NHL Hockey fans you have options

This post was originally posted at the Hockey Writers.

Due to the impending and inevitable NHL lockout this season a lot of hockey fans of the National Hockey league are going to be looking for other options to fill their NHL hockey void.

May I suggest, giving college hockey a try to fill your NHL hockey void.  

For the college hockey fans this is going to be a very exciting season. First time fans are also going to find out that this is going to be very historic season in the college hockey world as well.

Let me get you up to speed on what is happening in the college hockey world.

Historic Season

The landscape has changed drastically since the summer of 2011 – this was due to a very generous donation from Penn State University alumnus Terry Pegula in September of 2010  – that very large and generous donation allowed Penn State University to start a men’s and women’s division I college hockey team.    

With Terry Pegula, who is the founder and chief executive of East Resources Inc., opened his “rather large” wallet and wrote Penn State a check for $88 million to help the Nittany Lions build Pegula Ice arena.  None the less, that donation rocked the college hockey world, now that the Big Ten “will have” six teams that play college hockey – the B1G by conference rules is required to have a B1G hockey conference – with this generous donation by Pegula – this new conference will begin play during the 2012-13 season. 

With the addition of one University joining college hockey – a tidal wave of change came to college hockey landscape that set the ball in motion for what ended up being a very chaotic summer. With a swipe of a pen – the big name/money schools from the Big Ten Schools that were in both the WCHA and the CCHA dedided to leave the WCHA and CCHA conferences and form the Big Ten Hockey Conference.

On the outside, it would “appear” that the transition for the B1G schools was for the most part seamless.

Not to be out done and in response to the Big Ten hockey conference formation; Miami University from the CCHA decided to join North Dakota, Denver University, Colorado College, and University of Nebraska Omaha to form the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

The NCHC transition was seen as a little rockier as the NCHC schools made what some in the media perceived as a few unimpressive stumbles out of the starting blocks. One of these perceived blunders was in the NCHC’s attempt to lure Notre Dame to become a member of the six team super conference.

That effort fell short when the NCHC leadership didn’t wasn’t too keen on the idea of Notre Dame having their own television deal – the NCHC was looking at inking their national television deal with a sports network.

Hockey East had no problem with Notre Dame having their own television deal and Notre Dame decided to join Hockey East in October of 2011.  

While some fans were perplexed with why the NCHC didn’t look past Notre Dames TV deal the NCHC decided to move on and signed a television deal of their own with CBS Sports Network in the February of 2012. League fans of the NCHC weren’t happy with this deal because many of them thought an exclusivity deal with the NCHC that guarantees at least 18 games was as step down from their current television deals.

In some cases it was.

While the NCHC lost the Fighting Irish, they gained Western Michigan University of the CCHA and Saint Cloud State University of the WCHA.  

If your head is still spinning you’re not alone, the college hockey world wasn’t done changing – the remaining schools from the WCHA and CCHA merged into the WCHA – the CCHA which has been in existence for almost 40 seasons the league will disband after the 2012-13 season.

The new WCHA which will begin play during the 2013-14 season will have the following schools; Bemidji State University, Bowling Green University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Michigan Tech University, Northern Michigan University, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Alaska Anchorage.

If you thought the movement was over, it wasn’t.  Hockey East with the addition of Notre Dame was sitting at an unattractive and uneven number of 11 schools which makes conference scheduling more difficult. On June 21^st, 2012 Hockey East solved that scheduling issue and accepted the University of Connecticut Huskies of the Atlantic Hockey Association. The UCONN Huskies will begin Hockey East play during the 2014-15 season.

With what has happened the last few summers – this season could shape up to be an exciting season of college hockey – especially with a long term labor dispute – college hockey could take center stage.

The CCHA will play it’s final conference tourney of their history at the Joe Louis Arena on March 21-23 in Detroit and the WCHA will play their final conference tourney the same weekend at the Xcel Energy Center under the current WCHA. Old rivalries will have one more opportunity to renew themselves before teams go their separate ways.

There will be many opportunities to watch college hockey on television, if the NHL gets involved a long term lockout and ends up losing the whole season.

No one knows how long the NHL work stoppage will be if the NHL owners lock the players out.

That being said, an NHL lockout is bound to benefit of Division I college hockey. As we get closer to the season a full television schedule will come out and this is especially handy if you have the sports pack on DirecTV where you  can watch numerous games in three time zones.

Related articles

• Few things before bed...
• Big Ten lacks a page for their hockey teams too...
• UND's Andrew MacWilliam and Nate Ewell on the Pipeline show
• No NHL Hockey this season?

Few things before bed...

NDSU players disenfranchised entire state & possibly cost conservation $80M/year, yet Taylor and Bohl are angry people are talking about it?
— Mike McFeely (@MikeMcFeelyKFGO) September 9, 2012

Like him or hate him - Mick McFeely of KFGO radio out of Fargo, ND says some interesting things and with this tweet he nailed it. Dennis Anderson of the Star and Tribune also touched on this subject as well.

Also, I will be doing some writing for the Hockey Writers as well - as an NCAA hockey writers. This was posted on twitter as well tonight - I will be doing some writing for Inside Hockey but also the Hockey Writers as well. This blog will still be here as well.

Please give our new #NCAAHockey writer Eric Burton a follow @goon48 He'll have you covered all season!!
— THW - Combine (@THWCombine) September 10, 2012

Related articles

• Win at all costs is the message at NDSU
• So is NDSU setting precedence?
• Bison Football players making national news for voter fraud
• Are Canadian schools coming to Division I hockey?
• Defenseman Thomas Welsh de-commits from Penn State

Eastern Michigan thumbs nose at NCAA?

A friend of mine pinged me on twitter with this story this past Friday.

I was going to comment on this earlier but I was busy this weekend with other things, One has to wonder if Eastern Michigan University is pushing back against the NCAA - it's also interesting that they would go back to a logo that they have already retired. It will be interesting to see how the NCAA responds to this move by EMU.

You have to wonder if EMU is basically saying we don’t care what kind of repercussions the NCAA will throw at us for violating the NCAA policy on nicknames and logos... The NCAA has said that it deems Native American logos and imagery to hostile and abusive and the NCAA bans all Native American imagery at NCAA championship events - unless that college has approval from the Tribe that the logo is representing.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — When the Eastern Michigan University football team takes the field for its home opener this weekend, members of the school marching band will be sporting uniforms emblazoned with two of EMU's former logos, including one the school dropped 21 years ago amid criticism it was demeaning to Native Americans.

The Ypsilanti school will still be the Eagles — the nickname and mascot it adopted in 1991 when ditched the Hurons nickname. But EMU added its Hurons and Normalites logos to the uniforms band members will be sporting for Saturday's game against Illinois State, in the hopes that doing so will foster greater unity among its current and former students, including some who never got over the 1991 change.

"We still have Normalites who went to Michigan State Normal and are alive and wear their Normalite logo with pride," school President Susan Martin said, referring to period from the school's 1849 founding as Michigan State Normal College until 1929, when two students won a school contest by proposing "Hurons" as the new mascot. "We have many, many Hurons who are still Hurons in their heart to this day. And, of course, we have been the Eagles for 20 years.

"It's showing respect to the past but embracing the fact that we are all together under the block E and love Eastern," she told The Detroit News .

Critics contend that it's racist and demeaning for schools to use American Indian nicknames and mascots, and for years, the NCAA has been pushing schools to abandon them, threatening sanctions against schools that don't comply or don't get the blessing of the tribe whose name they're using.

@goon48"@ap_top25: Eastern Michigan brings back Indian logo, despite criticism apne.ws/RTQSoZ #emu #mac #und"
— Adam Pietruszewski (@adampiet) September 7, 2012

Related articles

• EMU brings back Indian logo, despite criticism
• EMU brings back Indian logo, despite criticism
• EMU brings back Indian logo, despite criticism
• EMU brings back Indian logo, despite criticism

Win at all costs is the message at NDSU

North Dakota State Bison athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I think I got this figured out; the message coming out of Fargo, ND – if you’re an athlete at North Dakota State University – more specifically – if you’re a starter on the Bison football team – you don’t have to suffer the consequences for your actions. Apparently, being called out in the media for your moronic and buffoonish actions is considered suffering enough. I am going to say Barbra Streisand on this one.

Apparently, North Dakota State University officials don’t think that it’s a big deal to subvert elections laws and commit election fraud – sounds like the NDSU football coach doesn't feel that players on his team need to follow the rules that the rest of society follows.

Kevin Schnepf, INFORUM --- After the 6,000 Bison fans who made the trip to Fort Collins celebrated yet another win over a big-time opponent, they couldn’t help but wonder if any of the Bison players are going to eventually face suspensions for their involvement in the highly publicized petition fraud case.

NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor quickly answered that question after the game:

“There are not going to be any suspensions,” Taylor emphatically said after the game. “These kids don’t deserve a suspension. I’m not going to suspend them and neither is Craig (head coach Craig Bohl). As far as we are concerned, it is over.”

This statement was made with NDSU President Dean Bresciani standing only a few feet away. Bresciani said he did not want to comment, saying he does not comment on inner-department matters.

This statement, no doubt, is going to add plenty of fodder for those who think the current 10 Bison players who were charged for forging names on petition drives should be suspended. There were even some Bison boosters at Saturday’s pregame tailgating festivities who were anticipating some sort of suspension once these players have their day in court.

“What’s going to happen in court, in my opinion, is going to be a lot less than what people think,” Taylor said. “At the end of the day, these kids have been through enough.”

All you have to do is read these quotes below by NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor – this is a text book definition of the arrogance by a public official – it’s also apparent that the NDSU athletic director is delusional and out of touch with reality. North Dakota State University is a public university that is paid for by public funds received from state income taxes, that the state of North Dakota assesses the good people of the great state of North Dakota – that means that the athletic department is accountable to us – the tax payers in North Dakota.

“It’s over,” Taylor reiterated. “They felt horrible, they felt horrible. Every day, their pictures are in the paper, day after day after day. It gets and old and it does get to them.

“They were villified many times over and to come out and perform like they did, it’s hats off to them. I’m tired of talking about it and I’m tired of seeing it in the paper. People need to move on because it’s not changin

Let’s look at it this way – you’re representatives of the defending FCS National Champion – players on your teams – some of which are starters (4) – committed a crime. That’s nothing to sneeze at – this isn’t a status offense – this is an actual Class Misdemeanor.

Schnepf: Taylor says players charged in petition fraud scandal won't be suspended #NDSUBison shar.es/uoHEz
— Eric Peterson (@FargoBigE) September 9, 2012

Caption?

@jocelamoureux17 has made it everyone.Not everyone can make the front page of the gf herald for wearing a costume. twitter.com/moniquelam7/st…
— Monique Lamoureux (@moniquelam7) September 7, 2012

Here was a picture of UND Women's Hockey forward/defense Monique Lamoureux... What's your captions?

Is B.U.’s hockey team an isolated incident or the norm?

This morning the popular discussion on twitter this morning – other than the President Obama’s speech – was the BU Hockey Task Force report that the Boston Globe had gotten their hands on. Let’s just put it this way – there were some interesting, chilling and puzzling revelations to come out of the that report. Some of the stuff that is in this Boston Globe newspaper isn’t very flattering and kind of sheds what I would call a negative light on the Boston University Hockey team.

After watching Penn State have the book thrown at them this summer for what the NCAA referred to as a lack of institutional control – I am beginning to see – albeit on a much smaller scale – what appears to be yet another big time high profile university, lacking some degree of institutional control.

What’s different this is that this sex scandal – if you want to call it that – was perpetrated by the hockey players instead of the coach and the victims were college co-eds instead of innocent minor children, under the age of 18. Neither of these types of incidents are excusable and or acceptable

On the keg party that took place at Agganis Arena – it appears that the head coach Jack Parker was aware of the arena party incident after initially denying that he knew about the incidents. Again, these kind of incidents don’t shed a very positive light on the Boston University hockey program. I could see how this appears to outsiders that Coach Parker has losing control of his hockey team and he has turned a blind eye to this behavior.

I also just don’t buy that argument that it’s happening everywhere and the other programs just haven’t been caught yet. There is no reason we have to excuse or pooh-pooh this bad behavior – or try to deflect the blame. It’s one thing to have student athletes partying – I get that – they’re in college and I would be willing to bet that 70 to 85 percent of college athletes probably have a drink at least once in a while.

It’s another thing to have an out of control raging party right on the campus in the locker room – I don't have a problem with a house party if you're of age, again, I get it, college kids drink alcohol both legally and illegally – a keg party at hockey arena with players and their dates having sex in a penalty box – that's unacceptable. I am not sure how anyone can excuse that either. That's right out of the penthouse form or a late night movie on Cinemax. I am going to say that some lines have been crossed in that instance.

What appears to be difference in this instance is  – instead of covering this up scandal and sweeping this under the rug – Boston University instead decided to address the issues that emerged. The difference in this case was that BU was more proactive and the University wants to right the ship before this gets anymore out of control, hence, having the NCAA getting involved and throwing the book at BU like they did against PSU.

Mary Carmichael, Boston Globe --- When Boston University released its report Wednesday on hockey players’ “culture of sexual entitlement,” it kept most of the investigation details — including accounts of sexual debauchery and wide-ranging allegations of academic trouble — confined to confidential subcommittee reports.

In the documents, which were obtained by the Globe on Thursday, were tales of a late-night 2009 NCAA championship party at Agganis Arena where dozens of guests drank from kegs in the locker room showers and took to the ice naked to shoot pucks.

“It was insane,” one former student who attended told the BU task force. “People were having sex in the penalty box.”

Campus police did not find out about the party, nor did BU administrators — until this year, when the task force started asking questions. During interviews with the task force, hockey coach Jack Parker also professed ignorance, at first saying he had never heard about the bash, but later acknowledging he knew of “a few guys drinking in the locker room.”

I am also wondering if BU and other colleges and University sports programs around the country have become an insular place where the athletes and coaching staffed become convinced of its own righteousness?

Boston University’s president Dr. Robert A. Brown has posted on his schools web page the hockey task force report and it’s available to people to peruse and study. This paragraph caught my eye and I wonder if this same thing is happening at other colleges and universities around the USA?

Of primary concern was the question of whether inherent aspects of the program’s culture and climate could have helped to foster the actions that led to the criminal charges. For those unfamiliar with Boston University athletic programs, the men’s hockey team, which has won a total of five national championships, has garnered substantial national recognition and is often among the top university ice hockey programs in the nation. Its visibility both on and off campus exceeds that of any other BU athletic program.

While I am concerned about the criminal behavior such as sexual assault that was addressed in this report – I am also concerned about athletes being given preferential treatment academically. I am also disappointed, that a University with the academic record of Boston University, would lower expectations and academic standards for BU hockey players and have another set of standards for regular students. If I was a student at BU that wasn't a hockey player, I would be disappointed with this revelation.

Academic performance data show that with some exceptions, the academic performance of the men’s ice hockey team falls below that of the undergraduate student body as a whole. Information provided by faculty regarding their classroom experiences with team members was highly variable. Some had very positive interactions with players and some had much less positive experiences. Historically, the players’ NCAA graduation rates have been high. The data and information, taken together, are interpreted to indicate that while there are not clear systemic problems, the academic performance of the men’s ice hockey team members should continue to be monitored to ensure that they meet university standards. The admissions data we examined indicates that a number of team members matriculated despite test scores and grade point averages that are considerably lower than the mean for students admitted to Boston University. [BU Hockey Task Force Report]

Again, kudos for Boston University addressing the problem before it got too far out of hand and ended up in the NCAA’s crosshairs, that speaks volumes for Boston University as opposed to one school I can think of out in Missoula, Montana who is now is in the middle of a major scandal on their campus because  school authorities and local law enforcement officials have been accused of doing too little to respond to claims of sexual assaults.

The NCAA, Department of Justice and Federal Law Enforcement agencies are now investigating this scandal. Nothing good can come out of this situation when you have this many agencies looking into scandal.

Lastly, I don’t think the BU Hockey situation is a norm for college hockey programs – that’s not to say that there isn’t issue that arises from time to time.

Single-game, student season tickets on sale next week

[Official Press Release]

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota Athletics Department announced today several key dates for men's hockey single-game ticket and student season ticket sales, as well as women's hockey single-game and season tickets.

The season-ticket lottery for UND students begins on Monday, Sept. 10. Students interested in purchasing season tickets can get all pertinent information via www.facebook.com/NoDakNation and www.twitter.com/nodak_nation.

Single-game tickets for men's and women's hockey will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. Champions Club members can participate in a pre-sale for men's single-game tickets on Thursday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Although men's hockey season tickets have once again sold out, Champions Club members who are on the waiting list for men's hockey season tickets will have the opportunity for an exclusive pre-sale on Wednesday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans can add their name to the season-ticket waiting list by joining the Champions Club and making a refundable $100 ticket deposit. Nearly 60 accounts remain on the waiting list. Half of all accounts have been offered season tickets in each of the past two years. Visit www.undsports.com/championsclub for more information.

Champions Club members will be e-mailed a passcode and instructions prior to the appropriate pre-sale date.

Nearly 800 single-game seats are available for every men's hockey home game on the 2012-13 schedule, with additional seats available for exhibition games and holiday series.
Tickets can be purchased at the UND Box Office at Ralph Engelstad Arena, or via Ticketmaster.com.

Are Canadian schools coming to Division I hockey?

Here is an article that gets one thinking – will it be that long before CIS schools are playing in the NCAA Division I hockey? Why or why not? Also, I didn’t know that fellow Big Sky Conference School Eastern Washington is currently playing in a league with teams from the CIS.

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) --- That once-thought pipe dream took a step toward becoming reality several weeks ago when it was announced that Burnaby's Simon Fraser University was approved as the first international school in the NCAA.

While SFU currently does not have a varsity hockey team - it has a sports club which competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League, a 6- year-old organization which boasts seven members including, one American team from Eastern Washington University - that hasn't stopped school officials from openly pondering the possibility of the school competing in NCAA Division I hockey sometime in the near future.

SFU's 17 NCAA varsity sports teams compete in NCAA Division II, meaning they would have to petition to be allowed to play in Division I hockey. There is no Division II hockey available and, as per NCAA regulations, they would not be permitted to play in the lower-tier Division III hockey.

NCAA hockey almost certainly would thrive in a market like Vancouver which is not only unwavering in its support of the NHL's Canucks - they have the longest active consecutive sellout streak in the NHL at 407 games, counting regular season and playoffs - but also has embraced major junior hockey in the form of the WHL's Giants and Junior "A" hockey with a handful of BCHL teams located within the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley region.

While it would be untrue to suggest that any hockey league based in the area will automatically succeed in terms of gaining instant fan support - the AHL's Abbotsford Heat and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Men's University of British Columbia Thunderbirds have proven to be exceptions to the rule - the high profile of the NCAA combined with the fact the league is seen as a stepping-stone to the NHL for many of the top-end talent playing there would certainly help it garner attention not only among the student population but in the general public as well.

So is NDSU setting a precedent?

First off, I am not real familiar with the Bison Fan blog - this is a blog about the NDSU sports teams and more specially the NDSU Football and Basketball teams – that being said, are they providing cover for the NDSU Bison’s head coach Craig Bohl?

From time-to- time I do peruse the Bison sports fan blog when something big happens -there have been a few incidents lately that shed an unfavorable light on their football program. Here’s the latest from the NDSU Bison Fan Blog…

4. My thought on the forging scandal is to have all suspended for the CSU game. I do not think Coach Bohl is handling this wrong, but if he is nervous about losing a bunch of players for that game, he has to remember, he has great depth. Marcus Williams and Sam Ojuri, are great players, but they like every player is replaceable. You have great players around those who screw up. That is what a team is. If you lose the CSU game, you were probably not the favorite going in anyway and it is one loss with or without those players. It would have sent a strong message as well and shut up all the experts.

Also, the athletic department has already provided cover for the 8 student athletes that are involved in this voter fraud scheme.

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) -- For the third time since the start of Fall Camp, Players on the NDSU Football team are caught up in the Cass County Legal system. But is the University worried about a possible negative reputation?

From traffic violations to indecent exposure, to voter fraud, the allegations against these student-athletes run the gamut. In the eyes of the law some of these charges are more serious than others. But the NDSU athletic department is taking a different course of action.

Gene Taylor/NDSU Athletic Director: "In terms of other things that kids get in trouble for, student athletes across the country, I do not think this rates where they should be suspended for a certain amount of time."

Is Gene Taylor, the NDSU Athletic Director sending a bad message to the fans and another student athlete at NDSU that considers doing something that is unethical, criminal or just wrong? Is Taylor providing cover for his beleaguered head football coach?

Let’s be clear, these are also the same people that will jump on the why didn't you discipline offending player(s) bandwagon the next time a UND student athlete from one of UND high profiles sports screws up. You can almost bet on it...

Also, these will be the same people that will second guess one of the UND head coaches if that said athlete isn’t punished up to their standards – but will provide cover when it’s one of their own.

So let’s post the question is; what is the standard? One of their players gets kicked off of the team, albeit that player had issues and another eight player’s screw up and these players get to keep playing so the Bison have a chance to play their FBS opponent this weekend. What kind of message is being sent – play at all cost because bottom line is more important.

Lastly, I am not going to say that my favorite school UND is squeaky clean because it’s not; I am sure that UND distractors will have a litany of issues that they could bring up. Yep, that’s true and there have been dust ups and moral/legal issues that have come out over the years too – every school has them it’s just a matter of how said schools handle the problems.

I am also sure that many could say that UND didn’t handle this or that particular situation in a very good manner and some have said, “what the ______?” I am not denying that one bit.

Some are going to ask me why it matter… I am going to say this, like it or not NDSU like UND are state funded schools that is owned by the tax payers of the great state of North Dakota and we are entitle to a little transparency and or at least some level of accountability. They owe it to us because we pay their salaries.

Lastly, are there going to be a second set of standards for NCAA Division I athletes then there are for regular students? It’s beginning to seem like we have set that precedent. If you can throw a football or make a tackle you're going to get more ley way than someone that can't.

Defenseman Thomas Welsh de-commits from Penn State

I reached out to Mike Welsh a person that I had interviewed via email last September when his son Thomas committed to play hockey at Penn State. Thomas has since de-committed from PSU. I again, had a conversation with Mike Via email.

It’s nice to talk to you again Mike.  It’s been almost a year since we last chatted.

Q: Your son Thomas Welsh who is a highly sought after recruit recently de-committed from Penn State University this past week and I was wondering if NCAA Hockey is still in the future for Thomas? 

Mike Welsh: Having Thomas gain the experience academically and by continuing his development in hockey by being at an NCAA Division 1 school, was the driving force on why he left Canada before his minor midget draft year.  We felt that if Thomas was in the USA at a prep school that this would send a very clear message to the NCAA that this is a "kid" that really wants to play school hockey.

Decommitting was not something that Thomas – nor us as a family every considered once a decision with PSU was made.   We as a family took our time when we decided on PSU.   As we have stated before Div 1 hockey has so much to offer....  However, one cannot deny the CHL has many benefits as well, its an individual decision that families must make.  Either option can by the right choice.

Q: Was the scandal at Penn State University a factor in the decision to de-commit Penn State University?

Mike Welsh: Absolutely not, PSU University is a very fine institution.

Q: If he’s still considering College Hockey are there any particular schools that he might be interested in? 

Mike Welsh: Thomas will need to explore his options and will have to make a decision based upon due diligence.

Q: I read on a blog that your son’s rights were trade from Sarnia to Mississauga. Is the CHL still an option as well?

Mike Welsh: Thomas was initially drafted by Sarnia in 2011 but was recently traded to the Steelheads this spring (2012).  There has been some discussion with the Steelheads but that is as far as it goes.  Thomas will need to explore other DIv 1 schools.

Q: Has Thomas looked into any schools out west or are there any schools that have shown an interest as well?

Mike Welsh:  The recruiting process for Thomas will need to be "restarted", when he committed to PSU for 2013, he sent a message to other schools that this was his choice.    He will need to restart this process.   The NCAA has particular rules on recruiting and those rules need to be adhered to so that the eligibility for a player remains intact.

Q: I see that Thomas is playing with the OJHL's Georgetown Raiders…

Mike Welsh:  Thomas is playing for the Georgetown Raider Jr A team this year.  It was a family decision for him to return due to some health issues with me.  He recently played in the Team Canada East Evaluation Camp and in the Burlington Cougar Tournament and I provided a link for you.  [click to view]

This is from the Thank You Terry PSU Blog.

 2013 defense commit Thomas Welsh was at a Team Canada East selection camp over the weekend as part of the buildup to choosing who will wear the maple leaf at the World Junior A Challenge in November. Welsh received sound marks for his performance from at least one scout, as he ultimately seeks to join PSU freshmen Curtis Loik and Luke Juha in earning a WJAC gold medal.

So all's great, right? Wrong.

[Mississauga Steelheads GM James] Boyd was there not only scouting the talent. But also his talent. D-Man Thomas Welsh. 95 birthday.

The Steelheads acquired Welsh's draft rights from Sarnia (who initially selected the Toronto native in the fifth round in 2011) back on June 1st. So it certainly seems as if all signs point to the OHL club making a strong push for a guy who qualifies as one of Guy Gadowsky's better recruits to date.

For now, the plan is for Welsh to join the OJHL's Georgetown Raiders this season after playing previously for New England prep powerhouse Salisbury School. But stay tuned.

Lockout will hurt NBCSN

You have to wonder what NBCSN is going to show if the NHL doesn't start on time - I suppose that some of the sports networks could show AHL games to keep NHL Hockey fans semi-interested until the lockout is ended.

Sept 5, (Reuters) - NBC executives are hoping that the National Hockey League and its players union reach a new labor agreement and avoid a lockout that could leave the network scrambling to find a replacement for one of its sports programming mainstays.

Hockey is a linchpin of NBC Sports programming - the network signed a new $2 billion, 10-year contract with the league last year. A strike or delay in the upcoming NHL season would throw cold water on the momentum it built up from the London Olympics, which nightly averaged 31.3 million viewers for the network.

Labor talks between the NHL and the union representing its players broke down last week over economic issues such as revenue sharing. The league's owners have said they would lock out players if a deal is not reached by a Sept. 15 deadline. As of Wednesday afternoon, talks between the two sides had not yet resumed.

The worst case scenario for Comcast-owned NBC, which holds the exclusive national broadcast rights to NHL games, is for the entire upcoming season to be canceled. That's not without precedent. The NHL and its players union scrapped the entire 2004-05 season after failing to achieve a labor deal.

A better, but not ideal, scenario for NBC would be a delay to the NHL season, similar to what happened to the National Basketball Association last year. The first regular season NHL game is scheduled for Oct. 11, but exhibition games start about two weeks earlier.

I haven't seen anything official, but you have to wonder if there is a alternative plan? I know I enjoyed watching some of the AHL playoff games this past June, when the Stanley Cup games were over and those minor league hockey games did manage to fill the hockey void. Sometimes you wonder if the owners have thought this out.

Bill Daly: "It is obviously becoming increasingly unlikely that NHL training camps will start on time."@sbjlizmullen @sbjsbd
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) September 5, 2012

The ice is going in at REA...

It's almost hockey time! instagr.am/p/PNOAy5wq37/
— Peter Bottini (@PeterBottini) September 5, 2012

s/t to Peter Pottini who is one of the great photography minds of the Through These Doors - the ice is going in minus a familiar logo at center ice.

Bison Football players making national news for voter fraud

The North Dakota State University football team is getting some unwanted scrutiny and press after it was revealed to the media and fans that eight NDSU football players – four of which are starters have been caught in a voter fraud case. That story has now hit the national media and the NCAA site as well.

CBSSports.com --- Eight North Dakota State University football players, including four starters, are among 11 people charged with faking petition signatures in a scheme that will keep two well-funded initiatives off the November ballot.

Bison coach Craig Bohl said the players will be eligible to play this weekend against Colorado State and any team discipline would wait until after the criminal case was resolved.

The players were hired, at $9 an hour, to gather signatures for two citizen initiatives, one to set up a state conservation fund and the other to make marijuana legal for medical treatments. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Tuesday that many of the petition signatures were copied from phone books or fabricated.

North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger said he was told petition circulators had to get at least 50 signatures each day and those that collected at least 80 names received bonuses. Workers who fell short of those goals would have had an incentive to add names, he said.

Those charged include starting running back Samuel Ojuri, defensive backs Marcus Williams and Brendin Pierre, and offensive lineman Josh Colville. Backup defensive backs Bryan Shepherd and Aireal Boyd, reserve middle linebacker Antonio Rodgers and Demitrius Gray, a freshman wide receiver, also face charges. Gray is a redshirt and does not travel with the team.

School officials said Tuesday that players would be available only to talk about football matters and not the court case. Bohl said he did not expect the charges to be a distraction to the defending Football Championship Subdivision champions.

Yesterday NDSU football coach Craig Bohl said he had known about the ongoing investigation for some time now and none of the players that are involved in the voter fraud scandal will be suspended until after they get their day in court – if ever – honestly, I wouldn't count on any disciplinary action coming from this coaching staff. Of course most of us know, this will probably never hit the court room while the Thundering Herd is playing during the 2012 season, so basically this will be brushed under the table.

If the four are starters – junior running back Samuel Ojuri, junior defensive backs Marcus Williams and Brendin Pierre, and junior offensive lineman Josh Colville are to suffer any consequences they will be minor and come during the offseason when no one is paying attention.

Links to the Story

NDSU football has 8 players under voter fraud investigation - Detroit Lakes on-line

Charges against 8 Bison football players expected in voter fraud case that kills two ballot measures - Fargo Forum

Eight NDSU football players facing fraud charges - StarTribune

Eight NDSU football players face petition fraud charges - Argus Leader

Voter Fraud: Bison players among 11 facing voter fraud charges - Jamestown Sun

Bohl: All eight Bison players charged with voting fraud still on team, will have their day in court - Dickenson Press

8 NDSU football players charged in petition fraud - Minot Daily News

8 NDSU players charged with petition fraud - Yahoo Sports

Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Hump day in the No Hockey League…

Good morning everyone – its 31 days until UND the Fighting Sioux plays the Manitoba Bison in the first exhibition game of the season. To quote Dean Millard of the Pipeline Show, it’s hard to not refer to UND hockey as the Fighting Sioux.

But I digress.

Jess Myers has the latest - INCH A-Z: and UND’s Brendan O’Donnell makes the cut… Also, last week Jess Myers revealed on twitter that he will for the most part only be covering two teams for ESPN 1500, the Minnesota Gophers and the Minnesota Wild. Myers said that he would write an occasional article for INCH but will not be doing it on a full time basis.

The WCHA pre-season ballots have been mailed out and it's getting to be that time of the year again. The third annual blogger poll should come out in a few weeks.

Joe Paisley has his Wednesday links up on his Paisley’s hockey blog.

Apparently a few of the Golden Rodents were interviewed at the Minnesota State Fair and Senior forward Zach “riding mopeds are dangerous" Budish’s said that his favorite game last was the one against the Fighting Sioux at the Midwest Regional at the Xcel Energy Center. From the looks of it - it appears that UND hockey team needs to refresh Mr. Budish’s memory that most games against UND are not all fun and games.

"Definitely the regional final against North Dakota. They kind of embarrassed us a week before, and it was nice to get back at them. It was just a great game for us...so much fun and such a great atmosphere." [Gopher Sports]

A Tradition of Excellence has it's Wednesday links up as well Toews, Freshmen, & Recruits By the Numbers

Here are my pre-poll rankings - feel free to cut them to pieces if you want. These might also change a bit... I will be putting up a WCHA season preview on INSIDE HOCKEY later this month.

1. Minnesota
2. UND
3. Wisconsin
4. Denver
5. UMD
6. C.C.
6. MTU
8. UNO
9. SCSU
10. BSU
11. Mankato
12. UAA

Andrew Weisss of the Hockey Guys, had the UND incoming freshman ranked 8th and I think personally that is a little low. Then again titles are won on paper they're won on the ice so these rankings will be meaningless once the season starts.

The No Hockey League - CBA

According to Scott Burnside of ESPN.com, it looks like the Coyotes might have a new owner finally, as Greg Jamison who used to be the CEO of the San Jose Sharks has gotten his financials in order and is set to purchase Coyotes from the National Hockey League for $170 million dollars.

The NHLPA wants to return to the bargaining table and kick start talks – stay strong boys – don ‘t let the NHL Owners take you to the cleaners again this time around.

James Mirtle breaks down the numbers on what a NHL player can make if they decide to play overseas. Mirtle says that a fair number of players are looking at playing overseas including Alex Ovechkin.

This is what Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings had to say about the current state of the NHL CBA talks. In reading Henrik’s comments, one really can’t remain positive any more. This could be a very long work stoppage.

“There's no two-way street in their proposal," Zetterberg said. “We're trying to find a way to partner up with them. We have problems in the league. We have to find a solution, players and the league together, and both help out.

“But in their proposal, they want us to (sacrifice) everything. [Mlive.COM]

This is the day that none of us want to see – the 13th of September is D-Day for the NHL and the NHLPA – this is the day that condescending, pompous, little Jerk Gary Bettman is going to ask the owners if they want to lock the NHL player out for a third time since 1994 and I am sure the owners will agree with Bettman. #FIREBETTMAN

Tim Panaccio, CNSPHILLY.COM --- On Sept. 13, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will address the league’s Board of Governors in New York City.

According to governors, who spoke anonymously with CSNPhilly.com, Bettman will outline where both sides are in the collective bargaining process.

He will then ask them – via a vote – whether they are supportive of his strategy to lock the players out on Sept. 15 if there is no agreement on a new, long-term – not short-term – CBA.

Tort's favorite New York Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks tells us that the lines of communication are open but there isn't much going on right now.

Alex Ovechkin is pretty clear where he wants to play hockey this season. “But I don’t want to be there; I want to be here,” Ovechkin said in a conversation with beat reporters Tuesday. “But, again, my contract is here and I hope the NHL and NHLPA are going to sign a deal before the 15th.” [Washington Times]

Here are a few familiar names of few NHL players that are just now turning 25 or will soon be 25 years old. It’s seems like a long time ago – eight years – when a 17 year old Jonathan Toews showed up to play for the University of North Dakota.

Roy MacGregor, the Globe and Mail --- It was also the season in which he was 25 years of age.

And what of Claude Giroux. Last year, the young Philadelphia Flyers forward scored 93 points and soared to the highest echelons of the game. Giroux will turn 25 – perhaps his greatest season, who knows? – on Jan. 12, 2013. He has no idea where he might be playing at that moment.

Jonathan Toews, the brilliant captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy and an Olympic gold medal at 22, will turn 25 on April 29, when normally he would expect to be well into the 2013 playoffs.

And then, of course, there is Sidney Crosby, whose contract and number both salute the day, month and year of his birthday: August 7, 1987.

He turned 25 this summer.

Hopefully, next month we are talking about something other than player and owner squabbles and just hopefully, we will have an NHL season. #FIREBETTMANNOW

Enter caption for this picture....

I found this picture on line today and I thought I would share it with you to get you into the mood. Since this is the last season of the WCHA as well we will take a little time to look back at some of the buffoonery that we have seen from the strips. 

Seriously, I would like to have heard what coach Dave Hakstol told Derek Shepherd during this conversation. I am sure that Hak wasn't asking Derek where he was going to go after the game so the two could discuss the game over a few drinks. 

Related articles

• Hakstol, 'Joe Gleason the epitome of a great teammate'
• UW and UND to continue series after both teams leave the WCHA
• UND's Andrew MacWilliam and Nate Ewell on the Pipeline show
• WCHA Unveils All-New Mobile Website

Are there more than one set of rules for certain universities?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a story that happened to catch my eye today - especially after the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. It appears that the NCAA has cleared the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill of any wrong doing when it appeared that UNC did in fact commit academic fraud. I guess the unprecedented precedence the NCAA set this past summer only applies to certain schools and not to other schools.

First off, I want to be clear - in no way is accademic fraud as bad as a child sex abuse scandal - that being said there should have been some kind of punishment for UNC's transgressions.

Dan Kane, News Observer --- The NCAA’s position that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has done nothing wrong by offering bogus classes that helped athletes maintain their eligibility has spurred a wave of skepticism from national sportswriters and others who follow college sports.

“The NCAA concludes no violations in UNC academic scandal,” tweeted Stewart Mandel, a college football writer for Sports Illustrated’s website. “This actually happened.”

Several said the announcement last Friday has given universities looking to gain the advantage in the big-money sports of football and basketball a license to bend the rules.

Bruce Feldman, a college football columnist for CBSSports.com, said in a blog post the announcement shows that the “NCAA MAKES IT UP AS IT GOES ALONG. The NCAA finds pretty much whatever it wants to find ... or not find.”

Jay Bilas, ESPN analyst and former Duke basketball player, said on Twitter: “And the NCAA wonders why it’s a laughingstock? Cue NCAA Prez to lecture on integrity, and who’s ‘in charge.’ ”

Neither UNC-CH officials nor the NCAA offered an explanation for the determination. UNC-CH officials announced the news Friday morning ahead of a holiday weekend. The NCAA did not issue a statement, but provided a brief confirmation of UNC’s announcement later in the day.

Again, I want to be clear, while  child rape and abuse for 15+ years is much worse than academic fraud - in anyone's universe; because in the end the fact that PSU athletic department knew about Jerry Sandusky and and covered up the crimes of Sandusky is not acceptable and inexcusable and I have no problem with how the NCAA treated Penn State University. I honestly don't know, if you can punish the PSU football team enough to make things right - they are going to be cleaning up Sandusky's mess for a very long time.

That being said, the NCAA also set a precedence by letting big basketball/football programs let players that shouldn't have been eligible continue to compete on the playing field. By letting one college fudge academic records to keep a player eligible has set  a precedence for other schools that might be entertaining this idea and this is also not acceptable.

If any thing the next school that get's caught cheating and doing the same thing should immediately stand up and say hey, you let UNC get away with it and if they are sanctioned the NCAA will open itself up for a lawsuit in my opinion. I was also wondering how long before something like this happen - you knew the NCAA would return to it's hypocrisy of not treating all institutions of higher living the same way. We should know by now that the big schools in many instances are allowed to skate while other smaller schools feel the full brunt of the NCAA.

Column: After UNC ruling, what does NCAA tell Penn State? Or UConn? m.si.com/news/wr/wr/det…
— Michael Rosenberg (@Rosenberg_Mike) August 31, 2012

And NCAA wonders why it's a laughingstock?:bit.ly/O1bzUF Cue NCAA Prez to lecture on integrity, and who's "in charge."
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) August 31, 2012

Related articles

• Are there more than one set of rules for certain universities?
• NCAA clearing North Carolina leaves some in disbelief

EDIT: NDSU Football players back in trouble with the law

As a fan that can remember the NDSU and UND rivalry so many thoughts come to mind – I am sure that others can come up with their own.

Nice to see that nothing has changed at NDSU – also – it will be interesting to see if any of these players are in the lineup next weekend when the Bison play the Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado.

"North Dakota State University football coach Craig Bohl says the eight Bison football players charged with petition fraud won't be suspended...at least for now." You can listen to the press conference that was held on AM 740 the fan.

Don't count on any players for NDSU Sitting out this week... Accroding to Jeff Kolpack of the Fargo Forum - NDSU Head Coach Craig Bohl said he's known about situation for quite some time. Players deserve day in court.

Here is the link to the North Dakota Attorney General’s page... [ND AG]

Forum staff reports, INFORUM --- Eight current North Dakota State University football players and one former player are among 11 people facing charges in connection with voter fraud tied to general election ballot measures.

Four of the accused are starters on the football team.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Secretary of State Al Jaeger identified the individuals charged as: Aireal Boyd, Josh Colville, Josh Gatlin, Demetrius Grey, Jennifer Krahn, Lane O’Brien, Samuel Ojuri, Brendin Pierre, Antonio Rodgers, Bryan Shepherd and Marcus Williams.

All have are charged with facilitation of voter fraud or filing a false statement, according to Stenehjem and Jaeger.

The charges are Class A misdemeanors.

Criminal complaints claim that all circulators of a petition are required to sign an affidavit stating they witnessed all the signatures and that all signatures are genuine.

Some over on Bisonville the Bison fans are taking a wait and see look at the new revelations about their beloved football team –  some seem to think that it’s a minor issue or are already looking for a way to deflect blame and claim that it’s political. Let's blame UND for our problems.

While it's funny because it's NDSU, we will see how this plays out in the coming days; this could end up being a distraction that NDSU didn’t want to have any part of. Some will say that it’s a lot to do about nothing - yeah  okay! I don't think that messing around with elections or committing fraud isn’t something I want to be associated with nor is it a minor infraction.

Break out the tin foil hats

EDIT:One NDSU fan even suggested that this is a conspiracy; I am not making this up. Just for the record – I would highly doubt that the A.G. of North Dakota would simply go on a witch hunt against the other school for something like this.

Wayne Stenehjem was born in Mohall, North Dakota, and he graduated from Bismarck High School in 1971 and Bismarck State College in 1972. He attended the University of North Dakota and the UND School of Law, graduating in 1977.

Jaeger was born in Beulah, ND in 1943. Raised in Beulah, he graduated from its high school in 1961. He attended Bismarck State College and in 1963 earned an Associate of Arts degree. In 1966, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Dickinson State University majoring in Business Education with a minor in Speech. He also completed post-graduate work at the University of North Dakota

Get out those tin foil hats folks, the North Dakota A.G. is out to get NDSU because he is a graduate of North Dakota.

Seriously?

Lastly, you would have to be a complete imbecil to think that the Attorney General of the great state of North Dakota Wayne Stenehjem and Secretary of the State of North Dakota Al Jaeger would conspire against NDSU just because they went to UND?