A look at the numbers

Bonin 21 posted this graphic on Gopher Puck Live and it's give a good illustration on what UND Fighting Sioux hockey has accomplished in college hockey the last 20 years. UND will leave the WCHA with the edge over Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Related articles

• Jeff Dubay resurfaces - talks about his addiction
• Nick Bjugstad returns to the Gophers

Dog Days of Summer Links...

This summer has been slower hockey news wise than last summer – not a lot has happened this summer – last summer the college hockey world blew up, with the formation of the NCHC. Another two leagues, merged to form the nWCHA.

A lot of people are also watching the 2012 Summer Olynpics... I also must admit, that I have not watched any of the Olympics except for the woman's volleyball game yesterday between the USA and Brazil.

Looks like former Boston College Eagles Cory Schneider is going to be the man between the pipes for the Vancouver Cancuks and Roberto Luongo could be headed to South Florida. The fact the Panthers aren’t going to trade Gopher forward Nick Bjugstad also show how much they like the young forward.

Kevin Allen, USA Today --- 2. Roberto Luongo hasn't been traded: The Florida Panthers are the best fit for the Vancouver Canucks goalie, but GM Dale Tallon won't give up prized prospect Nick Bjugstad to land him. The Panthers are as excited about his potential as they are about Jonathan Huberdeau. Bjugstad is playing at the University of Minnesota and seems ready to play in the NHL. Luongo was popular when he played in Florida before, plus he could be the lift the team needs to offset big moves by the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. Canucks GM Mike Gillis is acting as if he is willing to go into the season with Luongo on his roster. But that would clearly be an uncomfortable situation with Cory Schneider seemingly set to be No. 1. Plus, no GM wants a $5.333 million cap hit as his backup goalie. Keep in mind that the Toronto Maple Leafs still are interested in upgrading their goaltending.

Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson is coming back to the Ottawa Senators for a 17th season, Alfredsson is 39-years-old and will turn 40 on December 11, 2012.

Redwing77’s favorite over-hyped goalie Cristobal Huet wants to play in the NHL after spending two seasons playing hockey in Europe.

Nail Yakupov, the Edmonton Oilers first round draft pick is going to play in the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge in Yaroslavl and Halifax, N.S., in August. The Oilers have gotten the first over-all pick in the past three drafts.

David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail asked the question if revenue sharing is the only way to avoid a lockout?

It is clear from union sources that whenever it is made, the players’ proposal will suggest far more revenue sharing between the league’s richest and poorest teams.

“It’s a key component of the system we have now and will be a key component of any system we have in place,” said former player Mathieu Schneider, special assistant to NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr. “If the overall goal is the health of the entire league, then there needs to be some meaningful revenue sharing.”

When he was head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Fehr was the architect of the revenue sharing that was introduced in 1996. Now, 48 per cent of the revenue of MLB teams is subject to revenue sharing, which includes 31 per cent of the richest teams` local revenue.

It will be interesting to see if the bigger/richer teams will buy into revenue sharing or not?

Former SCSU Husky Matt Hendricks and former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise both think highly of the Capitals new head coach Adam Oates. The former Boston Bruins and RPI forward was an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils last season.

Katie Carrera, Washington Post --- Matt Hendricks, who resides in his native Minnesota during the offseason, said he’s eager to work with the Hall of Famer. Before the hiring was even official, Hendricks received a strong endorsement of Oates from fellow Minnesotan Zach Parise when the two played in a charity game together.

Parise “said he had an incredible time working with him and that he learned a lot,” Hendricks said in a phone interview this month. “That’s definitely a good and impressive thing to hear coming from Zach Parise.”

Hendricks added that everything Oates said about ratcheting up the offensive game and playing a style similar to what the Devils and Kings displayed in the Stanley Cup final is appealing.

A Tradition of Excellence has the former Fighting Sioux players and who is left to be signed. Looks like Jason Blake and Mike Commodore are the two remaining players yet to be signed both are unrestricted free agents.

Jason Blake Anaheim UFA
Taylor Chorney Edmonton UFA St. Louis 1 Year, 2-Way Contract
Mike Commodore Tampa Bay UFA
Matt Frattin Toronto RFA Toronto 2 Years, $1.7 Million
Chay Genoway Minnesota RFA Minnesota 2 Years, 2-Way Contract
Brian Lee Tampa Bay RFA Tampa Bay 2 Years, $2.3 Million
T.J. Oshie St Louis RFA St. Louis 5 Years, $20.9 Million
Zach Parise New Jersey UFA Minnesota 13 Years, $98 Million
Chris Porter St Louis UFA St. Louis 1 Year, 2-Way Contract
Chris VandeVelde Edmonton RFA Edmonton 1 Year, 2-Way Contract
Matt Watkins Phoenix UFA NY Islanders 1 Year, 2-Way Contract

UCF gets the NCAA Hammer - Well sort of...

The NCAA has been really busy as of late – first PSU and now UCF – Montana is still being scrutinized by the NCAA for some of their transgressions… Their main buzz word is lack of institutional control… I think this is why some were concerned about UND being on NCAA sanctions. After seeing how some have hammered I am worried as well. At least in this case this instance corrective action was not taken unilaterally.

[Official Press Release]

The University of Central Florida exhibited a lack of institutional control and was responsible for impermissible recruiting activities and extra benefits, according to a decision announced today by the Division I Committee on Infractions.

The case centered on what the committee noted was an ever-increasing problem in college athletics today, namely the involvement of outside third parties with prospects and student-athletes. This impermissible activity also resulted in findings of unethical conduct for the former director of athletics and a former assistant football coach and a failure to monitor by the head men’s basketball coach.

According to the findings, the impermissible recruiting activity undertaken by these third parties, who through their activity became athletics representatives of UCF, was both known by athletics department personnel, and, in some cases encouraged. As a result of the activity, the penalties in this case include five years of probation, a postseason ban in men’s basketball and football, show-cause orders for athletics department personnel, scholarship reductions, recruiting restrictions, a vacation of men’s basketball records and a $50,000 fine.

Two athletics representatives, one of whom was a nonscholastic coach, had significant telephone, off-campus and on-campus recruiting contact with six men’s basketball and five football prospective student-athletes. The nonscholastic coach’s recruiting activity led several prospects and parents to believe that he was a coach for the university.

It was evident that this athletics representative “was making an effort to develop a network of relationships with prospective student-athletes and, in turn, expand his sphere of influence within the collegiate coaching community,” according to the committee’s report.

Additionally, the representatives provided more than $16,000 to three prospects and two UCF student-athletes. Specifically, the representatives provided travel expenses, cash payments, tuition and a laptop computer.

The former director of athletics and the former assistant football coach engaged in unethical activity, according to the committee’s findings. Both individuals knowingly provided false and misleading information during interviews with UCF compliance and NCAA enforcement staff. Further, the former director of athletics failed to take steps to prevent the involvement of boosters in recruiting activities, and on at least one occasion, he became involved in a violation as a result of the representatives’ activity. The former director of athletics claimed that he was not aware of recruiting rules and thus did not know he was engaging in impermissible activity. The committee noted, “As the leader of the athletics department, it is incumbent upon the director of athletics to know basic rules governing the Association.”

The head men’s basketball coach failed to monitor when he did not stop or discourage the representatives’ activities, ask reasonable questions about the circumstances or report the violations. The report notes, “A head coach is not required to investigate wrongdoing, but is expected to recognize potential NCAA violations, address them and report them to the athletics administration.”

Because of the scope and nature of the findings, UCF lacked institutional control. This finding is supported by the fact that the UCF athletics department staff allowed third parties to be involved in recruiting activity and gave these individuals benefits and favors, including event tickets and access to the program.

Monday Links...

UND's NCHC rival the SCSU Huskies are making improvements to the National Hockey Center. Here is the link to the construction camera... [Click to Link] You can go back and see what they have changed.

Michigan Defenseman John Merrill is not going to go the professional route and will return to Michigan for his junior season. [The Michigan Daily]

Wisconsin Badgers defenseman John Ramage was at the Calgary Flames Development Camp this summer and this video was on the Flames official web page. John is the son of Former NHL great Rob Ramage that also played for the Calgary Flames..

Here is the video of former SCSU Huskies David Eddy who was also at the Calgary Flames development Camp as well.



Kim from Runs on Duncan had this observations of Joe Gleason...

Observations - Joe Gleason really showed off his wheels today. He led some rushes into the offensive zone and got back to backcheck quickly. He was pretty impressive today in his overall game.

A few things to get your blood rolling....

It’s the dog days of summer and it’s almost August and there isn’t a lot of hockey news to be had right now because it’s not hockey season.

Most college hockey fans are sitting on pins and needles waiting to see who else from their favorite college hockey team is going to sign a professional contract or bolt for the CHL.

The WCHA has lost a total of 12 players this summer already, the Denver University Pioneers are the team that has lost the most players this summer during the off-season.

Matthew Semisch from Radio Free Omaha has a great read on UNO situation; the Mavericks have had a tough summer in Omaha, Nebraska.

Also, the CBA is being negotiated in New York and there are a lot of us that are hoping that we won’t lose one minute of the NHL season. Especially, after the Stanley Cup Playoffs proved to be some very good hockey.

There is one NCAA Hockey Player on 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge in August, from this roster of 28 players, 22 will make the WJC roster in December 26, 2012 to January 5, 2013. This replaces the Canada WJC development camp from the summer.

The ice is coming out at the REA... s/t to Peter Bottini...

Larry Brown Sports has a very interesting article that is sure to spark some debate. Apparently, Sidney Crosby is the reason that Claude Giroux had to have surgery on both of his wrists after the Stanley Cup Playoffs were over.

The Flyers are feeling a little down after losing out on the Shea Weber sweepstakes. I am not sure if the rest of the league is going to feel sorry for the Flyers.

Frank Seravalli,Philly.com --- "I am sure it has been done before," Holmgren said of his summer. "We tried to add, in our minds, one of the best defensemen in the game to a good, young, up-and-coming team, and it didn't work. It was structured in a way we were hopeful they wouldn't match it. I learned at about 3:15 [on Tuesday] afternoon, and the initial reaction was disappointment, but I guess we move on."

Now, after Weber addressed the media, Holmgren probably can't help but feel a little bit used. Weber certainly seemed excited in a conference call, expressing his desire to finish his career in Nashville by asking the Predators for a no-movement clause in his new deal.

I know this one is old but It was a good read.

Lynn Zinser, Slap Shots Blog --- Just as the N.H.L. takes its turn in the line of lockout-mania, following the N.F.L. and N.B.A. to that well-worn labor dispute podium to howl that it needs economic relief from the players union, it prepared for this fight by doing what it does best. That is, throw gigantic and ridiculously long contracts at available free agents.

Yes, N.H.L. franchises are in dire financial straits, they will tell you, because of huge, onerous player contracts like the ones Minnesota just showered on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. This is why the owners want a new collective bargaining agreement.

The Wild was not formerly a player in most discussions involving 13-year, $98 million contracts, but they now have twin ones. Only a few months ago, the Wild owner Craig Leipold told The Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “We’re not making money, and that’s one reason we need to fix our system. We need to fix how much we’re spending right now.”

Skrudland, 'Rocco at 90 Percent'

I am just catching up with a few things after being in Orlando, Florida this past week. There were a few people that were concerned about Rocco Grimaldi's knee and how he was progressing.

I know Brad E. Schlossman had posted somewhere earlier this summer that everything is going fine for the UND forward Rocco Grimaldi and that he should be ready for the start of the season.

I know this tweet from Chris Peters has got a few people concerned as well. I would imagine if Grimaldi has a strong first half of the season he will get a look from Team USA for the WJC. I am hoping that Chris can get us some more details as the summer goes along.

On the 14th of July the Florida Panthers' Director of Player Development Brian Skrudland was on the Pipeline show with Guy Flaming asked Brin Skrudland if Rocco Grimaldi was able to take part in the Panthers prosepect camp.

“No… He [Grimaldi] has been on skates – he has been training hard – the decision was just in a sense that he is that he is just really starting to feel comfortable and the one things about these kids even though it’s a development camp the competition is incredible ,” Skrudland said.

“That’s what makes this guy’s such quality people, here we are and we are out having some fun but I will tell you that each one of these kids hates to lose. I would have hated to play marbles with these guys when I was younger cause they are all bigger stronger and they probably would’ve all beat the living crap out of me especially with the mouth I had when I played the game of hockey.

But you know – they … I think for in Rocco’s case and in Carter Brickley’s case these two dealt with some injuries this past season, they were working hard off the ice and on the ice with their trainers. …To come to camp and have a setback wouldn’t be the right directions. We want them both to go back to their teams this year have a fabulous year and next year will be another opportunity.”

Guy asked Skrudland, “any reason to think that he won’t be ready to start the regular season, Rocco I mean?”

“None what- so-ever, none what-so- ever; he’s… his rehab has been tremendous, he’s almost working at 90% right so, throughout the remainder of the... the summer that strength should continue he should be just fine.”

You can listen to this podcast from July 14, 2012 by clicking on this link. 

This past Tuesday, Dillion Simpson was on the Pipeline show this past week... [segment 1], [segment 2], [segment 3]

Megna leaves UNO after one season

In reading this World Herald article from Rob White this early departures really doesn't make a lot of sense as well - Jayson Megna who tallied (13g-18a-31pts) didn't exactly stand out last season as one of the top players in the WCHA, but I guess he would like to take his chances on developing in the minor leagues.

Rob White, World Herald --- Jayson Megna, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s second-leading returning scorer, decided to turn pro with one of three NHL organizations and won’t return for his sophomore season.

Megna, who attended a development camp with Pittsburgh earlier this month, said he’d decide among the Penguins, Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets this weekend. He said he had six or seven offers in all.

“Obviously it was a tough decision for me to leave school after playing there for a year, playing with my brother (defenseman Jaycob) and my other teammates,” Megna said. “I love the city and the fans. But I made a decision that I think is best for me and my career.”

Megna, who made the WCHA all-freshman team in 2011-12 after recording 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points, becomes another high-profile offseason departure for a program that slumped at the end of a 14-18-6 season.

Megna will be the 12th player this summer from the WCHA to for e-o their college eligibility and sign a professional contract.  Megna is an older player at 22 so he won't be going to the CHL route. 

Haula in trouble in Stillwater...

According to the Star and Tribune Gopher's Junior Erik Haula had a bit of an incident outside a Stillwater Bar at closing time. You got to know that WCHA fans of opposition teams are going to have a good time with this one.

An "extremely intoxicated" Minnesota Gopher hockey player stood on a street in Stillwater after bar closing time and urinated for others to witness, police said.

Forward Erik Haula, 21, was cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct early Saturday and then turned over to a friend, whom police described as "somewhat sober."

The officer wrote in his report that he witnessed Haula "urinating while standing on Water St. on the west side of the Freight House [restaurant and bar] in plain view of the bar crowd after bar closing."

The officer also noted in his report that even though "it was clear that he was extremely intoxicated," the 2009 Minnesota Wild draft choice "was very cooperative. No problems."

Garry Bowman, a spokesman for the Athletic Department, said Friday that "Coach Lucia is aware of the incident. He has spoken to Erik and will handle it as an internal team matter."

Haula, a native of Finland, will be a junior this coming season for the Gophers. He led the team last season with 49 points, scoring 20 goals and earning 29 assists.

It is too bad that the Minnesota Gophers don't travel to Grand Forks, ND this season.

First off, I realize the college kids drink but peeing in the street after a bar closes is stupid – and is grounds for being arrested and or cited – just as peeing in an elevator is – neither offense is really better than the other one.

Will hockey go to a luxury tax like the MLB

This is an idea that would run counter to Redwing77's contraction idea that he threw out there yesterday in be the NHL Commissioner for a day. I kind of like the idea too - if your team goes over the salary cap, then that team would pay a luxury tax like Major League Baseball has. I don't know if you could get the more successful and more lucrative teams in the NHL to sign off on a deal like this.

Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.COM --- Instead the NHLPA is sitting, waiting and taking measure of which way the wind is blowing before releasing its own counter-proposal. One would expect that counter-move is coming sooner rather than later, and that it’s going to include creative ideas about revenue sharing.

After all, Fehr is the same union head that oversaw the change to a soft salary cap in Major League Baseball that essentially boils down to a luxury tax with heavy revenue sharing controls. The New York Yankees spend like drunken sailors and poverty-stricken teams like the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates end up the beneficiaries of the extra funds.

Fehr and the NHLPA have designs on something similar in the NHL where teams like the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs have seemingly endless reserves of cash they could call upon when needed. That would make things more manageable for teams like the New Jersey Devils and Phoenix Coyotes that are facing economic difficulties. That system could help the “struggling” small market franchises that are driving the owners to a “we are losing money” argument despite a record $3.3 billion in revenues last season.

But it would also be a large departure for teams like New York, Toronto, Chicago and Boston that don’t want to bankroll the rest of the league based on their own successful business models. It’s not the business that any owners signed up for when they joined the NHL, but it might just be the best solution to get everybody what they’re seeking.

One thing that proposal will do: get the small market and big market NHL owners fighting among each other given the very different situations they’re each facing.

What do you think? Also, do you think the NHL is going to have a prolonged work stoppage or are the two sides going to be able to work out their differences quickly. Some have said that the NHL has a lot to lose if they don't have their winter classic and wouldn't like to have a long drawn out work stoppage.

Oh Yeah they have a web page...

s/t to Bridget Brooks of Mav Puck - Oh yeah the webpage is back up again. Looks good. I guess the discussion from the last week is a moot point eh?

Like I said - the NCHC doesn't play for another year if they have a web page or not is inconsequential and some seem to think that it's a bigger deal than it really was that the NCHC allowed "THE DOMAIN EXPIRED"... By the way the new site looks good.

Big Ten lacks a page for their hockey teams too...

First off, we all know that there is always going to be a lot of hate going the NCHC's way. That's a fact - some take it further than others. No mater what happens to the NCHC the league is always going to have it's detractors.

Checking the calender, the NCHC or the B1G have yet to play a single hockey game - so neither league would need to have a web page yet.

I would be willing to bet that most of the NCHC fans don't care if the NCHC had a webpage and let it lapse either. I personally am happy that we don't have anyone running the league named Shepherd or McLeod.

Of course we have the fans that exclaim that the NCHC is going down the tubes because they let their web page lapse. As far as I know the NCHC hasn't hired a media relations person yet - most of the press releases are coming out of Denver University. 

I guess we could start the, oh my God the Big Ten Conference doesn't have a web link for Men Ice Hockey. How can that be? They must be poorly run.

Be the NHL Commissioner for One Day - RW77

Ok, I got this idea from ESPN writers Tim Boughton, David Walton, and Paul Grant.  You can read their entries here.  Here are the "rules."  You are commissioner instead of Gary Bettman for one day.  Every rule you make would theoretically stand within reason.  EVERYTHING regarding the game is fair play.

The comment section is for readers to give suggestions of their own ideas.  I encourage all of the Goon World writers who are NHL fans to compose their own version.

Lastly:  All suggestions in this blog are my own.  They are not the opinions of anyone associated with the NHL, ESPN, or any outside entity.

Here we go!

First, contraction and relocation of teams.  I would relocate two teams:  Phoenix and New York Islanders.  It's hard to name a team like the Islanders for relocation after their storied history but their glory days are well in the past and they are now in a market that cannot do them justice.  Phoenix is just common sense.  The places I'd consider?  Houston, Texas, Las Vegas, NV, Hamilton, ON, and Quebec City, Que.  Houston is an intriguing, but risky option.  It may not be any better than Phoenix.  However, like Las Vegas, it does keep with the philosophy of trying to bring the NHL product to a non-conventional market.  Las Vegas has its own issues, but I can't see it being any worse than Columbus, Atlanta, and Phoenix.  ESPN talks about places like Halifax, NS and Seattle, WA.  Halifax probably won't work, but if you were to take a risk on a Canadian market, it might be the city to go to.  As for Seattle?  No.  Lived there for two years and NO ONE cared about hockey.  NO ONE.  This has Florida Panthers written ALL OVER IT. 

Anyways, contraction is next.  Florida and Columbus, you'd been great.  Gave it the old try, but.  See ya later.  Hold no regrets because there was nothing you could have done.  Hold the dispersal draft in September.  Earlier in he month the better.

Second, redesignation of the job currently held by Brenden Shanahan.  Brenden Shanahan's position currently is under the direction of one of the possibly worst discipline bosses in NHL history in Colin Campbell.  Unless I can fire Campbell, I would remove Shanahan's position from Campbell's department and make Shanahan report directly to the Commissioner and no one else.  I believe that Shanahan was hamstrung by idiocy above him and in many ways was forced to make some of the decisions he did or was completely removed from the equation altogether.  Reemphasize that NO ONE is exempt.  Not some noname 1 game wonder.  Not Sidney "Hockey Jesus" Crosby.  No one.  Then sit back and watch what happens.  If things do not improve next season, then Shanahan is removed and someone else takes over.

Third, ok, I said assuming I cannot fire Campbell...  well I'm contradicting myself because I'm firing Gary Bettman.  The guy is a snake.  Yes, you can argue that in many cases the NHL has improved under his watch but in other cases, such as overexpansion, TV contracts, and labor negotiations, it's been a train wreck.  His penchant for latching onto one player and/or one team and riding them like a show pony at the 4-H Invitational isn't helping.  We need a commissioner that sees value in ALL teams equally regardless of whether or not blockbuster players like Crosby or Malkin or Ovechkin play for them.  Bettman sees the rest of the league outside Pittsburgh as an afterthought and all other than Crosby as also rans.  It might have worked for Michael Jordan but it doesn't work here.  I don't know who I'd hire.  The blog writers at ESPN suggested George McPhee and a list of HOFers like Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, etc.  I'm not connected enough to make a suggestion.  All I know is who NOT to make commissioner.  That falls to Gretzky and Lemieux.  Gretzky because he's shown that in administrative capacities, he's a failure.  Lemieux because he is two faced.  He despises cheap shots and foul play in the NHL yet refuses to point out his own team as leading the way in that category.

Fourth, fighting.  I will not ban fighting.  However, I do not like fighting either.  The instigator rule has been a black eye on the sport.  Yes, it's done some good:  Such as making the carrying of an Enforcer type player very costly to a team.  But it also has promoted more cheap shots.  But the problem of fighting goes BEYOND just this in the fact that fights often happen after clean, legit hits that are interpretted as dirty.  Hockey is a fast game, sure, but just because there was a big hit doesn't mean you need to drop the gloves.  So in the end, I'd drop the instigator rule and then start up a committee consisting of former NHL players, current NHL players, and NHL officials, under the directorship of Brendan Shanahan to study this issue and make rule changes accordingly.

Fifth, rule changes in general.  Keep the Hybrid icing.  Lose the Tapezoid.  Listen to innovators and be active trying things out in junior leagues or whatnot.  But when the next big batch of rule changes come out..... STOP.  Let's not change the rules every year or two or five.  And lets not make drastic changes to the game without giving it some serious thought through observation at a lower level of hockey.

Lastly, I'd make revenue sharing as close to 50-50 as feasible.  I cannot in good conscience make it 50-50 but I could see something like 52-48 or 53-47.

Why should we care if the NCHC doesn't have a web page yet?

First off, it's true if you click on the link for the NCHC there will "not" be a web page for the NCHC. Second, can someone give me the link to the B1G hockey page.... [Crickets Chirping] So it’s one year plus before the NCHC kicks off – someone who hates everything that is the NCHC hockey – seems to think it’s important that the NCHC has a webpage/home page. Really! Are you kidding me? First off webpages don’t make a hockey conference that hasn’t even begun play yet.

Also, don't believe the hype by some of the self appointed experts that say that the NCHC doesn't have any name recognition and or appeal... The NCHC is going to be a power conference whether some want to acknowledge it or not.  

It's Hammer time for UND hockey

In what could be considered as a interesting - if not shocking development - UND hockey as well as other UND sports will have a new face on the television screen this up coming season. Apparently, Dan Hammer will be the voice of UND Hockey instead of Pat Sweeney.

First off, I am actually shocked that we will no longer see Pat Sweeney calling UND hockey games. Sweeney has been calling UND hockey games for a very long time. Having had the opportunity to meet Pat Sweeney during the Wednesday press conferences, I can say that Pat Sweeney is a very nice person and a fun person to interact with.

Big day in Hockey....

18, Nathan Horton, Bruins RW Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, December 18, 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the middle of the dog day of summer  - when we should be thinking about which watering hole we should be cooling ourselves off in - there are actually quite a few hockey stories... It's hot summer days like this that makes hockey fans long for the hockey season.

First off, the Boston Bruins got some Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid and forward Nathan Horton have been cleared to resume contact.

Douglas Flynn, NESN.COM --- There was also positive news to report for the players Julien will have at his disposal in the coming season, with general manager Peter Chiarelli offering optimistic updates on all of the Bruins recovering from injuries suffered last season.

The biggest of those is top-line forward Nathan Horton, who suffered his second concussion in less than a year on a hit from Philadelphia's Tom Sestito on Jan. 22. Horton did not play again last season, but Chiarelli confirmed that the rugged winger should be ready to go when the Bruins get back on the ice.

"Nathan Horton has been cleared for contact," Chiarelli said. "And by all accounts from our medical staff will be ready to play when it's time to play." Horton's first season in Boston ended in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final when he suffered a concussion on Aaron Rome's late hit.

After a slow start, he had returned strong from that injury with 17-15-32 totals in just 46 games last year, putting him on a 30-goal pace before suffering his second concussion in Philadelphia. Horton's absence had a ripple effect throughout the lineup and contributed to Boston's struggles to score at times, most notably in the first-round loss to Washington in the playoffs.

His return to the lineup, and his return to his pre-injury form, will be a key for the Bruins in the upcoming season.

The Bruins will also benefit from the return of defenseman Adam McQuaid, who has been "completely cleared" to return from his season-ending concussion, according to Chiarelli. The Bruins GM also noted that the oblique injury that hampered center Patrice Bergeron in the postseason will not be an issue going forward. "

In case we need to have our memory refreshed this hit by the Flyers Tom Sestito on Nathan Horton that took out Horton for the rest of the season. I believe that getting Horton back is like a free agent pickup for the Boston Bruins.



In one of the more shocking hockey news stories of the day - the Nashville Predators matched the Philadelphia Flyers ridiculous and expensive offer sheet. In my opinion, it was nice to see the Predators step up and match the Flyers offer sheet. It's kind of a thumb in the eyes for the Flyers.

Nashville, Tenn. (July 24, 2012) – In the most important hockey transaction in franchise history, Nashville Predators Chairman Tom Cigarran, President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile and CEO Jeff Cogen announced today that the team has matched the 14-year, $110 million offer sheet between the Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Shea Weber, insuring that the Predators' captain will remain with the franchise for the next 14 years. The decision to enter into the largest contract in franchise history was made by all parts of the organization, including ownership, hockey operations and business operations.

As the organization analyzed the overall situation and worked toward a conclusion, the decision boiled down to three questions:

- Was Shea Weber the individual that this franchise wanted to lead our team, a team that would compete for the Stanley Cup every year, for the next 14 years?

- Would matching the offer sheet be in the best long-term interest of the team and organization?

- Would a decision not to match the offer sheet send a negative message to current Predators players and other NHL organizations, a message that the Predators would only go so far to protect its best players and be pushed around by teams with "deep pockets?"

Byfuglien skates on Impaired-boating charge

The Jets Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has reached a plea agreement and will not be charged with the impaired-boating charge. I think it's a win for the Byfuglien camp. The Winnipeg Jets said that they're happy to have this incident behind them because now Byfuglien can concentrate on just playing hockey.

Mike McIntyre, Winnipeg Free Press -- Dustin Byfuglien has resolved his criminal trial in much the same way he's becoming known for playing hockey -- leaving a trail of mystery, debate and controversy in his wake.

The talented but sometimes frustrating Winnipeg Jets defenceman walked into a downtown Minneapolis courthouse Monday morning expecting to begin a week-long jury trial. But he skated out of danger less than an hour later, courtesy of a last-minute plea bargain that leaves many questions unanswered, including what prompted authorities to believe he was boating while impaired last summer.

Byfuglien pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge of careless boating, which pertains only to the fact he didn't have proper lighting on his boat when stopped by police last summer. He was given a $1,000 fine and 30-day jail sentence, of which 28 days were suspended and two days converted to community service work. In exchange, prosecutors dropped more serious charges of impaired boating and refusing a blood or urine test.

The suspended time would only be revisited if Byfuglien re-offends during that period.

Bruins extend their head coach Claude Julien

The Boston Bruins have signed their head coach to a new contract. Julien lead the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup championship during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. There is a news conference scheduled for today at 12:00 noon eastern time.

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today, July 23, that the club has signed Head Coach Claude Julien to a multi-year contract extension. Chiarelli and Julien will speak to media about the extension on Tuesday, July 24.M

Julien, named the 28th head coach in Bruins history on June 21, 2007, led Boston to the club’s first Stanley Cup Championship in 39 years in 2011, following a 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7. In five seasons behind the B’s bench, Julien has led the club to an overall record of 228-132-50 (.617 win percentage). His 410 Bruins games coached rank third all-time in club history and he is fourth all-time in Boston wins, trailing only Art Ross (361), Milt Schmidt (245) and Don Cherry (231). During his tenure, Julien’s squads have never missed the postseason, registering a career playoff record of 36-27 (.571 win percentage) to rank first all-time among B’s bench bosses in post-season victories.

In January, Julien was named head coach for Zdeno Chara’s team at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, making his second appearance, having served as head coach at the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal.

In 2011-12, Julien led the Black & Gold to its fifth consecutive season recording 91 or more points with 102, and the second straight season above 100, after reaching 103 points in 2010-11. Under Julien, the B’s did not suffer a regulation loss in the month of November with a 12-0-1 record and recorded the most points (25) in a single month since a 25-point March in 1978. It also marked the first full calendar month without a regulation loss since finishing January, 1969 with a 10-0-4 mark. Boston’s 10-game win streak from November 1-23 tied for the fourth-longest streak in team history and was their longest win streak since a 10-game stretch from December 12, 2008-January 1, 2009. Within that same span, Julien led the Bruins to a 15-game point streak (14-0-1) from November 1-December 5, the club’s longest such streak since 1983.

The 2011-12 season for Julien also marked the first time his Bruins swept Toronto since the Maple Leafs joined the Eastern Conference in 1998-99, in addition to registering the best single-season shootout record (9-3) recorded in team history. The ability to keep his bench composed late in games led the Black & Gold to record a +42 third-period goal differential this season, which was higher than the overall differential of all but four NHL clubs. Julien’s B’s also posted a league-best overall goal differential of +67.

So is Montana next?

You have to wonder if the University of Montana is next? While the situation at the University of Montana isn't quite as bad as the issues at Penn State - the situation is not good either - let's not forget that the NCAA did set a precedent with Penn State University.

Montana is sitting out there with some serious allegations of criminal wrong doing. I don't know if I would like to be their athletic director right now. In fact he might be just a little bit worried; I wouldn't want to be an administrator on  a campus that had the attention of the NCAA right now. 

Gwen Floario, Missoulian.com --- “The NCAA just can’t look only at Penn State if they take this leap,” said Ridpath, author of “Tainted Glory: Marshall University, the NCAA, and One Man’s Fight for Justice.”

The NCAA has not said what brought its investigators to UM. But the school also is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for how it handles reports of rape and sexual assault, and the U.S. Department of Education has its own investigation into allegations of harassment by members of the football team.

UM President Royce Engstrom said Monday he hasn’t heard from the NCAA since the organization notified him Jan. 30 of its investigation into unspecified allegations. At that point, the NCAA said such investigations usually take about six months.

“I don’t know how strictly they adhere to those timelines they set for themselves,” Engstrom said. “I think until we hear from the NCAA we are just going to go about improving things the way that I’ve discussed throughout this.”

-----(SNIP)------

When the alleged gang rapes at UM originally came to light in December, then-Vice President Jim Foley described them as “date rapes” and later, in an email obtained in a joint FOIA request by the Missoulian and the Wall Street Journal, complained about media accounts that didn’t use his preferred term. In another email, he questioned whether a victim who had spoken publicly about her ordeal had violated the Student Code of Conduct.

Engstrom announced last month that Foley had resigned as vice president, although he will retain his university job and nearly $126,000 salary through the end of his contract in June 2013.

The Paterno family speaks

 I take issue with the first statement right out of the gate... What do you think?

Here is the Paterno family’s full statement:
 
Sexual abuse is reprehensible, especially when it involves children, and no one starting with Joe Paterno condones or minimizes it. The horrific acts committed by Jerry Sandusky shock the conscience of every decent human being. How Sandusky was able to get away with his crimes for so long has yet to be fully understood, despite the claims and assertions of the Freeh report.

The release of the Freeh report has triggered an avalanche of vitriol, condemnation and posthumous punishment on Joe Paterno. The NCAA has now become the latest party to accept the report as the final word on the Sandusky scandal. The sanctions announced by the NCAA today defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator without any input from our family or those who knew him best.

That the President, the Athletic Director and the Board of Trustees accepted this unprecedented action by the NCAA without requiring a full due process hearing before the Committee on Infractions is an abdication of their responsibilities and a breach of their fiduciary duties to the University and the 500,000 alumni. Punishing past, present and future students of the University because of Sandusky’s crimes does not serve justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked response to the public’s understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did.

The point of due process is to protect against this sort of reflexive action. Joe Paterno was never interviewed by the University or the Freeh Group. His counsel has not been able to interview key witnesses as they are represented by counsel related to ongoing litigation. We have had no access to the records reviewed by the Freeh group. The NCAA never contacted our family or our legal counsel. And the fact that several parties have pending trials that could produce evidence and testimony relevant to this matter has been totally discounted.

Unfortunately all of these facts have been ignored by the NCAA, the Freeh Group and the University.

Hakstol, 'Joe Gleason the epitome of a great teammate'

I don't know how any of us can think about hockey right now, when it's been this hot. I saw this video over on Brad Schlossman's blog and it got me thinking about Joe Gleason and his style of play - I call him the utility player because he does whatever is asked of him and has played every position but goal for the Fighting Sioux.

Recently, Gleason was at the Chicago Blackhawks prospects camp.

This is what UND head coach Dave Hakstol had to say when he was asked about Joe Gleason last season when asked about the junior forward's selfless play.

“Joe Gleason the epitome of a great teammate.”

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