Duncan Keith's hit on Daniel Sedin

With Shane Doan getting suspended for three games for elbowing Jamie Benn in the face, you've got to think that the Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith is going to get a game or two suspension for taking out the Canucks star forward Daniel Sedin with this high elbow to the head.

Daniel Sedin also needs to sit as well because he is not innocent in this situation. 

These types of dirty hits are not acceptable and the NHL needs to be more proactive in removing these types of hits from the game of hockey. Dirty hits take out more hockey players than fights do in the NHL.  This is the type of plays that the NHL needs to punish severely and with out apology.

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Is Krieder gone right after the Eagles are eliminated?

Wow, this isn't going to be a distraction in the Eagles dressing room. Well probably not, because Jerry York is a great college coach and I am sure he has seen this drill before.  

I would bet even money that Chris Krieder is most definitely is going to play in the NHL and be a decent player, but what the rush? Doe Krieder really need to sign on the dotted line the minute his team is eliminated from the NCAA tourney?

Snyrangersblog.com --- On the NBC Sports Pre game show, Bob McKenzie of TSN talked about Chris Krieder and his current situation.

Kreider, who is playing this weekend in the NCAA tournament against Air Force, is expected to sign immediately with the Rangers if BC is to lose and be eliminated.

Kind of reminds me of the situation with Jason Zucker and the questions that Bruce Brothers of the Pioneer Press asked George Gwozdecky last week at the Final Five press conference on Thursday afternoon. 

Lastly, the Rangers better be prepared to wait because there is a good chance that his team is going to be in the Frozen Four in Tampa Bay, Florida on April 5th-7th, 2012.

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Shane Doan hit on Jamie Benn

I can find no reason the NHL shouldn't suspended the Coyotes forward Shane Doan for this bush league, unnecessary and dirty hit on Dallas forward Jamie Benn. I also don't see how anyone can defense this hit? Rightfully so, Shane Doan has a hearing this afternoon with the department of players safety this afternoon.

Anyone want to guess on what kind of a suspension that Shane Doan gets for his efforts. I don't see how he can escape punishment for this hit. I think it's time for Brendan Shanahan to throw the book at someone and stop letting them escape with a fine or no punishment at all.

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Rangers and Devils spill over.

The Rangers and the Devils started out their game the other night and the war of words has continued. I hope these two teams play each other in the playoffs, they are going to beat the crap out of each other, that what a rivalry is. Nice to see a player like Stu Bickel who has little talent but to fight; can actually win a face off...

Personally, I don't have a problem with visiting coach handing in a line up card like that, it sends a message to the other team that your team is not going to be pushed around and be bullied.

Ranger Rants --- DeBoer handed in a starting lineup with pugilists Eric Boulton, Ryan Carter and Cam Janssen, to which Tortorella said he felt compelled to counter with a starting line of Stu Bickel, Mike Rupp and Brandon Prust. That, of course, turned into a staged, three-on-three line brawl that resulted in 40 penalty minutes with the game just three seconds old. After the game, DeBoer said of Tortorella, “I guess in John’s world you can come into our building and start your tough guys but we can’t do the same in here. He’s either got short-term memory loss or he’s a hypocrite.”

“I read it,” Tortorella said of DeBoer’s comment. “I think Peter needs to jog his memory as far as the starting lineups that I’ve put in over in their building and really, basically, just shut up. And I need to also. I think the situation last night is disrespectful to players and I think we took a backwards step. I get put in a position when he puts a lineup like that out - and I’m not sure what’s going to happen if I put my top players out - so I have to answer the way I need to answer. Really, just look at the two lineups and some of the things he’s done through the games here, again, I don’t want to coach his team, but just shut up.

“Fighting’s part of the game, that’s a big part of the game,” Tortorellla said. “But it doesn’t need to be manufactured. In that type of game, Jersey and the Rangers, there were going to be fights. But it’s really gotten old for me, the staged fights, it doesn’t need to be manufactured. Nowadays in our league, if a guy gets hit hard, clean, everybody’s looking to fight. Where hard checking and hard hitting is part of the game. And that crap at the beginning of the game, to try to manipulate it into it, I just don’t think it’s right for the game. I think there’s enough of it, and there always will be and there should be. I’m certainly not one of the pacifists that think fighting should be out of the game, that’s a big part of our game. But let the players decide. I just don’t think coaches should be putting players in situations that basically dictates fighting.”

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Ryan Duncan gets 45 stiches from skate blade

If you haven’t seen it, former Fighting Sioux forward Ryan Duncan caught a skate in the face causing 45 stitches. Ouch!!! That is definitely going to leave a mark and I can imagine he will have a scare from that laceration.  Picture was on Ryan’s twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/@rduncan16

UND Short Handed?

Here is the roster for the Fighting Sioux hockey team you can make the determination.

2 MacWilliam, Andrew D 6-2 230 Jr. Calgary, Alberta (Camrose-AJHL) -  Maple Leafs Draft Pick
4 Forbort, Derek D 6-5 207 So. Duluth, Minn. (U.S. NTDP) - L.A. Kings Draft Pick
5 Mattson, Nick D 6-1 178 Fr. Chanhassen, Minn. (Indiana-USHL) - Chicago Blackhawks Draft Pick
7 Kristo, Danny F 5-11 188 Jr. Eden Prairie, Minn. (Omaha-USHL) - Montreal Canadians Draft Pick
8 Senkbeil, Dan D 6-4 215 Fr. Fremont, Calif. (Alaska-NAHL) - Undrafted Free Agent – Walk-on
9 Lamoureux, Mario F 5-9 185 Sr. Grand Forks, N.D. (Tri-City-USHL) - Undrafted Free Agent
10 Knight, Corban F 6-2 193 Jr. High River, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL) – Florida Panthers Draft Pick
11 Rodwell, Derek F 6-2 200 So. Taber, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL) – New Jersey Draft Pick – season*
13 Gaarder, Connor F 5-10 183 Fr. Edina, Minn. (Coulee Region-NAHL) Undrafted F/A – Walk-on
14 Dickin, Taylor F 6-2 201 So. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Selkirk-MJHL) – Undrafted F/A – Walk-on
15 Parks, Michael F 5-11 190 Fr. St. Louis, Mo. (Cedar Rapids-USHL) – Philadelphia Draft Pick
16 MacMillan, Mark F 6-0 170 Fr. Penticton, B.C. (Penticton-BCHL) – Montreal Canadians Pick
17 St. Clair, Colten F 5-11 182 Fr. Gilbert, Ariz. (Fargo-USHL) – didn’t play - NCAA Clearing House
18 Simpson, Dillon D 6-2 191 So. Edmonton, Alberta (Spruce Grove-AJHL) – Edmonton Oilers Pick
19 Grimaldi, Rocco F 5-6 165 Fr. Rossmoor, Calif. (U.S. NTDP) – Florida Panthers – out 4 season*
20 Gleason, Joe D 5-9 182 Jr. Edina, Minn. (Des Moines-USHL) – Chicago Blackhawk Draft Pick
 21 O'Donnell, Brendan F 6-0 200 Fr. Winnipeg, MB (Penticton-BCHL) – TB Draft Pick – season
22 Panzarella, Andrew D 6-1 190 Fr. Washington, D.C. (Waterloo-USHL) – Undrafted F/A – Walk-on
24 Blood, Ben D 6-4 226 Sr. Plymouth, Minn. (Indiana-USHL) Ottawa Senators – Draft Pick
25 MacMillan, Mitch F 6-0 185 So. Penticton, BC (St. Cloud State University) Undrafted - Transfer
27 Rowney, Carter F 6-2 208 Jr. Sexsmith, Alberta (Grande Prairie-AJHL) – Undrafted Free Agent
28 Pattyn, Stephane F 6-0 185 Fr. Ste. Anne, MB (Portage-MJHL) – Undrafted Free Agent- Walk on
29 Nelson, Brock F 6-4 192 So. Warroad, Minn. (Warroad High School) - Islanders Draft Pick
31 Eidsness, Brad G 6-0 184 Sr. Chestermere, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL) – Buffalo Sabres Draft Pick
32 Dell, Aaron G 6-0 209 Jr. Airdrie, Alberta (Calgary Canucks-AJHL) – Undrafted Free Agent
35 Maris, Tate G 5-10 175 Jr. Denver, Colo. (Bozeman-NPHL) - Undrafted Free Agent

We keep hearing how the UND Fighting Sioux are a shorthanded hockey team (5 Walk-ons players) and how they can’t make out an entire line-up sheet of 12 forwards, 6 defenseman and 2-3 goalies.  Upon having a conversation with a blogger/writer from one of the major college hockey websites told me that your favorite team is hardly shorthanded and that no one is going to feel sorry for the Fighting Sioux and their alleged conundrum.

The logic is that there are currently 12 NHL draft choices in the Fighting Sioux line up or sitting on the bench as a backup goalie. That being said, the team (coaching staff and players) are not using this as an excuse and one could make the argument that there is more talent on this year’s team than the one that won the NCAA Title in 2000.

INCH Power Rankings

1. Boston College — 29-10-1 

2. Union — 24-7-7

3. North Dakota — 25-12-3

4. Michigan — 24-12-4

5. Minnesota — 26-13-1

6. Minnesota Duluth — 24-9-6

7. Miami — 24-14-2

8. Denver — 25-13-4

9. Western Michigan — 21-13-6

10. Ferris State — 13-11-5

11. Maine — 23-13-3

12. Boston University — 23-14-1

13. Cornell — 18-8-7

14. Harvard — 13-10-11

15. UMass Lowell — 23-12-1

16. Air Force — 21-10-7

17. Michigan State — 19-15-4

18. Colgate — 19-17-3

19. Merrimack — 18-12-7

20. RIT — 20-13-6

Dropped out: St. Cloud State

Bubble-licious: Colorado College, St. Cloud State

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because I find them amusing. This week’s amusement is again Union at number two; I honestly don’t get that one. It doesn’t chap my butt and I am not going to have an aneurism over it, but I don’t think a team that lost two games to Brown is worthy of being the second rated team in the nation. Alright, whatever, I predict by weekend’s end they will again be a one and done or a two and done. I don’t expect them to be in Tampa for the Frozen Four.

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FSN to Broadcast Saturday's game against WMU

I don't think there was a doubt, at least not in my mind. That means if you have Midco or a cable provider that gets FSN or you have DirecTV you will be able to watch the game this weekend. I imagine that you may also be able to watch the game on FCS as well. As soon as I get confirmation on that I will pass it along.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - North Dakota's NCAA West Region semifinal game against Western Michigan on Saturday, March 24, from the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul will be televised live by FOX Sports North (channel 28 and 623 HD in Grand Forks).

The broadcast will begin at 12:30 p.m. Central and the puck drops at 12:34. Veteran hockey broadcasters Clay Matvick and Dave Starman will call the action.

UND (25-12-3) is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA West Regional, while Western Michigan (21-13-6) is the No. 4 seed. The other regional semifinal features No. 2 seed and host Minnesota against No. 3 seed Boston University.

The fourth-ranked Fighting Sioux have won seven straight games and won their league-record third straight WCHA Final Five championship last Saturday in Saint Paul.

Michael Komisarek vs. Milan Lucic

The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek and Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic don't like each other very much. I am surprised that Komisarek would fight Lucic again after all of the time Lucic has absolutely worked him over. [Example 1] and [example 2]

Rangers and Devils start the game off with a brawl

I guess the New York Rangers didn't want to let the Boston Bruins beat them in Fighting Majors tonight, so the Rangers decided to have three to start the game off.

This was the opening face-off for tonight's game between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. That is a crazy way to start to a game, I haven't seen something like that for a very long time. Three fights by six different players fighting on the ice at one time. Former Golden Gopher's and current Rangers defenseman Stu Bickel broke the hockey code when he continued to hit Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks forward Ryan Carter as he laid on the ice. Bryce Salvador got a 10 minute misconduct for trying to get Bickel off of Carter.

00:03	NJD	Cam Janssen : Fighting (maj)  - 5  min
00:03	NYR	Mike Rupp : Fighting (maj)  - 5  min
00:03	NJD	Eric Boulton : Fighting (maj)  - 5  min
00:03	NJD	Bryce Salvador : Misconduct (10 min)  - 0  min
00:03	NYR	Stu Bickel : Fighting (maj)  - 5  min
00:03	NJD	Ryan Carter : Fighting (maj)  - 5  min

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Maxime Talbot vs Johnny Boychuk

This is the proper way to deal with the "Rats" and the punks in the NHL. Some people like to refer to them as agitators. Personally, I think they are for a most part irritants and these types of players tend to get called out for their actions.

This is the reason that I think the NHL needs to not ban fighting, it keeps these types of players honest. This is also your classic beat down of a players that crosses the line on a regular basis. Hat tip to Johnny Boychuck for stepping up and making Talbot answer the bell.

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Fighting Sioux fourth in both National Polls

Who would have thought that after a 4-7-1 start and a 1-5-0 record in the WCHA on November 20th that the Fighting Sioux would regroup and go on a 21-5-2 record and end up getting a first round seed in the NCAA tourney after winning the Broadmoor Throphy.

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George Gwozdecky on Jason Zucker

Denver hockey head coach George Gwozdecky  addressed the media after the Denver and Michigan Tech quarter final game and fields a question from Bruce Brothers of the Pioneer Press at the 4:15 mark of the video about the possibility of Zucker leaving  for the professional ranks.

“I will tell you one thing Bruce [Brothers]; Gwozdecky said, "I have never, ever in my 30 plus years and my 18 years at Denver. I have never ever talked to anyone that regretting staying another year. But I have certainly talked to a lot of guys that said that they regret leaving early and so there is never anything wrong with leaving if you’re ready.  There is never anything wrong with staying, to be able to get one more extra year to be able to give yourself a better chance to be able play at the top level.  What that decision for Jason or for any of our guys, is hard to say right now.”

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NCHC conference tourney in the Target Center

Jess Myers of 1500 ESPN and of Inside College Hockey has this little nugget in his post on Thursday and my first reaction is no thank you.

The Target Center is less than attractive option for hockey and the ice was horrible last time a hockey game was played in there. 

Jess Myers 1500 ESPN --- And what about those armies of North Dakota fans, with their team heading to the new NCHC (with Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State) at the end of next season? For now, it looks as though they could be heading to Minneapolis, as NCHC officials have reportedly been offered a sweetheart deal to hold their post-season tournament at Target Center.

Of course, that idea raises several questions about the future. The initial good news that there would be one or two college post-season tournaments in the Twin Cities every March is tempered just a bit by several "yes, but..." factors to consider.

For example, while a Minnesota-Michigan tournament final in St. Paul in St. Paul would surely be a sought-after ticket, the notion of filling Xcel Energy Center for a match-up between "new" WCHA teams like Michigan Tech and Bowling Green has no basis in reality. A title game featuring Bemidji State or Minnesota State, Mankato might draw a respectable crowd, but in most years where the Gophers are at Joe Louis, there will be oceans of good seats available.

And the inadequacy of Target Center as a hockey building is one of the reasons the North Stars headed to Dallas rather than moving from the antiquated Met Center to downtown Minneapolis in 1993. A 2010 game between the Gophers and the Badgers is the only hockey game the building has hosted in more than a decade.

Personally, I like the option of rotating the tourney between Denver, Colorado Saint Paul, Minnesota and or Omaha, Nebraska.  Seriously, unless the Target Center is going to upgrade it's hockey capabilities,  more specifically, the ice making capabilities would have to improve quite a bit. That being said, there are better restaurants and bar options in the Target Center area, than around the Xcel Energy Center.

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Goon's predictions for the Final Five

Image via Wikipedia

I thought I would dust off an old post and see how I did. My prediction unfolded just like I predicted. I would rather be lucky than good. I was also called a homer by one poster. 

Thu 03/15/12 - Quarter Finals
Michigan Tech vs Denver 2:07 p.m. CT WCHA Final Five Quarterfinal (St. Paul, MN)
St. Cloud State vs North Dakota 7:07 p.m. CT WCHA Final Five Quarterfinal (St. Paul, MN)

Fri 03/16/12 - Semi Finals
Denver vs Minnesota Duluth 2:07 p.m. CT WCHA Final Five Semifinal (St. Paul, MN)
North Dakota vs Minnesota 7:07 p.m. CT WCHA Final Five Semifinal (St. Paul, MN)

Sat 03/17/2012 - Championship

DU vs. UND 7:07 p.m. CT WCHA Final Five Semifinal (St. Paul, MN)

Last Week 12-4 Record for the season 154 - 93

Broadmoor Trophy - WCHA Playoff Champions

2000-01 St. Cloud State
2001-02 Denver
2002-03 Minnesota
2003-04 Minnesota
2004-05 Denver
2005-06 North Dakota
2006-07 Minnesota
2007-08 Denver
2008-09 Minnesota Duluth
2009-10 North Dakota
2010-11 North Dakota
2011-12 ?

MacNaughton Cup

2000-01 North Dakota

2001-02 Denver

2002-03 Colorado College

2003-04 North Dakota

2004-05 Colorado College/Denver

2005-06 Minnesota

2006-07 Minnesota

2007-08 Colorado College

2008-09 North Dakota

2009-10 Denver

2010-11 North Dakota

2011-12 Minnesota

Bolded teams won both the MacNaughton and Broadmoor Trophy.

As you can see I have picked the Fighting Sioux to repeat the champions of the Red Baron WCHA Final Five. Before you jump down my throat, read this.

Since Fighting Sioux head coach Dave took over the Fighting Sioux in 2004-05 the Fighting Sioux have gone 38-14 in the playoff s (WCHA and NCAA combined). Coach Hakstol has 13 more wins than the next-closest WCHA School.  Under coach Hakstol, the Fighting Sioux are 16-3 in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

The Fighting Sioux have also not lost a WCHA first round playoff series.

Including the WCHA Final Five games, The Fighting Sioux are 27-8 in the WCHA Playoff s under coach Hakstol. Statistics according to @UNDSID.

From 2008-2010 the MacNaughton Cup champion lost all of their games in the NCAA playoffs and all of their games at the Red Baron WCHA Final Five.

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Redwing77's NCAA Tourney Bracket Pick'em Part Two

Here's the final installment. I'm not going to predict the Frozen Four outcomes until the teams have been set.

Midwest Regional:

This is about as difficult as the West. It features Michigan, Ferris State, Denver, and Cornell. Since I haven't seen 3 of the 4 teams in this bracket play, I'm going to be brief.

Ferris State vs. DU:

Ferris State is a Cinderella story. They came out of nowhere to choke away the CCHA tourney by losing in the first round.

DU is a tough team mad as all get out after getting embarrassed vs. UND in the WCHA Tourney championship.

Prediction: Feel good Ferris State. You made the tourney. Bad news: DU destroys you.

Michigan vs. Cornell:

SNOOOOOOOOOOOZEFEST. Cornell historically plays a boring style of hockey. Michigan is cold and calculating. If Shawn Hunwick shows up like he did vs. UND a year ago, Michigan wins easy. If he lets in weak goals like he did vs. WMU, then oops.

Prediction: Michigan wins.

Regional Final: Michigan vs. DU. I think DU stuns the #1 seed in this Regional.

East Regional:

This is the easiest bracket in the tourney by a LONG SHOT. If you could believe in a team like Union, it would be easy to think they'll walk into the Frozen Four however....

Union vs. Michigan State:

Union is a team that hasn't really played many quality teams. They've played a few ranked opponents. They've played nonconference ranked opponents in DU, CC, WMU, Michigan, and Merrimack. Against those opponents, they have a 2-2-2 record. Their wins were against Merrimack and Michigan.

Michigan State is an interesting story in that they squeaked in by the hairs on their chinny chin chin. If it was any other opponent I wouldn't give Michigan State a sniff at a win.

However....I'm not sold on either team doing anything, but since I have to pick a team...

Prediction: I predict upset city. Michigan State wins in OT. Union becomes the only #1 to fall in the first round.

Miami vs. Mass Lowell:

UMass is another Cinderella story. They've seemingly come out of nowhere. And that's where they're going in this NCAA tourney.

Miami: Been here done it before. Miami has been very inconsistent looking downright pathetic vs. WMU in the CCHA tourney. However, Blasi always watches his team drop one in their shorts before the NCAAs and well, things turn out alright.

Prediction: Miami wins.

Regional Final: I may not be sold on Union/MSU outcome but I am sold on this: If Miami beats UMass Lowell, they go to the Frozen Four.

I also predict that this Regional will be the most poorly attended.

Frozen Four Wrap Up:

Using my predictions: I think the final four teams will be BC, Minnesota, Miami, and DU.

Since I'm not sold on any teams but BC and Miami listed above, I'll wait until the Frozen Four is set to make my predictions.

Redwing77's NCAA Men's Hockey Bracket Picks Part One

I've decided to do something I haven't done all season long: A Pick'em. Sioux7 and Goon have done it. Maybe even Whistler has. But I haven't... Until now.

Ready the pitchforks and torches!

Northeast Regional:

In my opinion, this is the toughest bracket out there. In the bracket is Maine, BC, Air Force, and Minnesota Duluth.


Maine vs. UMD:

Maine is better than most people think. The problem is: They're not flashy. They're not especially fast as a team. Kindof like Vanilla Ice Cream. They are just solid all around and have a very deadly powerplay (#1 in the Nation). They key player is Spencer Abbott. He got injured after he fell feet first (it almost looked like he was hooked or interfered with) into the boards and left the game (no call.. made me think of WCHA officials). If he can't play then Maine may not necessarily be as dynamic as they would like.

Minnesota Duluth is a team built on grit and a flashy high end. Their top line is as good as anyone's. They are the returning champions so they have the bullseye on their jerseys.

The keys to this game is going to be special teams and blueline scoring. O'Neil from Maine got 2 goals and an assist in the defeat of BU and seems to be quite the sniper. If UMD can stay out of the penalty box though, I think they'll prevail.

My prediction: tUMD

BC vs. Air Force:

Air Force can surprise people but... they won't surprise BC.

My prediction: BC. I'm not even sure it will be close.

Regional Final: BC vs. tUMD. This will be a good game... and BC will win it despite having questionable goaltending (no matter what the NBC Sports homers say).

West Regional:

The West and Midwest Regionals are about equal in difficulty. If there is an edge in difficulty, it would be the West that holds the edge.

Minnesota vs. BU:

BU could win this game. They played extremely well vs. Maine... for a period or so. Then they started getting penalties and left their gameplan behind. Milan will not steal any games for BU. But BU's edge is in speed and defense. Their weakness, imo, is in discipline and special teams.

Minnesota is hurting after getting embarrassed in front of the home crowd (60% anyways). They're not that bad and they are well balanced. Like typical Lucia teams, Minnesota gets destroyed when they are forced to abandon their game plan. Their Team D has improved dramatically under Guentzel but there are still holes.

Prediction: Minnesota edges BU. This one is a good bet for OT.

UND vs. WMU:

WMU.... they're nobodies right Miami? Right Michigan? The problem is, if UND has that attitude, WMU will destroy the Sioux. They are healthy for the most part. They are playing above expectations. Some might say that they've exceeded expectations by simply making the NCAAs and winning the CCHA tourney. If that's the case, then WMU is playing bonus hockey and they can play more loose than UND because they don't have the weight of tradition riding on their shoulders like UND does.

UND... they've played amazing games since being unable to dress 18 skaters. They do have issues with giving up the first goal in the game.... stat monkeys will point out that they are 1 game below .500 when giving up the first goal this season (9-10-?). They also have the haters waiting in the wings. If they should lose vs. WMU (or heck, not make the Frozen Four), I'm sure there will be a fair smattering of "Fire Hakstol" commentary... not just from Red Lake Falls.

For me, it's hard to tell how far UND will go with the adversity they've faced thus far this year. The best I can do is to take the homer approach and stick with them to the end.

My prediction: Admittedly homer: UND wins in a squeaker.

Regional Final Matchup: Minnesota vs. UND. I'm not certain that Minnesota will make the same mistakes that they did in the Final Five. I also think that the ride will finally come to an end. Prediction: Minnesota wins in a heartbreaker and there will be a race between Minny trolls and the Haters to post the most flames at UND.

The NCAA Regional Pairings are set

Write text here...

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Dell backstops Sioux to 4-0 victory over the Pioneers

Image via Wikipedia

St. Paul Minn. –  Back in November, who would have thought that the Fighting Sioux would face off against Denver University and win the championship game of the Red Baron WCHA Final Five?

Especially on Sunday the 20th of November 2011. The Fighting Sioux had just suffered an unimpressive 1-0 loss to the Bemidji State Beavers at the Sandford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota.  After that loss, the Fighting Sioux had a lackluster record of 4-7-1 overall and 1-5 in the WCHA. That record was good for 11th place in the WCHA standings.

After the game, the Fighting Sioux took the two hour bus trip down highway two back to Grand Forks, they regrouped and on Monday morning the Fighting Sioux coaching staff conducted a bag skate on the Fighting Sioux hockey team at six o’clock.

Since that early morning bag skate, the Fighting Sioux have gone an impressive 21-5-2. That is the best overall record in Divison I hockey since November 26 , 2011.

Coming into the game, the Denver Pioneers had played five games in eight days and there was the question of fatigue, the last three games the Pioneers played in, had gone to overtime including yesterday’s double overtime win against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. You had to wonder how much was left in the tank for the Pioneers.

The Sioux would test the Pioneers tired legs early and often.

The Fighting Sioux got on the board first and broke the 0-0 dead lock at the 17:43 mark of the first period when sophomore Brock Nelson scored his 27th goal on the power play.

Before the public address could announce the first goal, the Fighting Sioux would score again with a goal from junior forward Carter Rowney at the 18:29 mark of the first period. That was the 18th goal of the season for Rowney.

The Fighting Sioux never looked back as they added a power play goal by Michael Parks in the second period and a shorthanded goal in the third period by Mark MacMillan.

Pioneers Head Coach George Gwozdecky was very complimentary of the Fighting Sioux after the game.

“Congratulations to North Dakota,” Gwozdecky said. “They did a nice job tonight, they are a good defending champion, they took advantage of a couple of leg weary defensemen and they did a nice job. They were better than us, pretty much in every area of the game and they are a good champion.”
The Sioux took advantage of the Denver Pioneers being a step slower and they kept moving their feet and making plays.

In the third period, the Fighting Sioux didn’t miss a beat, with Carter Rowney in the box for cross checking the Sioux cashed in shorthanded as well with a goal from Mark MacMillan to seal the game for the Fighting Sioux.

Goaltending was the story in this game as Fighting Sioux junior goalie Aaron Dell was the difference stopping all 22 shots that he faced, to record his second shutout of the season. Dell ended up securing a spot on the all-tournament team and was also awarded the WCHA Final Five tournament MVP.
With tonight’s win, the Fighting Sioux have won three Broadmoor Trophies in a row for the Fighting Sioux. No other WCHA team has ever done that.

Overall, Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol seemed pleased his team’s effort after the game.
“I am really proud of my team,” Hakstol said. “We tried to come into today and play a complete hockey game, right from the drop of the puck, try and play 60 minutes, third game in three days, energy levels aren’t going to be necessarily at the top end. We won the game through small details, plus one, five on five, we score two power play goals and a short hander, and we got very good goaltending. That’s a pretty good formula for a playoff time especially going in to a championship game.

“Denver has been one heck of a run here, in terms of the battles they have been through; maybe they ran out of gas just a little bit with the amount of hockey that they played. That was one of the things that we had try to exploit if we possibly could by being a really tough team to play against. We are proud to be Broadmoor Cup Champions.”

With the win tonight, the Fighting Sioux improve to 25-12-3 and will find out where they are going in the first round of the WCHA tourney.

Related articles

• Sioux vs. Pioneers Final Five championship game notes (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux dismantle Gophers 6-3 in St. Paul (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

WCHA Champions Fighting Sioux