Two more bad hits from last night's game

At the 11:o1 mark of the third period Phoenix's Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal's drove the Kings forward Dustin Brown into the boards with push check. Hanzal was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for this play and could end up with a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for this hit.


The Coyotes forward Shane Doan was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on the Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Lewis at the 16:29 mark of the second period of last night's game. On this play I believe the refs made the right call even though Lewis did turn towards the boards at the last second; the refs had no choice to give Doan a major penalty on this play.

Don't be that guy - Torts unloads on reporter for having cell phone on

The ongoing joke during the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been the Rangers head coach John Tortorella and how short his press conferences have been. As a person that been to a few post-game press conferences – sometimes the coaches just don’t want to talk to the media nor are they in any mood to answer questions from the media jackals.

Don’t be that guy – you also don’t want to be the person that has forgotten to turn off his cell phone. You might do it once but you probably won’t ever do it again.

Dave Stubbs, National Post --- “Typical New York,” veteran New York journalist Stan Fischler said Sunday with a laugh.

Next to this lunacy, Tortorella is just a cloudburst whose 15-second, syllable-short news conferences add to this season’s delicious drama on Broadway.

Torts’s act is well known in hockey, fittingly showbiz in the world’s headquarters of the theatre as his team prepares to face the New Jersey Devils Monday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

The coach’s shtick probably is carefully crafted to take heat off his team, give the opponent as little information as possible and keep the media off balance. It quickly wears thin with many and is viewed as disrespectful not just of reporters, but of the many great communicative coaches who have gone before him.

Predictably, Torts’s players will tell you they respect their leader who will go to the wall for them. And his results —the Rangers now eight victories from a Stanley Cup championship — speak for themselves.

I have to give Torts credit, he is very entertaining and a lot of fun to watch in the post game press conferences that they show on NBCSN and a lot of what he says can’t be said on TV without being bleeped out, but It makes for good theater. I also think it might be a tactic and maybe his antics do take the heat off of his team when they lose.

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Fox Sports North names Anthony LaPanta television play-by-play announcer for the Wild

Here is the official releast for the hiring of Anthony LaPanta to do the play-by-play for the Minnesota Wild.

Chime in – how do you feel about the move?

FOX Sports North: the Exclusive Local Television Home for the 2012-13 Minnesota Wild Season.

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild today named Anthony LaPanta television play-by-play announcer.

LaPanta, a graduate of Totino-Grace High School and St. John’s University (Collegeville, Minn.), has covered the Twin Cities sports scene since 1991. The New Brighton, Minn., native has hosted the pregame and postgame shows on FOX Sports North for the Twins, Wild and Timberwolves nightly since 2004 and served as the television play-by-play announcer for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team the past two seasons. LaPanta has also served as a play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Timberwolves on a fill in basis.

“I have dreamed of doing NHL play-by-play since I was very young,” said LaPanta. “To have this opportunity in my hometown is truly special. I am a lifelong resident of the State of Hockey, and hockey is in my blood. From my work covering the Minnesota Wild for the last eight years, to calling games at the high school and college level, to spending as much of my free time as possible as a youth hockey dad, the game has been a huge part of my life. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me.”

Before joining FOX Sports North, LaPanta was the television voice of the St. Paul Saints for ten seasons and was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Twins in 1999. He has won four regional Emmy Awards (two for play-by-play and two for anchor/host) and was involved with the development of the Hockey Day Minnesota concept. LaPanta and his wife, Margo, have four children, and reside in Shoreview, Minn., where he is active in the hockey community.

LaPanta will team with television analyst Mike Greenlay on FOX Sports North, the exclusive local television home for Wild hockey. Greenlay enters his 11th year as the Wild’s television analyst since being assigned to the post on Aug. 13, 2002. The former goaltender previously served as the radio analyst for the Anaheim Ducks (1999-2001) and the Nashville Predators (1998-99) and also worked as a television analyst on several networks.

“This is a great opportunity for Anthony, we’re enthusiastic about his new role in our Wild telecasts,” said Mike Dimond, Senior Vice President and General Manager for FOX Sports North. “Anthony has worked long and hard as the face of our network. We’ll miss him in that capacity, but thankful he’ll still be part of our network moving forward

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Anthony LaPanta is going to be the play-by-play for the Wild

I posted on the on Sunday, that Michael Russo of the Star and Tribune was reporting on Russo's Rants  that Anthony LaPanta was going to be selected to be the play-by-play voice of the Minnesota Wild on FSN. This story kind of went viral - Minnesota Wild fans are not happy with the selection of LaPanta. In fact, it's getting down right ugly and here is a sample of a few of the recent tweets that I found. You can also see some of the comments here at the Star and Tribune site.

While I am not really a fan of LaPanta per se - I am not a hater of LaPanta either. So I guess I don't know what all of the furor is about either, who did the fans think that FSN was going to hire, they already have a person on payroll so they don't really have to bring anyone else in it makes sense from a business stand point.

While there probably are better choices than LaPanta - is this really an issue that Wild fans need to get totally bent out of shape about? I have listened to LaPanta a lot while he was the play-by-play for the Minnesota Gopher broadcasts on FSN, I don't think he did that bad of a job. 

Salmela suspended for three games

The IIHF was suspended Finnish defenseman Anssi Salmela for three games for this brutal hit on USA defenseman Alex Goligoski.

HELSINKI – The IIHF Disciplinary Panel has suspended Finland’s defenceman Anssi Salmela for three games following his violent boarding on USA’s defenceman Alex Goligoski.

The incident occurred at 5:03 of the third period in Finland’s preliminary-round game against the United States on Sunday.

Anssi Salmela received a five-minute major plus an automatic game misconduct penalty for a violent boarding that caught Goligoski in a defenseless and vulnerable position and which resulted in Goligoski hitting his upper body, head and face into the boards.

The panel especially took into consideration the ruthlessness of the act, which could have resulted in a serious injury, which now Goligoski was fortunate to escape.

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Leave the game alone – Part Deux

There seems to be a lot of discussion on what would open up the game of hockey. Some want to get rid of shot blocking; others want to limit the number of players that can line up in front of their goal. Some have suggested that the size of the goalie equipment is making goal scoring hard. Now Rangers head coach John Tortorella has chimed in, Torts would like to see the return of the “red line.” I think that is a horrible idea and would really slow down the game of hockey.

Mark Everson and Brett Cyrgalis --- “To me, I think they need to put the red line back in,” Tortorella said yesterday as his team prepares for Game 1 of its Eastern Conference final matchup against the Devils tonight at Madison Square Garden.

“Look at the puck possession teams,” Tortorella said, “they’re out.”

Coming out of the lockout in 2005, the NHL made it legal to make a two-line pass, meaning coming from out of one’s zone, behind the blue line, a pass could be made to a player beyond the center-ice line, the so-called red line. It was a pass that used to be illegal, immediately blowing the play dead.

The new rule was designed to open up the game, and if it did for a while, the way teams have adapted is by playing tighter in their own zone.

“Because it’s a game of ping-pong,” Tortorella said. “The game is a long pass, forecheck, defend. Another long pass, forecheck, defend.”

With a history of fines for criticizing the league, Tortorella then looked at the NHL representative in the room and added, “I better just leave it at that.”

I like the way the NHL is currently run, albeit the officiating would be a little more consistent during the playoffs but the NHL is comprised of the best players in the game of hockey and you’re not always going to have a 8-7 game, some games are going to be 2-1, 1-0, 0-0… I have no idea what bringing back the red line is going to do but slow the game down more and give us more unnecessary whistles and stoppages. Please leave the game of hockey alone.

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Time for the Hawks to flush Kane

Dead Spin Photo

It would appear that Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane needs to grow up and start acting like an adult and not a punk. Also, maybe Kane could learn a think or two from his fellow teammate Jonathan Toews on how to behave in public and not some spoiled brat.

Chris Kuc, Tribune reporter --- After a subpar postseason series against the Coyotes during which he had four assists in the six-game loss and was off the ice in the final minutes of Game 6 following a misconduct penalty for, as Kane put it, "just kind of slashing (Coyotes) like Paul Bunyan out there," the offseason arrived.

Not more than a few weeks into it, photos of an allegedly intoxicated Kane attending the Mifflin Street Block Party on Cinco de Mayo in Madison, Wis., were published on deadspin.com. They showed Kane cavorting with college students, apparently passed out at a bar and, in one, appearing to walk away while talking with a police officer.

At first, it fueled more head-shaking and "that's just Kaner being Kaner" thoughts. Things suddenly got much more serious when the website began quoting anonymous sources alleging Kane choked a woman before being thrown out of a party and also hurled an anti-semitic slur during another altercation.

Personally, if I was the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks I would trade this punk and get rid of the distraction that comes with this clown, while Kane had a down season last year, the GM could still try to get a decent replacement that comes with less baggage than Kane.

This isn’t the first incident with Kane; he was arrested in 2009 for roughing up a Buffalo Cab driver when the cab driver didn’t have the correct change. Kane and his punk cousin James ended up beating up cabbie over 20 cents, no that’s not a misprint, he assaulted someone over 20 cent’s. It’s not like 20 cents was going to break him, he is rich from playing a kids game.

Most normal people can fathom beating up a cab driver over a minuscule amount like that – most normal people would have also landed in jail for an assault like that because most of us don’t the ability to buy an expensive defense team like Kane can. Seriously! Maybe Kane should learn to control his anger and stop acting like a spoiled entitlement kid; if I was in the Blackhawks front office I would put this punk on double secret probation and would cut him the next time he gets out of line and embarrasses the Blackhawks organization. There is no way you can excuse this type of behavior and I haven’t seen anyone doing so, yet.

Alex Goligoski boarded by Ansi Salmela

This is a dirty and unnecessary hit by Finnish defenseman Anssi Salmela on USA Defenseman Alex Goligoski during yesterday's game at the World Championship, which the Americans won 5-0. Salmela was given a five minute major and a game misconduct and will probably face supplemental discipline. I like the fact that there is no hesitation from the IIHF official in calling a penalty and I would like to see the NHL games officiated this way as well.

Derek Morris goal from center ice

In tonight's Western Conference Final game between the Phoenix Coyotes and  Los Angeles Kings game, Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris scored an improvable goal on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick from center ice. Quick has been almost unbeatable through two rounds in the playoffs. This just proves that there is nothing bad about a shot on goal.

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LaPanta to be play-by-play for Wild

There are going to be a lot of people that aren't going to be very happy with this move if Anthony LaPanta becomes the voice of the Minnesota Wild - LaPanta did play-by-play for the Gopher this past season and there are a lot of Gopher fans that aren't very fond of his work either. I don't think that LaPanta is a bad announcer per se, but I think the Wild could do better in selecting a personality that the fans could get behind.

Personally, I liked Dan Terhaar and thought he did a good job with the Wild. Terhaar also called hockey games for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

Michael Russo, Russo's Rants --- It's looking more and more like Anthony LaPanta, the man with the most famous hair in the Twin Cities and Fox Sports North's longtime studio host for pre- and post-games for the Wild, Twins and Wolves, will be the Wild's next television play-by-play man.

If officially hired, he'll replace Dan Terhaar, whose contract was not renewed last month after seven seasons at the microphone. That move could happen as early as Monday. The Wild last week ironed out new deals with TV color man Mike Greenlay and the radio team of Bob Kurtz and Tom Reid.

Election law may bar Sioux gear at Cass polls

You may not be able to wear your Fighting Sioux jersey to the polls in Cass county which includes polls within the city of Fargo, North Dakota.

FARGO — Cass County’s chief election official said Friday that people showing up to vote on June 12 wearing Fighting Sioux-related apparel could be asked to take it off or cover it up before being allowed to cast their vote.

Mike Montplaisir, Cass County’s auditor, said because UND’s nickname issue is on the ballot, he and some other county auditors throughout the state are advising people not to show up at the polls wearing any clothing bearing the Sioux nickname or logo.

“It’s just a fairness issue,” he said. “You can’t be campaigning at the polls.”

Kreider seeing little ice time during Rangers run

Larry Brooks has an interesting article on the Rangers and how they have utilized a few of their younger players that happen to have college hockey experience. I really thought the Ragners forward line of Kreider-Stepan-Callahan looked pretty good earlier in the series and for what ever reason the Rangers head coach has broke up that forward line after game two and the Rangers really haven’t generated a lot of offense since.

Larry Brooks, New York Post --- Since Tortorella made decision to limit the 21-year-old rookie to fourth-line cameo appearances in the wake of a pair of deficient plays in the defensive zone in Game 4 led to a pair of Capitals’ goals in Washington’s 3-2 victory, the Rangers have scored one pure five-on-five goal in 144:52 covering more than seven periods, and that by Anton Stralman in the first period of Game 5.

Not a forward has scored a pure even-strength goal since Tortorella benched Kreider while concurrently and mysteriously demoting playmaking pivot Derek Stepan from a top-six role to a checking line assignment between Ruslan Fedotenko and Brandon Prust while elevating checking center Brian Boyle to the spot between Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov.

The moves have failed. Where the Kreider-Stepan-Callahan line could generate speed off the rush through the neutral zone against the Caps, and did when previously united, the Rangers have been stagnant and station to station since the realignment, the reasons for which have been placed into Tortorella’s accordion folder of confidential material that has grown larger than the Penske File.

I have watched every game of the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals series and this series reminds me of the Bruins and Capitals series, much like the Bruins, the Rangers have failed to get a lot of offensive chances down low in the slot. The Capitals have effectively clogged up the front of the net and have made it difficult to get any chances on net. It not very exciting hockey but the Capitals are negating the Rangers offensive opportunities and you can see it frustrating the Rangers. It’s also been a very unattractive series to watch as well.

Apparently, Rangers head coach John Tortorella isn't even saying whether the former Boston College Eagles star Chris Kreider is going to play in Saturday’s game seven or not, don’t expect Torts to say a lot about the matter either during his press conferences.

You can wear your Sioux jersey to the polls

Here is a question that some have asked – there is no problem with people wearing their Fighting Sioux gear to the polls if they want.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- So the question came up: When you go to the polls on June 12 to vote in the North Dakota primary election, does it matter what you wear?

More specifically, can you wear your favorite UND Fighting Sioux hockey jersey or sweatshirt when you go to vote on Measure 4, the Fighting Sioux nickname question?

The answer is a slightly qualified yes, at least in Grand Forks County.

Debbie Nelson, the county auditor, said that she heard people wondering whether such attire could lead to their being turned away from the polls, so she checked with Grand Forks County State’s Attorney Peter Welte.

“He said it’s OK,” Nelson said. “It’s not going to be an issue.”

Here is an interesting exchange between North Dakota House Majority leader Al Carlson and John Strand who is a Fighting Sioux nickname opponent. [click to view]

Who is the best American hockey player?

Chime in if you would like. There have been a lot of great American hockey players that have played in the NHL.

First off, this is a very complex question and also worthy of discussion - Dave Starman is right, you could spend a lot of time discussing this subject. So who is the best "American" hockey player? The first question I would have to ask what position are we talking about? You could break it down by postion - you have forwards, defenseman and goalies.

Another question is what time period are we talking about? You have the present time and the how far do we go back? Do we go on pure statistics?

The game of hockey has evolved due to technology and hockey isn't like it was back in the 1960's and 1970's.

Right now in my opinion, I think that Zach Parise is one of the best American forwards in the game of hockey there are other players you could include in that conversation. Pure statistics - the all-time top scoring American forward is Mike Modano with (561g-813a—1374pts).

This past season, Phil Kessel was the top American born hockey players for the 2011-12 season with (37g-45a—82 pts) and Zach Parise was second with (31g-38a—69pts).

In goal I would have to say that Tim Thomas, Johnathan Quick and Ryan Miller are pretty good but so were John Vanbiesbrouck and Tom Barrasso.

Defensively, Phil Housley is the top scoring American born defenseman all time with (338g- 894—1232).

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Leave hockey alone

Recently there has been this call to end shot blocking in hockey to facilitate more scoring in hockey. Here is the latest silly idea to be thrown out there. My suggestion is to leave the game of hockey alone and not start suggesting a bunch of gimmicks to make it more exciting.

Eric Duhatschek The Globe and Mail --- What’s on display in these playoffs isn’t hockey, it’s pinball.

Seeking a way to enhance offence, Pagé proposed that the NHL introduce a modified version of basketball’s three-in-the-key rule. The rule states that an offensive player shall not remain in the key for more than three seconds. Pagé’s application to hockey would affect both offensive and defensive players, with the primary goal to keep the area in front of the net unclogged.

It’s an idea worth considering, given how established the shot-blocking trend is today. Teams all collapse back toward the goal, with every player instructed to get in front of shots, even if they happen to screen the goaltenders. Under the Pagé plan, hockey could create a zone in front of the goaltender that perhaps only three, or even two, players a team could enter at the same time.

Naturally, purists would hate this innovation because it would mean drawing more lines on the ice, but for the sake of argument, let’s say the NHL designated the area from the goal to the outer edges of the lower faceoff circles as hockey’s key. If you permitted only two defenders to enter that area at a time, you might see some creative plays down low instead of the gridlock we have now.

You might be thinking the same thing that I am thinking? If you unclog the area around the net, the goalie is going to have a more un-obstructed view around the net and the goaltender is going to have a better chance of seeing the puck and you could end up with less scoring.

Getting traffic in front of the net and blocking shots can cause a variety of things to happen - the puck can be blocked and no goal is scored - the puck can change direction, or be directed into the net off the opposition or the defenders in front of the net.

Seriously! Defensive hockey is about teams collapsing around their nets and playing air tight defense, that’s what teams do when they don’t have the fire power to play run and gun hockey. If you watch the Capitals in this season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs this is exactly what they have done, they have effectively gotten into the shooting lanes and have clogged up the front of their net and the Capitals have blocked a ton of shots.

It even raises the larger question, which seems to have gone unasked in these playoffs. Is shot-blocking good for the game? Unquestionably, it takes courage to block shots. Nowadays, players can all rifle the puck, and as good as it is, today’s equipment cannot completely protect against the tiny gaps where the human body is exposed. If the puck hits you just right, it can do some serious damage. One of these days, a puck is going to deflect off a stick, into the face of a player and there will be a tragedy on the ice.

Hockey is a contact sport where people are going to get hurt, if you don’t want to get hurt play tennis. One of the problems is that a lot of people that have never played the sport of hockey on any level tend to be the ones that write about hockey. These are the same people that want to take fighting out of hockey.

Zac Rinaldo hit on Dainius Zubrus

For what ever reason the Philadelphia Flyers were going after  Dainius Zubrus in this series and last night Flyers littled used forward Zach Rinaldo caught Zubras with this hit in the Flyers end of the ice, in my opinion this was a questionable and a border line hit, some might say that it was dirty.

Also, what the heck was Max Talbot doing in this video?

Personally, I seen worse hits that were dirtier in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs - but that doesn't make this hit any better. The Flyers are out of the playoffs, so I don't expect anything to come from this hit, Zubras also returned to the game.

Former NHL Official Kerry Fraser had to say this on the Rinaldo hit.

A bit of a pattern develops here when Zac Rinaldo took out Dainius Zubrus, another payback recipient, with a low bridge hip check (video link) just above the knees. While kneeing was initially reported on the call, interference appears on the official score sheet as Pierre Maguire of NBC correctly pointed out at the time. This was a needless and dirty play.  The puck was in the opposite corner of the rink as Zubrus cut around the net and was low bridged by Rinaldo. I can appreciate the fact that the refs would not want to put the game on the line by assessing a five-minute major penalty for clipping even though Zubrus appeared shaken up on the play and was attended to.

Flyers fans unhinged - Shanahan is the reason the Flyers lost series

I don’t like to use acceptable and coarse language on my blog but some of this stuff needs to be exposed because I think this type of "anti-social" behavior is unacceptable and almost as bad as some of the racial epithets that were posted on line after the Joel Ward goal.

Yesterday I illustrated lack of class by some Flyers fans – I know that there were quite a few of the Flyers fan base that was very upset with Brendan Shanahan because of Claude Giroux’s suspension. Personally, I think the NHL made the right decision in suspending Claude Giroux for his illegal hit to the head on Dainius Zubrus, what I found puzzling is some of the tweets directed at the VP of Player safety. 

Just for the record I think that Shanahan has done an inconsistent job but I don't know if he deserves some of this crap that has been directed his way. I know Shanahan is a public figures but this stuff is unacceptable. 

These people have to be proud of themselves; here we have homophobic slurs directed at Brendan Shanahan which again goes beyond the realm of what is considered acceptable and decent behavior.

I also think that we have a few conspiracy theorists that blame Shanahan for the Flyers loss because he once played for the New Jersey Devils. I guess it wasn't the Flyers fault for not playing better in the last four games. The Devils were better and the suspension to Giroux probably didn't make that much of a difference because the Flyers had nothing in response to the Devils in this series. 

Assistant Coach, Men’s Hockey - Job announcement

If you have seen it, here is the Job Announcement for the UND Assistant coaching position.


Posting Number: #12-309 Closing Date: 5/30/2012
Minimum Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience
Position Status: Full-Time Hours per week: 40
Benefits Eligibility: Benefitted
Department: Athletic Total
Location: Grand Forks, ND Position

Description: Assist in all phases of coaching a Division 1 Men's hockey program to include but not limit to: assist with all competitions, practices, games and travel; teach game skills and strategies; oversee academic supervision of players and recruiting of student athletes; work extensively with the defensemen. Participate in public relations, alumni functions and fund raising.

Other duties as assigned by the head coach. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelors' degree
• Experience Working under NCAA Rules and Regulations
• Interpersonal and Communications Skills
• Experience Coaching/developing defensemen at the NCAA D1 level or above
• Experience with in-game bench management of defensemen at the NCAA D1 level or above
• Experience evaluating and recruiting players at NCAA D1 level or above
• Experience with coaching/developing specialty teams play at the NCAA D1 level or above
• Experience in the area of video breakdown and analysis at the NCAA D1 level or above
• Playing experience as a defensemen at the NCAA D1 level
• Experience designing and executing on-ice practice at the NCAA D1 level or above
• Must have a thorough knowledge of and commitment to compliance and follow all NCAA, conference and UND rules and regulations
• Must provide support and encouragement and ensure the safety and well being of student-athletes
• Criminal History Background check Preferred Qualifications:
• Playing experience as a defensemen at the NHL level
• Coaching experience as a defensemen at the NHL level

Special Instructions: Please complete UND Application/Control Card form found online at http://und.edu/finance-operations/human-resources/ referencing job title and posting number.
If claiming Veteran’s preference, a DD Form 214 must be attached. If claiming Disabled Veterans Preference, a DD Form 214 and a copy of VA statement dated within past year must be attached. All applications must be received or postmarked by the closing date and have complete name and current mailing address. Special Conditions: Work Schedule dependant on workload

Is the NCHC close to picking the Target Center for their Conference tourney?

Twitter has been alive this afternoon with the news that the NCHC has picked Joe Novak as hockey operations director – we also found out that the NCHC is close to selecting a venue for the conference tourney.

It has been rumored for some time now, that the Target Center was in the mix as a possible venue for the NCHC tourney – it’s sounds like that rumor  is even closer to becoming a reality.

This is the tweet that seemed to set the twitterverse on fire this morning; UND Fighting Sioux beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald's posted this little nugget on line.

There seems to be a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking when it comes to the NCHC. The minute the rumor in question broke on Twitter, the usual suspects immediately starting picking a part the NCHC’s possible conference tourney venue; while I like many would probably rather see the NCHC play in the Xcel Energy Center, the Target Center does make logistical sense – the Target Center is driving distances for the UND, SCSU, UMD and UNO fan bases. I think it’s safe to say that those NCHC schools will probably have the biggest fan bases that are going to be willing to travel and fill the Target Center. Husker Mike has a good blog post on this very subject as well. [Click to view]

As we saw from the 2011 WCHA Final Five, UND and UMD fans filled the Xcel Energy Center when Wisconsin and Minnesota were knocked out in the first round.

NCHC Names Joe Novak Director of Hockey Operations

Official Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The National Collegiate Hockey Conference has named veteran sports management executive Joe Novak as its Director of Hockey Operations.

Jim Scherr, the Commissioner of college hockey's newest conference, said that Novak, in his role, will primarily be responsible for the internal hockey operations and administration for the NCAA Division I men's intercollegiate hockey conference that will be begin play in the 2013-14 season.  Among Novak's immediate tasks will be developing, in consultation with Conference members, a comprehensive playing schedule; organizing and maintaining a system to hire, assign, compensate, evaluate, and supervise on-ice officials; developing and implementing the Conference's rules, playing standards, statistical programs and discipline program; and serving as the hockey operations liaison with the Conference's coaches and others in the hockey community.

The Colorado Springs resident brings to the Conference more than 30 years of experience in sports management, the last 15 of them with the United States Air Force Academy, including roles in NCAA Division I athletic operations, events management and scheduling, athletic facilities management, contract management, and tournament and special events director.  He has worked as an on-ice hockey official, a Supervisor of Officials with USA Hockey and an off-ice official with the National Hockey League and the Olympic Winter Games.

Novak joins the Conference after serving in a critical position with the accomplished Air Force Academy's Athletics department in several management roles, including Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Operations and Events. His range of experience also includes being an off-ice official at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver; Ice Hockey Game Operations Manager for the Torino 2006 Olympic Committee/International Ice Hockey Federation for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in the Italian city; and managing athletic programs for the New York Military Army Command at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, NY, and the United States Army Europe Headquarters/Heidelberg Military Community in Heidelberg, Germany. 

"Being able to bring to the Conference a proven and imaginative executive with outstanding hockey credentials like Joe to serve as our Director of Hockey Operations is tremendous for our members and for me personally," said Scherr.  "The Conference's inaugural season begins in about 18 months and there are many tasks to complete in advance of dropping the first puck.  I will be relying on Joe to ensure that everything relating to hockey operations will be the best in intercollegiate athletics."

Novak, who played ice hockey in semi-professional ranks and junior hockey in Germany and throughout Europe early in his career, says he is thrilled to become part of the new conference.

"I am grateful to Commissioner Scherr and the Conference members for this remarkable opportunity," said Novak.  "This position is both a great challenge and a great opportunity and, with so much to do, I look forward to working closely with the Conference athletic directors and coaches and to getting to work."