, 17-5-4) The Bulldogs tied and lost (4-4 T, 0-5 L) against Michigan Tech University this past weekend at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This weekend the Bulldogs travel to Anchorage, Alaska to play the UAA Seawolves.

3.  Colorado College – (11-7-0 WCHA, 14-9-1) The Tigers were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Tigers have a home and home series with their cross state rivals the Denver Pioneers.

4. Denver – (10-5-3 WCHA, 15-8-3). The Pioneers swept the Seawolves this past weekend in Anchorage Alaska (4-2 W, 6-3 W). Saturday, sophomore goalie Sam Brittain returned from a knee injury; started in goal and got the win in net for the Pioneers. This weekend the Pioneers have a home and home series with their cross state rivals the Colorado College Tigers.

4.  North Dakota – (11-9-0, 15-10-2) The University of North Dakota swept the Badgers at the Ralph Englestad Area this past weekend (5-3 W, 4-2 W). UND is idle this weekend. The University of North Dakota has been hit by the Injury Ninja and the following players are currently out of the lineup for UND.  Here is the list, Rocco Grimaldi (knee, season), Brendan O’Donnell (shoulder) and Derek Rodwell (shoulder, season).

6.  Nebraska-Omaha – (9-6-3 WCHA, 12-10-4) The Mavericks were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Mavericks entertain the Bemidji State Beavers.

7.  Michigan Tech – (9-7-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Michigan Tech Huskies look three of four points (4-4 T, 5-0 W) against the Bulldogs at Amsoil arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This weekend Michigan Tech travels to Mankato to play the Minnesota State Mavericks.

 8. Bemidji State – (6-10-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Beavers split their weekend series with the Minnesota State Mavericks (2-1 W, 2-5 L) at the Sanford Center. This weekend the Beavers travel to Omaha to play the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks.

9. Wisconsin – (7-10-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Wisconsin Badgers have an impressive 11-4-1 record at Kohl Center. After being swept by University of North Dakota this past weekend (2-5 L, 2-4 L) in Grand Forks, the Badgers have an unimpressive 1-8-1 record away from the Kohl Center. This weekend the Badgers look to improve on their home record against the depleted Saint Cloud State Huskies.

10. St. Cloud State – (7-10-3 WCHA, 10-14-4) The Huskies were swept by the Gophers (1-2 L, 2-3 L) this past weekend.  This weekend the Huskies travel to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers. Huskies junior goalie Mike Lee returned from injury and played Friday night for the Huskies. The Huskies has been hit by the Injury Ninja as they have lost forward Travis Novak to a lower body injury on Friday night and are still without their top forward Drew LeBlanc (broken leg).

11. Minnesota State – (5-14-1 WCHA, 9-18-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their series with the Bemidji State Beavers (1-2, L, 5-2 W). The Mavericks entertain the Michigan Tech Huskies in Mankato, Minnesota.

12.  Alaska-Anchorage – (3-16-1 WCHA, 6-16-2) The Seawolves were swept (2-4 L, 3-6 L) by the  Denver Pioneers in Anchorage Alaska this past weekend. This weekend the Seawolves entertain Minnesota Duluth. Anchorage has lost seven games in a row and has not won since December 9, 2011.

UND's newest recruit Adam Tambellini

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

How about a top ten list? I haven’t done one of those in while.

10 – 8-oz beers the Goon & Sioux 7 drank at the Fargo Force hockey game
9 – Unanswered goals the MTU Huskies scored last weekend in Duluth
8 – Teams that will be in NCHC in 2013
7 – Sioux 7’s number
6 – The number of teams in top and the bottom half of the league
5 – Points that separate 2nd from 7th place in the WCHA
4 – What Goon yells while golfing
3 – Teams that don’t have any ties in league games
2 – Teams that realistically have a chance to win the McNaughton Cup
1 – The position the Gophers occupy this week


WCHA STANDINGS

Team………………………W-L-T………Points
1. Minnesota………………15-5-0…..……30
2. Minnesota-Duluth……..11-4-3….…….25
3. Denver…………………..10-5-3………..23
4. Colorado College………11-7-0………..22
4. North Dakota……….…...11-9-0….…….22
6. Nebraska-Omaha…….…9-6-3………..21
7. Michigan Tech………….9-7-2…….…..20
8. St. Cloud St……………. 7-10-3……….17
9. Wisconsin……………....7-11-2…..…….16
10. Bemidji State….……….6-10-2…………14
11. Minnesota State………5-14-1…………11
12. Alaska-Anchorage…...3-16-1…………7


WCHA Games

Michigan Tech @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Huskies took 3 points from the Bulldogs in Duluth and the Mavericks split with the Beavers in Bemidji.

These guys played each other back in early November, with the Huskies winning Friday’s game 1-0 and the Mavericks taking Saturday’s game 6-3. MTU is staying right in the middle of the pack and is eyeing a home ice playoff spot. A Huskies sweep this weekend would keep them in mix and leap them into the top half of the league. The Mavericks are ten points out of sixth place with eight games to go. Hate to say it, but it looks like they will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs (just an “early” prediction). Tech should be full of confidence after, shall we say, beating up on the number one team in the country last weekend. HUSKIES SWEEP

St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin
Last weekend the Huskies were swept by the Gophers in a home-and-home series and the Badgers were swept by North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Both teams are both reeling after last weekend and need points, if they want to keep their hopes alive for home ice in the first round. The Badgers need to find a way to put offensive pressure on the Huskies. SCSU has dropped their last three games and have gone 2-5-0 in their last 7 games. The Huskies need to get their sled back on their rails, before their bye weekend, next week. The Badgers also have next weekend off, so they too would like to go into that with their heads held high. SPLIT


#13 Denver vs #11 Colorado College
Last weekend the Pioneers swept the UAA Seawolves in Anchorage and the Tigers had had a weekend off to rest up and prepare for their arch-rivals.

Gold Pan Games 3 and 4, let’s look back and refresh our memories, game 1, Nov. 12, DU wins 5-4, game 2, Dec. 2, CC wins 4-3 OT. Friday’s game in Denver and Saturday’s is in Colorado Springs. Don’t look now, but the Pioneers have quietly put together a 5 game winning streak. Of course, some will say, they should have given the teams they have played (UAH, BSU, and UAA). Meanwhile the Tigers are 2-2-1 over their last 5 games. Not only be rivals, but that they are also separated by one point in the standings, just adds that much more to the mix. SPLIT


#1 Minnesota-Duluth @ Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend Bulldogs got one point against the MTU Huskies in Duluth and the Seawolves were swept by the Pioneers in Anchorage.

After last weekends, blip on the UMD radar, they will be heading up to the Sullivan arena in Anchorage. The trip might give the Bulldogs they time they need to work things out, might… The Seawolves will no doubt be looking at tape this week and try to emulate the MTU Huskies. On paper this series weighs heavily in the Bulldogs favor, but that is paper, the games are played on ice. SPLIT


Bemidji State @ Nebraska-Omaha
Last weekend Beavers split with the MSUM Mavericks in Bemidji and the UNO Mavericks were off.

Back in mid-November these teams met in Bemidji with the Mavericks take three points back to Omaha. Last season the Beavers had UNO’s number, but it looks like the tide might be changing. The Beavers, as of late, are only scoring about twice a game, which is not good, if you want to win games. BSU needs to get the offensive attack going this weekend if they want to leave Omaha with some points. The Mavericks will no doubt try to punch some more holes in the Beavers dam, I mean defense. Perhaps BSU can have their goaltenders rustle up some points for the team this weekend. SPLIT


BYE WEEK
#2 Minnesota
#17 North Dakota

Dustin Byfuglien likely to go to trial on impaired charges in Minnesota

Here is the latest news in the Dustin Byfuglien case. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. This kind of looks like a Mexican Standoff to me.

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien will probably go to trial on charges that he operated a boat on a Minnesota lake while he was impaired.

The NHL player's defense lawyer, Mitch Robinson, said today he was unable to reach a plea agreement with the prosecutor in the case.

"We discussed what a fair resolution would be and we were miles apart," Robinson said.

Byfuglien did not appear in court. He was with his team in Tampa Bay, where he was expected to return to the ice after a knee injury in December.

Robinson said the case is to be back in Hennepin County court on April 19, and he expects a trial date will be set for June.

Goon’s Weekly WCHA Picks 2/3 – 2/4

Fri 02/03/12

St. Cloud State at Wisconsin 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-BTN)
Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha 7:37 p.m. CT
Michigan Tech at Minnesota State 7:37 p.m. CT
Colorado College at Denver 7:37 p.m. MT (TV-Root)
Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Sat 02/04/12

Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha 7:07 p.m. CT
Michigan Tech at Minnesota State 7:07 p.m. CT
Denver at Colorado College 7:07 p.m. MT
St. Cloud State at Wisconsin 8:07 p.m. CT (TV-Wisc,Charter)
Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)



Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha – Split
Michigan Tech at Minnesota State  – Split
Denver at Colorado College – Split
St. Cloud State at Wisconsin – Badgers Sweep
Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage – Bulldogs Sweep


Last Week 7-3 Record for the season 112-63

Hakstol says college teams at disadvantage in recruiting wars with CHL

Image via WikipediaIf you haven't read this blog post by Roman Augustoviz, it's worth a look... Whether we want to admit it or not UND head coach Dave Hakstol is right, the NCAA teams have their hands tied behind their back and they are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to recruiting battles for the top blue chip recruits with the Canadian Hockey League teams.

Roman Augustoviz, The Roman Emprie --- Even though it was Minnesota week in Fargo [Grand Forks, ND], Hakstol spend a good deal of time talking about recruiting to the several hundred people at the luncheon. And he appears ready to lead a coaches' charge to weaken the CHL's ability to keep recruiting signed players.

"We lost a recruit this week," Hakstol said. "I don't want to talk about the young man and the family. I don't think that is a classy thing to do. Those things remain where they belong, and that is behind closed doors.

"We lost a pretty good potential player to our program. We lost one last summer as well. My mentality right now -- there is a good recruiting battle. It is fun when you get into recruiting battles with Wisconsin, Boston College, Michigan, with Duluth, with Minnesota.

"You go into those things and you are fully armed with the things you do well. And you can tell your story. Kids make good decisions after they take time to find the right spot for them.

"Now we have a second recruiting battle with the CHL," Hakstol said. "We are going in with our hands absolutely tied behind our backs. It's a one-way battle. We are not able to go up and recruit those players. [If] the CHL can get a young man to play one game or not even to play a game, just sign a contract. That player can no longer play college hockey.

Just to clear one point up, incase anyone is wondering  J.T. Miller and Stefan Matteau are both American players and played on the USA Under 18 USDT. Also, J.T. Miller was on the last USA WJC team.

The CHL vs. NCAA recruiting battle hasn't affected the Gophers much. They don't recruit Canadian players as much as UND does.

Hab's whining again...

Here is the latest dust up on the ice. This time the Montreal Canadians players are whining and complaining about something that the Buffalo Sabres forward Paul Gaustad said on the ice, and after further review, it would appear that Max Pacioretty said something stupid to Gaustad first and got a response and got a quick response back. In my opinion it sounds like Pacioretty got PWND in this case, and maybe he should just keep his mouth shut.

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Right after Pat Kaleta scored into the empty net Tuesday in Montreal to ice the game, he did his arm pumping goal celebration down the slot. Max Pacioretty took exception and started talking trash as he does all game. His target this time was Paul Gaustad. Pacioretty asked him “Where’s Lucic” with Gaustad countering “Where’s Chara” in reference to the hit Chara put on Pacioretty into the glass last year that started a near riot in the city of Montreal and almost ended his career.

Seriously, Pacioretty you ran your mouth to Buffalo's Gaustad and asked him where Lucic was and he smartly replied, there is no reason for the Hab's to get upset with Gaustad. I think it's fair game. Time to Habs to stop whining and start act like men.

Price described Gaustad as a “guy who likes to run his mouth” and the Buffalo player reportedly asked Pacioretty: “Where’s Chara?” That was a reference to Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara’s hit that ended Pacioretty’s season last spring. [Montreal Gazette]

Me personally, I have never been a fan of talking smack on the ice and chirping your opponent, it happens a lot in Football and Hockey and there are times when some of it's funny and other times where players say thing to each other that isn't needed and unnecessary. As a player if you say stupid to your opponent you open yourself up for return smack.

Related articles

• Gaustad fuels 3-goal rally as Sabres halt Habs (sports.espn.go.com)
• Gaustad sends Sabres to 3-1 win over Canadiens (newsok.com)
• Gaustad sends Sabres to 3-1 win over Canadiens (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Gaustad Sends Sabres to 3-1 Win Over Canadiens (nytimes.com)

Seidenberg's crazy goal.

Check out this crazy goal by Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg as he takes a slap shot on net from center ice and beats Ottawa Senators' goalie Craig Anderson. If you're the goaltending coach from the Senators you can't be happy with this effort by Anderson. That was the game winning goal as well.

Related articles

• Dennis Seidenberg Goal: Bruins Edge Senators Thanks To Long-Range Slap Shot (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Dennis Seidenberg Scores from Red Line in Bruins Win [VIDEO] (wzlx.radio.com)
• Seidenberg's long goal lifts Bruins past Senators (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Craig Anderson allows center ice game-winner (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Seidenberg nets winner as Bruins rally by Sens (sports.espn.go.com)

WCHA Rookie of the Week Josefine Jakobsen • Freshman, Forward, University of North Dakota

Image via WikipediaFor Official Release 

University of North Dakota forward Josefine Jakobsen, who contributed five scoring points in a two-game conference road series split at Ohio State last weekend, has been honored as the WCHA Women's Rookie of the Week for Feb. 1.

A freshman center from Aalborg, Denmark, Jakobsen scored one goal and added four assists as visiting and No. 5-ranked North Dakota split their league series with the Buckeyes at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus. After figuring in on both of her team's goals in a 6-2 setback last Friday (Jan. 27) with two assists, Jakobsen was an offensive catalyst on Saturday (Jan. 28) with a goal and two more assists, including one on teammate Kelsey Ketcher's game-winning power-play tally at 9:46 of the second period, as North Dakota stormed back for a 5-2 victory.

Playing in all 27 of UND's games this season, Jakobsen is the top scoring freshman in the WCHA overall and ranks fourth on her team in scoring with 24 points (7g, 17a).

Also nominated: Whitney Wivoda, F, BSU; Rachel Ramsey, D, UM; Kari Schmitt, D, OSU.

More on the NCHC TV package

Image via WikipediaAs we know from yesterday's press release, CBS College Sports announced that the NCHC will have a new TV package. That's definitely a  positive. However, that also means that UND will no longer have their games on FCS after next season. So people with DirecTV "might not" be able to see UND hockey games after 2012-13.

Official Press Release

CBS Sports Network has agreed to a multi-year agreement with the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference, beginning in the 2013-2014 season. CBS Sports Network will be the exclusive national television partner for the conference, which will feature eight of the nation’s top college hockey programs. The announcement was made today by Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network, and Jim Scherr, Commissioner of the National.

The agreement calls for a minimum of 18 conference games, including the National’s semifinal and championship contests. Currently six teams that will be in the new conference are ranked in the USCHO.com Top 20 poll.

Personally, I am not going to worry about it right now, because a lot can happen between now the the start of the 2013-14 season. I also believe that the University of North Dakota will come up with some kind of a solution before the start of NCHC play. Also, all home games are available on  UNDSPORTS.COM  

Related articles

• New college hockey conference signs with CBSSN (timesunion.com)
• Scherr accepts NCHC top post (denverpost.com)
• Jim Scherr introduced as commissioner of NCHC (denverpost.com)

CBS SPORTS NETWORK SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH NCHC

Image via WikipediaOfficial Press Release 

CBS Sports Network has agreed to a multi-year agreement with the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference, beginning in the 2013-2014 season. CBS Sports Network will be the exclusive national television partner for the conference, which will feature eight of the nation’s top college hockey programs. The announcement was made today by Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network, and Jim Scherr, Commissioner of the National.

The agreement calls for a minimum of 18 conference games, including the National’s semifinal and championship contests. Currently six teams that will be in the new conference are ranked in the USCHO.com Top 20 poll.

“With top teams and passionate fan bases, the National is poised to be an elite college hockey conference, and we’re thrilled to be the national television partner,” said Weinberg. “College hockey has been a staple of our programming and we’re pleased to expand our coverage and further serve fans with compelling and competitive conference action.”

“We are delighted to be associated with the preeminent national broadcaster of college hockey,” said Scherr. “It is our goal to be the premier single-sport conference in intercollegiate athletics and the unmatched exposure and production quality that will be provided by CBS Sports Network will contribute significantly to realizing that vision.”

Currently, CBS Sports Network’s comprehensive college hockey coverage includes action from Hockey East, ECAC, CCHA, WCHA and Atlantic Hockey.

Related articles

• Starman: College Pucks: Michigan Vs. Notre Dame (newyork.cbslocal.com)

Poll Monday - UND up to 17th in USCHO Poll

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
1 Minnesota-Duluth (28) 17- 5-4 959 1
2 Minnesota (21) 19- 9-1 918 3
3 Boston University 15- 8-1 799 2
4 Merrimack 14- 5-5 784 5
5 Boston College 16-10-1 777 7
6 Ferris State ( 1) 17- 8-3 716 10
7 Michigan 15- 9-4 689 8
8 Notre Dame 15-10-3 673 4
9 Massachusetts-Lowell 16- 7-0 596 11
10 Ohio State 14- 8-5 531 6
11 Colorado College 14- 9-1 451 12
11 Union 15- 6-6 451 14
13 Denver 15- 8-3 383 15
14 Cornell 11- 6-4 338 9
15 Maine 14- 8-3 326 20
16 Western Michigan 13-10-5 290 13
17 North Dakota 15-10-2 227 18
18 Miami 15-11-2 220 17
19 Northern Michigan 12- 9-5 111 19
20 Colgate 14- 9-3 87 NR
Others receiving votes: Michigan State 69, Lake Superior 52, Rochester Institute of Technology 15, Nebraska-Omaha 10, Michigan Tech 5, Quinnipiac 5, Harvard

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
1 University of Minnesota 475 (18) 3 19-9-1
2 University of Minnesota Duluth 473 (16) 1 17-5-4
3 Boston University 394 2 15-8-1
4 Merrimack College 376 5 14-5-5
5 Boston College 332 8 16-10-1
6 University of Notre Dame 320 4 15-10-3
7 Ferris State University 317 12 17-8-3
8 University of Michigan 278 9 15-9-4
9 UMass Lowell 250 11 16-7-0
10 Ohio State University 178 7 14-8-5
11 Colorado College 150 10 14-9-1
12 Union College 128 13 15-6-6
13 University of Denver 118 15 15-8-3
14 Cornell University 108 6 11-6-4
15 University of Maine 60 NR 14-8-3
Others receiving votes: Western Michigan University 44, Miami University 34, University of North Dakota 24, Northern Michigan University 12, Colgate University 7, Rochester Institute of Technology 2.

INCH Power Rankings

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

Dropped out: Quinnipiac

Bubble-licious: Harvard, Lake Superior State, Quinnipiac, RIT

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because I find them amusing. Here is the Pairwise Rankings as well.

Happy Birthday Stephane Pattyn - clutch goal wins it.

The score sheet will read - Stephane Pattyn (1) (Mario Lamoureux, Joe Gleason). Big time goal by a trio of character/role players for the Fighting Sioux hockey team. You couldn't have scripted this game ending any better, the birthday boy Stephane "the General" Pattyn scores the game winner on his 21st birthday. I have to admit that this was my favorite play of the weekend. Third line utility players that will do anything for their team  to win a hockey game.

Related articles

• Birthday boy wins it for UND versus UW (insidehockey.com)

Jack Todd is dead wrong

Wow!!! So this is supposed to be journalism? I want to make sure I read that right. If you disagree with the president of the United States Barrack Obama you're a racist? So Jack Todd is suggesting that Tim Thomas is a racist for not attending the White House Celebration? What a buffoon.  David Webb who is a leader in the Tea Party that happens to be black, talked about this subject on his radio show recently. 

Jack Todd, Montreal Gazette --- Thomas’s decision to skip a team visit to the White House because he buys the garbage pumped out by Glenn Beck and his ilk was bad enough. But then, having pulled a highly public stunt to call attention to his whacko politics, Thomas blamed the media for paying attention.

Look, if this cretin wants to stand outside the White House and spew his drivel, that’s free speech. But standing up the president? All that does is show that Thomas has the class of a swamp-rat.

What’s worse, you know Thomas would not have done this with the liberal Democrat Bill Clinton in the White House. Truth is, he felt free to dis Barack Obama, because Obama is black.

At least he accomplished one thing: Thomas earned himself a lifetime membership in the MMQB’s zeros section, right next to Jeffrey Loria and David Samson. May he suffer many a groin pull for the rest of his sorry career.

Shot Charts for UND vs. UW 1/28/2012

s/t to @StatsOnCrack

Coach Dave Hakstol was impressed with his team’s effort after the game. What was even more impressive was that his team shut down the Badgers’ Mark Zengerle and Justin Schultz all weekend.

“They had some opportunities — they’re great players — but overall, we worked hard to try to minimize those. I thought we did a good job at that,” Hakstol said. “I thought we did a better job of that tonight than we did last night, especially with Schultz. The way he jumps up, and jumps into the play.”

Hakstol was also pleased with the series sweep of the Badgers.

“A needed result,” Hakstol said. “We knew coming in that we got to sit with this result for two weeks. We got a bye week next week, so we wanted to make sure that we put our best effort on the ice tonight, and I thought we did that top to bottom.”

“We had to grind out the first two periods again, and we came out of that with a one goal lead. I thought we played an outstanding third period, we kept our foot on the gas, we pushed pucks, we took away time and space and I don’t think we gave up a grade ‘A’ chance.”

This is what head coach Dave Hakstol had to say when he was asked about Joe Gleason.

“Joe Gleason the epitome of a great teammate.”

“Joe is a proud guy and he obviously wants to play, he was recruited here as a defenseman, and both night this weekend he played defense, he played center and he played right wing. I guess I would describe it as invaluable in a team setting. He is doing whatever the teams needs, he not just going out and doing it, but going out and doing it well.”

Controversial non call in St Cloud

While I was at the Sioux game versus the Badgers, and my twitter blew up and this the goal by the Huskies was the play that set the Gopher fans off.

So did the refs blow the call? Is this indicative of WCHA officiating? It looks like Nate Condon was hacked and pulled down causing an opportunity going the other way and Ben Hanowski scores on Patterson.

Here is what the Star Tribune had to say on the matter.

Even so, the Huskies scored the only goal of the first period. One second Nate Condon had a near breakaway for the Gophers before being separated from the puck.

The next, SCSU had an odd-man rush that ended with Ben Hanowski sliding the puck underneath Gophers goalie Kent Patterson.

Gophers coach Don Lucia chewed out the referee who dared skate over to the visitors' bench. Lucia wanted a hooking call on Condon's rush.

UND sweeps out UW

Grand Forks, ND---There is an old saying in hockey that you sweep at home and split on the road. On Saturday night, the University of North Dakota was looking for that allusive sweep against the Wisconsin Badgers. Sweeps at home have been hard to come by as of late for UND.

At the Wednesday media day, UND head coach Dave Hakstol talked about splits not being good enough anymore, they needed to get wins.

After 26 games, UND has a grand total of two series sweeps (At UAA and C.C. home). Coming into this weekend's series against the Badgers, UND was ranked 19^th in the Pairwise Ranking and looking to move up.

In hockey there is one way to move up in the Pairwise Ranking. Your team has to string together wins, and in this case UND needs to start turning their series splits into sweeps if they want to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney, because they are running out of games. Unfortunately, UND has gotten splits the last three WCHA series.

The Badgers came into tonight's series finale with a horrid road record of 1-7-1, so you had to like UND's chances of getting the series sweep on Saturday Night.

UND's fortunes would change tonight with a 4-2 win against the Wisconsin Badgers. UND was led by the trio of Brock Nelson, Ben Blood and Danny Kristo. Al three players had two points on the evening.

Another emerging story is the offensive contributions of junior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam. Over the course of his hockey career at UND,Andrew MacWilliam has not been known for his scoring prowess, until recently. It took him 102 games to score his first career goal; it only took him five more games to get his second career goal.

Macwilliams goal was what I would classify as a timely goal, and a good response to a fluky play that lead to the Badgers first goal.

Macwilliam was going for a puck that looked like it was going to be icing on the Badgers, when Badger forward Keegan Meuer appeared to trip MacWIlliam, who fell on the play. Meuer grabbed and shot the puck past UND goalie Brad Eidsness.

Macwilliam would get the last laugh as he would score the go ahead goal at the 02:05 mark of the second period, with a blast from outside of the blue line that went in top shelf of the Badger net.

After the game MacWilliam had this to say about his second career goal. "The first thing we said when I scored that goal, that's karma, so I guess I got it back and we came out even. It happens, they obviously didn’t see it. They [refs] didn't make the call, it happens. We have to forget about it going in between periods there and regroup, and that is what we did there and we came out with hard effort the rest of the game."
Coach Hakstol was impressed with his team's effort after the game. What was even more impressive was that his team shut down the Badgers Mark Zengerle and Justin Schultz all weekend long.

"They had some opportunities, they're great players, but overall, we worked hard to try to minimize those. I thought we did a good job at that," Hakstol said. "I thought we did a better job of that tonight, than we did last night, especially with Schultz. The way he jumps up, and jumps into the play."

The coach was pleased with the series sweep of the Badgers.

"Yeah a needed result. We knew coming in that we got to sit with this result for two weeks. We got a bye week next week. So we wanted to make sure that we put our best effort on the ice tonight, and I thought we did that top to bottom. We had to grind out the first two periods again, and we came out of that with a one goal lead. I thought we played an outstanding third period, we kept our foot on the gas, we pushed pucks, we took away time and space and I don't think we gave up a grade 'A' chance."

A sweep has been a long time coming for UND.

With the win tonight UND recorded their first series sweep at home since November 25-26, 2011, when UND beat C.C. (7-6 and 4-3). This was also the first series sweep against Wisconsin at home for UND since November 22-23, 2002. With the series sweep against the Badgers, UND improved their record to 5-6-1 in the last 12 games against this opponent.

Box Score

Cross Posted at Inside Hockey...

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UND vs. UW game 4 lines

UND’s Forward lines

29 Brock Nelson–10 Corban Knight (A) –7 Danny Kristo
16 Mark MacMillan–27 Carter Rowney–15 Michael Parks
Stephane Pattyn 28 –9 Mario Lamoureux (C) – 13 Connor Gaarder
8 Dan Senkbeil–28 – Joe Gleason  – 14 Taylor Dickin

Defense Parings

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


UND Goalies

31 Brad Eidsness
32 Aaron Dell


Out: Derrick Rodwell, Roco Grimaldi, Brendan O'Donnel

UND Players Stats

Tentative Badger Forward lines

21 Brendan Woods–9 Mark Zengerle–7 Tyler Barnes
20 Ryan Little–16 Joseph LaBate–25 Michael Mersch
8 Matt Paape–14 Jefferson Dahl–18 Sean Little
26 Brad Navin–12 Keegan Meuer–13 Gavin Hartzog

Badgers Defensive Paring 

27 Frankie Simonelli - 6 Justin Schultz (A)
19 Jake McCabe - 55 John Ramage (C)
4 Eric Springer - 24 Joe Faust

Badger Goalies   

33 Joel Rumpel
30 Landon Peterson

Referees: for tonight's game:  Jonathan Morrison, Tom Sterns
Linesemen: Nathan Freeman, Justin Hill

Television: UND Sports Network, MidcoSN3, FCS Pacific, DirecTV 623 (Sat.), FSN+.

Radio: The games can be heard at 96.1 the Fox and for Wisconsin Badger fans on 1310 WIBA AM locally
in Madison or for free online at BadgerSportsNetwork.com.

Internet:  Both games at UNDSports.com.

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• Series Notes: UND vs. UW (insidehockey.com)
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Wisconsin Player Stats