Double J of WTBX is our dirt bag of the week...

[click to listen]

First off where do we start? This guy is a buffoon. Seriously!!! I have been to Hibbing Minnesota, the place is a run down industrial town that is famous for  what, open pit mines and Iron Orr... I would take Grand Forks, ND over that dump any day.

Also, the Fighting Sioux have 7 NCAA titles and 15 Regulars Season Championships. For the people like me that aren't good at math; the University of North Dakota has more NCAA titles than all of the Division I schools in the state of Minnesota combined.

"Why am I being so hard on the UND fans? Simple, YOU ARE THE WORST! You are the Packer fans of college hockey! Keep your mulleted, dead gopher tossing 5xl jersey wearing selves out of our state. Quit trying to pretend you have any sort of pride in your hockey program! What you think North Dakota is any sort of hockey hotbed? Really, get a lot of recruits out of NoDak do ya? You do realize that your roster, year after year is comprised mainly of Minnesotans...Minnesotans who weren't good enough, smart enough or for legal reason able to play for one of our state schools! Yeah they are still hockey players, just too bad they have to wear the green and black!"

The most moronic comment of this guys rant is the comment about our Minnesota Players... So I guess that Danny Kristo, Nick Mattson, Derek Forbort Ben Blood, Joe Gleason and  Brock Nelson aren't good enough to play at the University of Minnesota or the other states schools. Yeah, Right. To take a quote from Forrest Gump, "stupid is that stupid does." 

You can share your thoughts here by clicking on this link.

Related articles

• Islanders won't pressure Nelson (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Sioux close out the season with loss to Gophers (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Islanders won't pressure Nelson

This is the worst time of the year when fans of college hockey teams have to worry if they are going lose their favorite college hockey players. According to Chris Botta, who is a writer for the New York Times and the New York Islanders had this to say about Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson on his twitter feed. 

This past week, DU lost  blue chippers Jason Zucker and Drew Shore in a matter of couple of days. So you never know what will happen and fans always seem to worry up until the puck drops in October.

Nelson takes home some hardware

Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson has made the All-CHN second team.


2011-12 All-CHN Team
First Team
F Jack Connolly, Sr., Minnesota-Duluth
F Spencer Abbott, Sr., Maine
F Austin Smith, Sr., Colgate
D Justin Schultz, Jr., Wisconsin
D Brian Dumoulin, Jr., Boston College
G Shawn Hunwick, Sr., Michigan

Second Team

F Brock Nelson, So., North Dakota
F Reilly Smith, Jr., Miami
F Drew Shore, Jr., Denver
D Torey Krug, Jr., Michigan State
D Danny Biega, Jr., Harvard
G Troy Grosenick, So., Union

Rookie Team

F Kyle Rau, Minnesota
F Johnny Gaudreau, Boston College
F Scott Wilson, Mass.-Lowell
D Joey LaLeggia, Denver
D Patrick McNally, Harvard
G Frank Slubowski, Western Michigan

Keith Ballard ‘was sleeping 16-18 hours a day' due to concussion

Associated Press Photo

Here is a story about former Golden Gopher and current Vancouver Canucks Keith Ballard and what he has gone through with a concussion that he suffered earlier this season playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

Elliott Pap, Vancouver --- Ballard, 29, participated in the Canucks' morning skate prior to their game against the Los Angeles Kings and talked later about what he has endured since his last lineup appearance Feb. 7 against Nashville.

It may provide some insight into what Daniel is facing, or has faced, since Duncan Keith's cheap-shot elbow took him out last Wednesday in Chicago.

“I had a lot of different stuff,” Ballard said. “I had dizziness and a lot of headaches during the day. I was sleeping 16-18 hours a day and, when I tried to do some light workouts, I ended up getting real sick and I'd be in bed for four days. By around the end of February, we almost had no choice but to just shut me down and not do anything. At that point, I couldn't get through a day without a lot of symptoms.”

According to Ballard, he was initially injured Feb. 5 in Colorado.

Aaron Dell will be just fine...

 Eric Hylden/Forum Communications Co.

This was in Ryan S. Clark’s hockey blog; I thought I would comment briefly. First pretty bold statements from the coach of the Fargo Force John Marks, especially when you’re talking about Fighting Sioux goaltender Aaron Dell who was an All-American goaltender during the 2010-11 season, Dell is also one of the better goaltenders to come through UND in probably the last ten seasons. During his time at UND Dell has an impressive 49-20-5 and 9 career shutouts.

Ryan S. Clarke, Slightly Chilled --- If losing to rival Minnesota on Sunday wasn’t bad, there’s even some more bad news for North Dakota goaltender Aaron Dell.

He might not be starting by Christmas, according to Fargo Force coach John Marks. Marks said after his team’s 4-2 win on Saturday he believes Force goaltender Zane Gothberg (North Dakota) has a legit shot of taking over as the No. 1 next season.

“I predict before Christmas Zane is the starting goalie at UND,” Marks said. “Dell better watch himself. But I also know he could leave too. (North Dakota head coach) Dave Hakstol and (assistant) Carey Eades and the Sioux have a good goalie coming in and he’s going to be one of the better ones they’ve had come in the last few years.”

Also, if you have watched the Fighting Sioux on a regular basis, you will remember that Aaron Dell came in last season and took over the starting role from a goaltender that was a two time all WCHA goalie in Brad Eidsness.

This season when Eids looked like he had regained his form from his Freshman and Sophomore seasons and played some key minutes and got back on a roll again, the head coach Dave Hakstol still came back with Aaron Dell. So I do find these comments to be interesting. I would predict that Gothberg is going to have to earn his playing time and I would be shocked to see Dell get the majority of the starts next season unless he decides to sign a professional contract.

Frattin on his injury and UND's season

I always loved to listen to Matt Frattin the Former Fighting Sioux forward as he is "definitely" media savvy around the camera and microphones. 

A chance to weigh in... What does UND need going forward?

Grand Forks Herald Picture

I could't agree more.

Coach Hakstol On the Fighting Sioux's season “Like I said, it’s impossible to try to, at this point in time, put the season into perspective. If we could sit down and do this in 48 hours, I probably would do a much better job of it. …A very proud group of men that really wouldn’t take no for an answer throughout the entire year. We gave ourselves a chance tonight. One of the questions was, ‘What happened tonight?’ We had a good first period. We didn’t make enough plays tonight. Once we got it back to 2-1, we made a mistake to allow it to go 3-1 without forcing Minnesota to make a great play, and that really turned the tide against us. Momentum’s a big thing in a hockey game. That was a huge momentum swing tonight. In terms of our season, I couldn’t ask more from a group of warriors.”

While none of us enjoy watching our team lose to end their season with another painful loss, the reality is that only one team will end their season with a win and a national title.

I have read a lot of comments on line from various fans talking about how this year’s team was a pleasure to watch and might have over achieved.

On the other side of the coin, we still have fans that no matter what head coach Dave Hakstol does it will never be good enough until the Fighting Sioux win the national title. Yep, it’s been 12 seasons since the Fighting Sioux last won a national title.  

During that same time frame three teams from the WCHA have won national titles - DU (X2), Minnesota (X2), UMD (1X) and Wisconsin (1X). Those teams have also missed the NCAA tourney when UND has not for the last ten seasons. The last time UND missed the NCAA tourney was 2001-02.

Until this season Minnesota has missed the NCAA tourney for three season in a row.

Here is your chance to weigh in with your thoughts on the season. I am kind of interested to hear what some of the fans have to say about the season a day after the Fighting Sioux lost to the hated Rodents in St. Paul.

What was your favorite memory of the past season?

What do you want to see next season?

What did you think about the new North Dakota Hockey Jersey’s?

Who stays and who goes?

What’s your thought on the coaching staff?

Woe's... (by Sioux 7)

Horrible and pathetic, that is the best way I can describe the attendance at the NCAA regional’s last weekend. I watched about half of the games and noticed a significant amount of seats with no bodies in them. Ugh. These teams play a long season and these kids work hard to achieve success in athletics as well as their academics. And “fans” of these great schools, don’t or can’t attend their biggest game(s) of the year. Before I completely go off, let me share a few of the attendance numbers with you,

Union v UMass-Lowell -----------------– East Final – 5,238
Ferris State v Cornell –-------------- Midwest Final – 3,108
Minn-Duluth v Boston College –-- Northeast Final – 4,470
North Dakota v Minnesota –------------------- West--10,974

That’s a TOTAL of 23,880 fans that watched a regional final. I’m stunned, again at the lack of attendance at these fine arenas. I wonder what causes this, is it a lack of interest? Are fans watching basketball instead of hockey (I hope that isn’t the case)? Are the college kids broke, because they spent all their (or Mom and Dad’s) money on spring break a week or two ago? Is it a combination of things?

Looking at the numbers for conference tournament championship games and we have the following info:

Atlantic ----– Air Force v RIT ------–---- 2,433
ECAC –----- Union v Harvard –---------- 4,131
CCHA –----- Michigan v W. Mich ----– 10,421
Hockey East --–---- BC v Maine –------ 13,079
WCHA –----- N.Dakota v Denver –---- 16,838

That’s a TOTAL of 46,902 fans watching conference championship games. More fans attend conference tournament games than NCAA regionals.

I have an idea that would/should boost attendance at NCAA regionals. How about we don’t pick regional locations years in advance, but we have the top seeds host them? That would have meant last weekend that BC (7,549 – 96%), Union (2,009 – 90%), Michigan (5,997 – 90%), and UND (11,155 – 96%), would have hosted the games at their home rinks. The numbers behind each team was their average home attendance and percent capacity this season.

I know, many will say that by doing that the top seeds have an unfair advantage. I say they’re right, but it is also gives them that reward of earning a top seed. I also firmly believe that attendance would improve. Honestly, attendance couldn’t get any worse, could it?

Related articles

• Woe's... (by Sioux 7) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA West Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• Playing around with the numbers - NCAA Hockey Tourney Selection (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA Midwest Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• NCAA Northeast Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• NCAA East Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)

Sioux close out the season with loss to Gophers

One of our fans posted this on the FightingSioux.com chat, this comment is ridiculous and far from the truth, Coach Hakstol did a great job coaching this team this season, especially with what he has been dealt this season and I hope the University gets him locked up with a new contract soon.

I was going to wait till tomorrow to put something up but I figured I would chime in with my two cents. While the defeat to the Gophers does leave a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth, I can’t say that UND’s didn’t give it their all to the end. They fought, they clawed and they emptied the tank. This team didn’t go down without a fight all season long.

Congrats to the seniors, Ben Blood, Brad Eidsness and Mario Lamoureux I have enjoyed watching you play for four years at UND. All three are character guys and will be successful in whatever they do in life.

It pains me to say that the Gophers were the better team today. That’s hockey and that’s life.
For me personally, this season has been one of the most exciting seasons of Fighting Sioux hockey that I have ever had the pleasure to witness since I started watching Fighting Sioux hockey back in 1992.

As I wrote for Inside Hockey last week, “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.

The Fighting Sioux finish that midseason surge at 22-6-2… The loss tonight ends the Sioux season with a record of 26-13-3. That was the eight season in a row that Hakstols teams have won 20 games or more.

This season show cased some new players that are going to be a force going forward. The Carter Rowney, Michael Parks and Mitch MacMillan line has a chance to be one of the better lines in the WCHA next season.  

While some of our fan base wants to run Coach Hakstol out of town on a rail, I think making it to the NCAA tourney this season was a big accomplishment, based on what happened to the Fighting Sioux hockey team, this is also testimate to the type of hockey coach that Dave Hakstol is.

During the offseason UND lost J.T. Miller to the CHL and it all seemed to snowball from there.
Here is the injury list from this season’s Fighting Sioux hockey team. Let’s not forget that three Fighting Sioux hockey players had season ending surgery.

North Dakota injuries: Taylor Dickin (lower-body injury), forward Rocco Grimaldi (season, knee surgery), Brendan O’Donnell (season-ending surgery) and Derek Rodwell (season, shoulder surgery) are all out of the lineup.

I mean seriously, Grimaldi, O’Donnell and Rodwell would make one heck of a line in any college hockey league.

Lastly, to the fans that want to fire coach Hakstol, here is a quote from my friend Moose Richards… “I find the whole fire Hakstol line out of Sioux fans just absurd,” Moose said.   “You look over the body of work. Yes there is no national championship in there, but how many Frozen Fours, nine straight final five appearances. It’s just…Yeah you would like the win the big one. But don’t you like being there every year?

Related articles

• UND Hockey coach Dave Hakstol weighs in on the nickname ... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Sioux grind out 4-1 win against Huskies (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Sioux dismantle Gophers 6-3 in St. Paul (insidehockey.com)
• Fighting Sioux Finish off the Bemidji State Beavers 4-3 (insidehockey.com)
• Coach Hakstol takes issue with Wally Shaver's comments... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Redwing77's Frozen Four Opinion Piece!

My bracket is destroyed. Only BC's entry into the Frozen Four was accurate in my bracket. Kudos to those of you whose bracket isn't complete garbage.

Here are the matchups:

Ferris State vs. Union
Minnesota vs. Boston College

Before I break down each game and give my (worthless) predictions, I wish to opine thusly: I do not like these matchups. I think there is plenty of glamor and appeal among the general college hockey population for the Minny/BC tilt, but there isn't much appeal for the Union/Ferris State tilt (other than the humanistic approach). I would have loved to have seen:

Minnesota vs. Union
Ferris State vs. Boston College

I think this brings everyone to both games. Sure, it might be the ESPN-ization of the brackets (giving the best opportunity to see the two biggest schools face off for the title) but I think it has the most appeal.

But that's not how the brackets work so here's the breakdown:

Union vs. Ferris State:

Union is the #1 seed in this game. Ferris isn't. Ferris State is a true Cinderella story. Union's story is good too. Both are in uncharted territory. Either team wins and it will be either team's first Frozen Four NC game. Despite my disdain towards the matchup, these two teams seem to match up well talent wise. It will be a good game. Union's goaltender is a Hobey finalist. I think he's proven that he's worthy.

Prediction: I got burned for not going by the rankings so I will go with the rankings tonight. My heart is with Ferris state but.... I predict Union wins 3-2.

Minnesota vs. BC:

This would be a GREAT NC matchup... but it is just a semifinal matchup. BC has won 17 straight which is something (if you believe in that... as it didn't work well for UND). Minnesota is rolling right now, stunning opponents with novel concepts not seen in recent years (such as Team Defense). Minnesota scored 12 goals in St. Paul and only gave up what... 5?

BC comes in having scored 6 goals in the regional and giving up... ZERO GOALS.

This game MIGHT require OT. And this game could go either way.

Prediction: 17 game streak... 0 goals allowed in the NCAAs thus far. Hard to go against BC. I think BC wins 2-1. It's going to be a great game. However, I will say this: Whoever wins THIS game, wins the National Championship so... as you see below, all you have to do is replace BC with Minny if Minny wins this game and my prediction remains the same otherwise.

NC Game:

BC vs. Union:

Union does a great job just getting here.... and leaves proud but quietly.

BC does its best impression of the 2002? Minnesota NC team when it played UNH for the title.

Prediction: BC: 5 Union: 1

Rats! Foiled Again! (Redwing77)

Today UND finally fell to Minnesota... well, fell again to Minnesota as the season record for UND falls to 2-4. The story of the game was fundamentals.

UND simply played without discipline and refused to just shoot the puck at the net. Minnesota's 4th goal was EXACTLY the kinds of goals UND needed. Same with UND's 2nd goal. All that the goal scorer did was throw the puck at the net. The net was crashed and the puck deflected in.

UND time and time again forgot about the backcheckers, hesitated, and failed to be able to make simple passes.

In the end, the inevitable will happen:

1. Minnesota fans will flock to UND message boards and blogs and gloat.
2. UND fans will look forward to next season.
3. Haters will again call for Hakstol's head.

Inevitably Hakstol and Forbort will be thrown under the bus, but again I argue that Minnesota won because they swarmed the puck better, passed better, played more disciplined, and overall played better.

My hat's off to them. I just wish it didn't have to end.

Players of the game?

3rd Star - Danny Kristo
2nd Star - Erik Haula
1st Star - Travis Boyd

Honorable Mentions: Zach Budish, Nate Condon, Tayler Matson, Joe Gleason.

Here's why: Danny Kristo.... other than perhaps Joe Gleason and Mario Lamoreaux, Danny played the hardest of any of the Sioux players out there. No one really stood out more than Kristo for UND.

Haula was all over the ice and scored a big powerplay goal to get the ball rolling out of UND's grasp.

Boyd scores his first goal of the season and of his career and it is the game winner that sends Minny to Tampa.

I could have given a nod to Condon as he was VERY noticable all over the ice. He only factored in on one goal, but he was a lot like Kristo was, but for Minnesota.

Sioux vs. Gophers lines - Loser goes home...

Minnesota’s Forward Lines

7 Kyle Rau – 27 Nick Bjugstad – 24 Zach Budish
11 Sam Warning – 19 Erik Haula– 21 Jake Hansen
16 Nate Condon–22 Travis Boyd – 9 Taylor Matson
14 Tom Serratore – 13 Nico Sacchetti – 17 Seth Ambroz

Minnesota Defense Parings

4 Seth Helgeson–12 Justin Holl
10 Ben Marshall–20 Mark Alt
6 Jake Parenteau–29 Nate Schmidt

Goalies 

35 Kent Patterson
1 Michael Shibrowski
30 Jake Kremer

Minnesota Players Stats 


Fighting Sioux 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) – 20 Joe Gleason
8 Dan Senkbeil–13 Connor Gaarder– No forward.

Fighting Sioux Defensive Pairings

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

Fighting Sioux Goalies 

32 Aaron Dell 
31 Brad Eidsness
35 Tate Maris

UND Official Players Stats 

Radio: The games can be heard at 96.1 the Fox.
Television: ESPNU 208 DirecTV

NHL throws book at Keith, ignores Sedins hit

While a suspension for Duncan Keith is warranted by the National Hockey League, the Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan proved once again that there are two sets of rules in the NHL.

If you're a super star like Daniel Sedin or ________ insert superstar you can hit people in the head with an elbow and not suffer any consequences. However, if you a "lesser" star player like a Duncan Keith who doesn't have the mojo  of one of the Sedin twins or a an Evgeni Malkin you're given more lee-way and room to commit questionable bush league acts without the fear of being suspended until you have committed a fair number of them like Alex Ovechkin, then the league is forced to suspend them. Another fail by Shanahan.

CBC.COM --- "Regardless of Keith's assertion that the intent on this play was to impede Sedin's progress as opposed to a retaliation for an earlier hit, Keith's hit was still dangerous, reckless and caused injury," said NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan in a statement.
"We've also taken into consideration Keith's supplemental discipline record which includes no suspensions and one fine over nearly seven NHL seasons."

Bracketbuster #1 (Redwing77)

Ok, the NCAAs just begun and well.... some upsets are already happening.

Ferris State vs. Denver:

I chose: Denver
Result? 2-1 Ferris State

I thought Denver would come out firing but apparently Ferris State knew how to handle it. Ferris State wins only their second NCAA tourney game EVER. However, in the end, I think this game was at least a good one. The others? Not so much.

Union vs. Michigan State

I chose: MSU
Result? 3-1 Union

Union has played few challenging opponents. Michigan State has played barely well enough to get in. I guess it stands to reason then, since neither team is clear cut as a favorite, that you'd go with seeding, but I just do not believe that the ECACHL deserves as much respect as the East Coast media gives it. If Union had to play a team like Western Michigan in the opening round, I'm not so sure they win. That being said, in the last 5 years, the ECACHL is 5-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tourney. And they are 0-5 in the second round. I'd say that's going to continue but...

UMass Lowell vs. Miami

I chose: Miami
Result? 4-3 UMass in OT

Miami gave up a Powerplay, shorthanded, and 2 5 on 5 goals. They looked absolutely PATHETIC for the first 45 minutes of the game. They keep trying to make pretty plays to score goals while UMass keeps trying to score goals merely by jumping on Miami mistakes and just throwing the puck on net. Knapp has looked pathetic. I cannot believe that Blasi is kept him in. Goal #1 was the only goal Knapp wasn't at least partially at fault for. Goal #2 was on a short handed breakaway that beat him 5 hole. 5 hole goals coming head on is just a sign of poor anticipation. It should be the hardest goal in hockey to get unless the goaltender is moving laterally. Goal #3 was plain and simple out of position crap goal bad goaltending. Yeah, it was 2 on 1 but it beat him short side when Knapp had plenty of time to get into position. He correctly anticipated the pass but he just did not cover the post.

Luckily for Miami, they ended up tying the game. They went to OT and then.... Knapp rears his ugly head again! Wetmore scores a goal that NEVER EVER EVER would have gone in had Knapp held the post. He ends up making the initial save off his right side and bounces back to Wetmore who taps it through Knapp and into the net. It was a squibbler and barely got in but it got in. That means, ladies and gentlemen, that 2 of UMass' 4 goals were WEAK, 1 was a fluke, and the other was perhaps somewhat unavoidable.

Tough for Miami to lose in the first round but.... any half-assed decent playoff team worth its salt would have beaten Miami anyways. Can't expect to suck for 45 minutes, be given a 5 minute major at the end of regulation and 1:26 of it in OT, fail to score on it, and still expect to win the game. Ok, ok, to be fair, Miami did a good job in the regulation side of the major powerplay and Doug Carr saved UMass' bacon but every other Miami Powerplay up til then was a Clinic in awful special teams.

Goon may disagree but I believe this marks the downturn of Miami. They've peaked. Sure, they'll get their share of talent, but I think this current squad has ended its stretch run of post season dominance. They'll have to regroup (or reload as it may) and see if they can catch another great run. They're not going to get anywhere with this current squad without some serious infusion of talent.

UMass and Union in the Final? SNOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!! I wonder where this Regional ranks in the list of "worst regionals in NCAA Tourney history?"

If UND being a #2 seed would have gotten them into this regional, they should have thrown the WCHA title game.

Michigan vs. Cornell
I predicted: Michigan
Result? 3-2 Cornell in OT

This game was pretty good... if you enjoyed special teams. We had one ejection (contact to the head major on Cornell) and a barrel full of minors. I'm not sure what Shafer had to say postgame but it probably won't be much because Cornell won. Had they lost though....

I'm not sure what to think about this game overall. Cornell plays a GOD AWFUL style of hockey (one of the major reasons why I despised the Wild under Risebrough/Lemaire). Sure, the trap works, but it makes for a pisspoor hockey game to watch... which I think everyone knew because either everyone sat on the Camera side of the arena or the arena was MAYBE 40% capacity. It just wasn't fun. Michigan, if you consider scoring chances, had the more dominant game but Cornell put the game away in OT.

Rarely do I root for Cinderella stories such as UMass or Ferris State but... I'll be rooting for them tomorrow because I don't believe the trap has any place in bigtime hockey and I wouldn't want boring hockey in Tampa.

So... let's hope no more surprises!

A quick look at the regionals... Goon's Pontifications….

I was asked to provide my picks for this weekend’s regionals. I will take a look at the Frozen Four next weekend after all of the dust settles on the tourney.

Last weekend I went a perfect 5-0 and picked the Red Baron WCHA Final Five to a “T” but every dog has its day right. I don’t see that happening this weekend, because along the way stuff happens and picks get blown up, teams win that you don’t expect to win.

Northeast Regional

(1) Boston College
(4) Air Force
(2) MN-Duluth
(3) Maine

In the Northeast Regional; this is the region of death for the 2012 NCAA regionals. I also want to say, sorry Bulldog fans, I don’t see anyone beating Boston College this weekend; they are one of the best teams that I have seen play this season. That being said, I am willing to be proved wrong and would relish watching B.C. Eagles lose.

The Eagles are the fourth ranked defense and they are going to be hard to get past. Patrick Milner has been decent in goal for the Eagles and I also believe that Bulldogs senior goalie Kenny Reiter is the weak link on the Bulldogs hockey team. I thought that the UMD Bulldogs looked fast up front through the forward lines in the five games that I saw them play this season but I think goaltending and defense for the Bulldogs are going to have to be flawless to beat the Eagles.

I also think the Boston College Eagles are "probably" the best team in college hockey right now. The Boston College Eagles also come into the Northeast Regional on a roll, as they have won 15 games in a row.


West Regional

(2) Minnesota
(3) Boston University
(4) Western Michigan
(1) North Dakota

I am picking North Dakota to win the West Regional, big shock right? I am also still waiting for Dave from the Minneapolis Metro area to congratulate me for picking “the whole” WCHA Final Five correctly. Dave is the Gophers fan that called me a homer because I picked North Dakota to win the Red Barron WCHA Final Five. Hum!!! I guess I am wrong for not drinking the Gophers Kool-Aide. I have to give the Minnesota Gophers credit; they did play well for 31 minutes in last Friday’s game before the Sioux buried them.

Personally, I never bet against a team that is coached by Dave Hakstol. That being said, I also think that this is a pick-em regional and a bit of a crap shoot and anything could happen in this regional, nothing would surprise me one bit.

I also wouldn’t be surprised one bit if BU and WMU played for the regional championship Sunday. After reading the chat that Roman Augustoviz, (the beat writer for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune), had on his blog yesterday I found it funny that Gophers fans were looking past Boston University. I guess they don’t see any way that the Terriers beat them.

Trivia courtesy of Roman, UND Head Coach Dave Hakstol is 5-4 against the Gophers in the NCAA and WCHA playoffs.

2004: Gophers beat North Dakota 5-4 in Final Five championship game ... both advanced to NCAAs

2005: North Dakota beats Gophers 4-2 in Final Five championship game and 4-2 in Frozen Four semifinals in Columbus, Ohio ... Gophers' season over

2007 Gophers beat North Dakota 3-2 in overtime in Final Five championship game, but lose 2-3 in overtime in West Regional final in Denver ... Gophers' season over

2010: North Dakota beats Gophers 6-0, 2-4, 4-1 in first round of the WCHA playoffs ... Gophers' season over

East Regional

(1) Union
(4) Michigan State
(2) Miami
(3) Mass.-Lowell

I am probably going to get a bit of heat from Joe “Gladdy” Gladziszewski from Inside College Hockey, but this season will be no different than the others past, there is another ECAC team that is a number one seed. There will be another number one seed from the ECAC eliminated by the end of the weekend. Sorry, but I don’t see anyone getting past the Miami University RedHawks in this regional. The Miami RedHawks have righted the ship after a rough start at the beginning of the season. The Miami RedHawks have won 9/10 games since being swept by the Michigan Wolverines back on February 4th, 2012.

Midwest Regional

(2) Ferris State
(3) Denver
(4) Cornell
(1) Michigan

I believe that this is Michigan’s regional to win. Having watched Michigan play in a few games on national television this season and after watching them sweep Miami earlier this season I am convinced they’re the second best team in the NCAA Field. That being said, nothing would please me more than watching the Michigan Wolverines lose but also watching Shawn Hunwick get lit up in the Midwest Regional Denver or Ferris State.

They aren't listening - Fighting Sioux nickname

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

s/t to Chuck Haga from the Grand Forks Herald because he has done a great job covering this story, I don’t care what some of the self-professed and self-congratulatory experts say, Haga has done a fair job covering all sides of this issue.

 Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- She asks whether the NCAA, in adopting “a policy that blankets the country,” took into account how divisive it would be in Indian Country.

“Within my own immediate family, some words have been spoken that will take a long time to heal, words that have been unkind and caused by the policy of the NCAA,” she writes. “I am hurt and angry that neither I nor my people had a say in informing the NCAA of what their policy would do to me and to my family and to my state.”

She writes that she has “very little knowledge about the pipe ceremony in 1969,” the event at UND cited by nickname supporters as an irreversible gift of the Sioux name to the university. But she says she learned to respect such traditions from her father, the late Joseph Chaske Jr. “I was taught that praying with the pipe is very sacred and should never be disrespected in any way.”

As we go into the regional and our favorite team can’t wear their regular uniform because it’s considered hostile and abusive the reality hits that, it doesn’t matter what Native American think about the Fighting Sioux nickname. 

The Attorney General of the state of North Dakota signed a legal settlement agreement, the NCAA doesn’t care what anyone else has to say, the NCAA isn't going to change their minds one bit, they aren’t budging, they are going to change their mind. 

Contrary to some people’s misguided opinion, UND’s administrators  are not going work out a deal to not use the nickname when a  certain school objects to the UND using the Fighting Sioux nickname, it's not going to happened. There simply won’t be any games scheduled between UND and insert favorite Big Ten School, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin etc.   

You're delusion if you think this is going to happen folks. These schools don't care because we aren't playing by their rules, because the University of North Dakota belongs to a private club and we have to abide by those rules and regulations.

These schools will not play UND in “any sport” including college hockey, that they are not a conference member with, because the University of North Dakota is under NCAA sanctions. Again, they control the terms of the conversation and we need them more than they need us.

The same goes with the Big Sky Conference, UND needs them more than they need us, I don't care what some say. I doubt any of these people have talked to anyone in the know. The UND athletic department is very concerned about the threat of the BSC pulling our membership, maybe not this year or next, but it's a real threat. 

These schools won’t find common ground here, frankly, they don’t have to, because our school is under NCAA sanctions. Right, wrong or indifferent, our school will be considered damaged goods.

Do I like this, hell no!  

I voted for a democrat whose name I don’t even know ( I am a registered Republican), in 2010 instead of voting for Wayne Stenehjem for North Dakota Attorney General, because I think he should have never signed that surrender agreement that he signed. The agreement was a bad agreement and unacceptable in many of our eyes. 

That day was the end of the Fighting Sioux nickname essentially died.  You have to give the NCAA credit, they knew the Standing Rock Tribe would never agree to let the University of North Dakota use the Fighting Sioux nickname and they got the best of Stenehjem.

As an alumnus of the University of North Dakota, I will continue to cheer on and cover the University of North Dakota Hockey team no matter what their name is, as long as it’s not the Flickertails.  That’s not going to happen according to current UND President Dr. Robert O. Kelley, who has said that the team will not be called the Flickertails if and when the name is changed.

And lastly, Go Sioux!!! Bring home number "8"....Our team is still known as the Fighting Sioux for now.  What a fitting end of this season it would be if the Fighting Sioux could win number 8 as the Fighting Sioux. The NCAA would probably tie themselves up in knots over that one. 

Related articles

• Fighting Sioux nickname supporters tell ND Supreme Court that 1969 ceremony precludes 'civil interference' (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• So what if we keep the name? A devil's advocate look at the nickname. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Letter from the NCAA to UND (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA West Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• Fighing Sioux 1930-2012 R.I.P. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname debate makes Fox News (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Time; NCAA Blunder: Changing North Dakota's Tribal Nickname (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND and Wisconsin to keep playing each other in hockey - unless UND keeps Fighting Sioux Nickname (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname supporters file petitions with 17,000 signatures (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Through these doors episode 19

This should get you in the mood for the NCAA regional championship this weekend. No matter how this season ends, it has been an exciting group to follow and cover. This team started out 4-7-1 and 1-5 in the WCHA and ended on a hot streak that covered almost three months that saw them go 21-5-2, that's a pretty impressive run in any league. 

Related articles

• NCAA West Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• NCAA Midwest Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)
• Goon's predictions for the Final Five (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Dell backstops Sioux to 4-0 victory over the Pioneers (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• 2011-12 All-WCHA Blogger Ballot (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Did they not see the game? Canucks and their adoring media practice revisionist history…

The most unlikable team is back in the news again whining about the Chicago Blackhawks; their fans can't figure out why we can’t stand their whinny team. There is just so much ammo and so little time. I will make an attempt...

Ed Willes, The Province --- The play in question occurred 13½ minutes into the first period in an affair that had already taken on an edge. Jannik Hansen scored on the game’s first shift. Daniel finished a hit on Keith that was high. Just prior to Keith’s retaliation, Alex Edler flattened Hawks forward Andrew Shaw.

An aerial pass was then sent over Daniel’s head and as he moved to chase the puck, Keith delivered an elbow to the point of his chin. Sedin went down, didn’t appear to lose consciousness, tried to play a shift on the ensuing power play, then called it a night.

Those, at least, are the facts of the case, your honour, and they will be reviewed in great detail in forthcoming days. But, for once, the Canucks didn’t wait for the officiating crew and/or Brendan Shanahan to mete out justice. For once, the Canucks took matters into their own hands.

Frist off, I am not condoning either hit; they’re both equally bad in my opinion. Both are dirty hits and need to be removed from the game of hockey. My solution is, don’t hit someone with a dirty hit and then scream and bawl when you’re taken out by the same player you hit with a dirty hit.

First during last night game, if we need to review at all, there were "two" questionable hits. The only one that seems to be getting any play is the Keith hit on Sedin.

First it’s Daniel Sedin that hit Duncan Keith with a high dirty hit in the head. That is unacceptable as well. Keith not to be outdone returned the favor with a very questionable dirty high hit in the head to Daniel Sedin. For me, all you have to do is watch Alex Burroughs knee Duncan Keith in the groin that should be worthy of a game suspension as well…

Now we have media, fans the hockey pundits eviscerating Duncan Keith will giving the Daniel Sedin a free pass. They shouldn’t. That being said, you can’t have it both ways Canucks apologists. If a player hits someone with a dirty, high hit and then is a victim of the same hit later, that player doesn’t hold a moral high ground. I believe that both players are equally culpable in this situation and they should both be fined the NHL max and given a reprimand from the NHL.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

When looking at the tournament as a whole, one thing sticks out to me. And that thing is how even everyone’s records are in terms of wins, loses, and ties. Being a one and done tournament, this thing is up for grabs.


EAST REGIONAL (Bridgeport, CT)

#3 Union (24-7-7) vs. #15 Michigan St. (19-15-4)

The Dutchmen are 4-0-0 and the Spartans are 2-3-0 this season on neutral sites. MSU lost in its first round CCHA playoff games versus Miami. Union is on a five game win streak that helped them capture the ECAC hockey crown. The Dutchmen have only lost two games in the 2012 calendar year (Brown and Cornell). The Spartans have lost three of their four games. I’m going with the obvious choice here - UNION WINS


#5 Miami (24-12-2) vs #12 Mass-Lowell (23-12-1)
The Red Hot RedHawks are winners of 9 of their last 10 games and the RiverHawks, not so hot winning three of their last seven, losing two of their last three. UML is 1-1-0 on neutral ice this year and UM is 2-1-0 on common grounds. However, this is not the far for RiverHawks fans to travel, so it could almost be considered a home game for them. This will be UM-Lowell’s first trip back to the tournament since 1996. I’m going with the hot hand here – MIAMI WINS


EAST REGION FINAL – UC/MSU vs UM/UMass-L winners
I’m going to go with Union over Miami.


NORTHEAST REGIONAL (Worcester, MA)

#1 Boston College (29-10-1) vs #16 Air Force (21-10-7)
The Falcons are 2-1-0 on neutral sites and 8-5-5 on road this season. The Eagles are 6-1-0 on neutral ice and 13-3-1 at home this season; this is basically a home game, since it is about 30 miles away. Last year in the tournament the Falcons gave the top seed Yale all they could handle, losing to them in overtime. The Eagle come into the tourney on a 15-game winning streak, their last lose was on January 21st to Maine. Some might say the BC is ripe for the picking, with that long of a winning streak. The longer this game is tied or within a goal, the more it will favor the Falcons. I’m going with the upset special here and hope I don’t end up in the bird bath. AIR FORCE WINS


#7 Minnesota-Duluth (24-9-6) vs #10 Maine (23-13-3)
The Black Bears are 3-1-0 and the Bulldogs are 0-1-0 on neutral sites this season. The Black Bears have won five of their last seven, with their loses coming at the hands of Merrimack and Boston College. The Bulldogs 2-2-1 in their last five games, with three of them going to overtime and the last game into double overtime. In UMD’s double overtime loss to Denver, they had 70, that is seventy, shots on goal. They through everything they had a them, including the kitchen sink. This should be a fast paced, up and down the ice game. Both teams skate well, which should make for a humdinger to watch. MAINE WINS


NORTHEAST REGION FINAL – BC/AFA vs UMD/UM winners
I’m going to go with Maine over Air Force.


MIDWEST REGIONAL (Green Bay, WI)

#2 Michigan (24-12-4) vs #13 Cornell (18-8-7)
The Wolverines are 4-1-0 and the Big Red 2-3-0 are on neutral ice this season. The Big Red have won five of their last seven games. The Wolverines have won four of their last five games, with two wins coming in double overtime games. Cornell has been a defense first team for as long as I can remember. I think most people know that a defensive team can be rather boring to watch. But, they can lull other teams to sleep with their suffocating defense and then attack. The wolverines are well coached and won’t likely fall victim to it. MICHIGAN WINS


#6 Ferris St (23-11-5) vs #11 Denver (25-13-4)
The Bulldogs are back to the tournament after a nine year break, their last appearance was back in 2003. The Bulldogs have struggled down the home stretch only winning once in their last five games. The Pioneers are just the opposite, only losing once in their last five games. The Pioneers are 2-1-0 and the Bulldogs are 0-1-0 on neutral ice this season. These teams have almost identical records, so one would think it should be an evenly matched game. I’m going to give the nod to Denver based on their defensive play down the stretch. DENVER WINS


MIDWEST REGION FINAL – UM/CU vs DU/FSU winners
I’m going to go with Michigan over Denver.


WEST REGIONAL (St. Paul, MN)

#8 Minnesota (26-13-1) vs #9 Boston U (23-14-1)
The Gopher make their return to the tournament after a three year drought, their last appearance was in 2008. The Terries return too, after a two year delay, they last attended in 2009. In 2009 the Terriers won the title over Miami in overtime, after scoring two late third period goals to tie the game. The Gophers were on three game winning streak, until a bad third period against UND last weekend, cost them that game. The Gophers have plenty of talent up front to score goals, so they can jump on teams easily and take over that game. The Terries enter on a 2-3-0 record over their last five games, three of which have gone to overtime, and two of those where double overtime. If their trend holds on, this could be a lengthy game, or as I like to call overtime, bonus hockey! Technically this is a neutral site, but this will really be a Gopher home game, with many of their fans in the stands. However, I suspect many UND fans will be at this game and will be cheering against the Gophers. (Last weekend it was estimated about 60/40 mix of UM/UND fans at the Xcel center.) If BU can get the first goal, and keep UM’s confidence rattled the Terrier can control the crowd. BOSTON WINS


#4 North Dakota (25-12-3) vs #14 Western Michigan (21-13-6)
The Mustangs enter the tournament on a five game win streak and the team formerly known as the Sioux are on a seven game winning streak. The WMU is 2-0-0 and UND is 3-0-0 at neutral sites this season. In a couple years from now this would be a conference match up, in the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Sioux have found their scoring touch the last few weeks, and have been getting goals from all the lines. UND is playing well as team late in the season, and it shows as they captured their third straight WCHA Broadmoor trophy last weekend. As long as UND focuses on WMU, and aren’t looking for a rematch with Minnesota, they should be able to pull out victory. NORTH DAKOTA WINS



WEST REGION FINAL – UM/BU vs UND/WMU winners
I’m going to go with North Dakota over Boston University.


So my Frozen Four teams are as follows:
Maine
North Dakota
Union
Michigan

Daniel Sedin hits Duncan Keith in head

Last night there was a lot of outrage about Blackhawks defensemen Duncan Keith's hit on Canucks forward Daniel Sedin.

What I didn't see was a lot of outrage about Daniel Sedins hit on Duncan Keith, and both hits are bad. Being consistent, I think you can see that both players "could be" required to sit a game or two, both hits are bad and unnecessary. I also think that you can't suspend one without suspending the other. It will be interesting to see how the department of player safety handles this case.

Related articles

• Duncan Keith's hit on Daniel Sedin (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Should Duncan Keith be suspended for the hit on Daniel Sedin? (rantsports.com)