Minnesota Wild: Cooke Check on Nail Yakupov, Leads to Justin Fontaine goal

One of the positive things to come out of this season is the play of rookie forward Justin Fontaine. With the goal last night, Fontaine now has 12 goals on the season. That's third on the Minnesota Wild in goals. That three more than 7.5-Million dollar man Dany Heatley. Check out the beginning of this play, Matt Cooke blows up Nail Yakupov with beautiful, legal check. Apparently,Yakupov is out with a upper body injury.

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Minnesota Wild: Stephane Veilleux blows up Ryan Jones

Wild forward Stephane Veilleux absolutely destroys Ryan Jones with a wonderful hit. Yeah that Ryan Jones. Apparently, the former RedHawk didn’t like getting blown up, and decided he’s going to fight Veilleux for a perfectly legal hit… You know, I don’t like this. Are some of these guys becoming crybabies or what? Learn to take a hit, take a number, check them back. That was a clean hit and hockey still allows checking. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fight, but this is not a reason to fight someone.

Jason Pominville dekes out Edmonton Goalie

Wow! What a nice goal... Jason Pominville is having a decent season for the wild and that was goal 19 on the year. With the goal Pominville now has (19g-14a—33pts) on the season.

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(Video) NCHC Frozen Faceoff 30 Second Spot

Nice video, I really like the way the NCHC is marketing the league.

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NCHC Hockey: Frozen Faceoff Logo revealed

Here's the faceoff logo for the inaugural NCHC Frozen Faceoff. Let the NCHC haters pick it to part. s/t to Joe Paisley.

NCAA: Sweeping changes could be coming to NCAA

This article is worth a look. I wonder if Division I College Hockey will start giving their players a stipend as well? And if they did... That brings up another question. Then, wouldn't that negate the Major Junior argument, because now college athletes could be possibly be getting paid a stipend like their CHL counterparts? I am just throwing it out there.

Michael Marot, The Associated Press – In October 2011, the NCAA approved a measure allowing conferences to award athletes up to $2,000 more per year. Most of the big conferences quickly adopted.

Since then, NCAA President Mark Emmert has supported bringing back the stipend, though no formal proposal has been made. Emmert is scheduled to give his annual state of the association speech Thursday evening.

Last summer, commissioners of each of the so-called power conferences used their media days to lobby for changes to the way the NCAA does business. Hatch, the president at Wake Forest, an Atlantic Coast Conference school, and others heard the concerns and insist the debate is not just about giving money to players. They want schools to provide additional resources that will help student-athletes with everything from academics to health.

It's a tricky proposition. For decades, all Division I schools have played by the same set of rules.

Now, Hatch and others are hoping lower-resource schools, which often don't compete for the same recruits as the bigger schools anyway, are willing to stay in a division even if there are separate financial structures.

Some believe it could lead to a split. Hatch disagrees.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

I forgot to post my predictions last weekend, but believe me, I got them all correct. J  Here are this weekend match-ups and they are up for your viewing pleasure.

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T-SW………Points

St. Cloud St……………….7-2-1-0…………...22
North Dakota………………7-5-0-0……….….21
Denver…………………..…5-4-1-1…………..17
Nebraska-Omaha…………5-4-1-1…………..17
Minnesota-Duluth…………5-5-0-0……….….15
Western Michigan………..5-5-0-0…………...15
Colorado College……….. 2-7-3-1…….….….10
Miami………………………3-7-0-0….…….….9

NCHC Games

Western Michigan @ #3 St. Cloud St. 

Last weekend the Broncos swept the RedHawks (5-4, 3-2) in Kalamazoo and the Huskies split with the Pioneers (6-3W, 5-2L) in Denver.

With a sweep last weekend the Broncos can now see the top of the standings.  If they could pull off another pair of wins with weekend they would be could be looking down the standings…  However, that is a tall task; the Huskies will be looking to cement their top spot in the standings.  The Broncos have won four in a row and 5 of the last 6 games.  So they do have some momentum going into SC, but there’s a reason they are ranked number three.  HUSKIES SWEEP

#16 Denver @ Minnesota-Duluth

Last weekend the Pioneers split with the Huskies (6-3L, 5-2W) in Denver and the Bulldogs swept the Mavericks (3-2, 3-1) in Omaha.

The Bulldogs have won three in a row entering the weekend.  The Pioneers have won, lost, and tied their last three games.  DU is 3-2-3 on the road and UMD is 3-4-1 at home.  I’m going with the UMD on Friday and DU on Saturday.  SPLIT

Nebraska-Omaha @ Miami

Last weekend the Mavericks were swept by the Bulldogs (3-2, 3-1) in Omaha and the RedHawks were swept by the Broncos (5-4, 3-2) in Kalamazoo.

The Mavericks have lost four in a row and haven’t won a in their past six games.  The RedHawks are losers of their last three and lost four of the last five.  Someone could end their slump this weekend at the expense of the other, could.  SPLIT

Non-Conference Games

Bemidji State vs #20 North Dakota (Fri. Bemidji, Sat. Grand Forks)

Last weekend NoDak swept the Tigers (5-3, 3-2) in Grand Forks and the Beavers swept the Lake Superior (5-2, 3-1) in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.

The Beavers are 3-8-3 on the road and 4-3-3 at home, and NoDak is 7-4-1 at home and 4-3-1 on the road.  UND leads the all-time series 25-2-2.  It appears that UND is heating up with winning seven games in a row, here’s to the streak continuing this weekend.  NORTH DAKOTA SWEEP

#7 Providence (13-5-4) @ Colorado College (2-15-3)

Last weekend the Friars lost to Boston College (5-2) on the road and the Tigers were swept by NoDak (5-3, 3-2) in Grand Forks.

The Tigers have been struggling all season long and it doesn’t get any easier this weekend with the Friars from the Hockey East coming for a visit.  FRIARS SWEEP

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WCHA Plays of the Week - 01/15/2014

This weekend, UND plays Bemidji State and forward Brendan Harris is one of the BSU forwards to look out for. Harms has scored (5g-8a--13pts) in 24 games this season.

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UND Hockey: Who's hot for UND

UND forward Mark MacMillan is playing really well right now. MacMillan scored a goal that ends up being the second best goal of the week in the NCHC and the third best goal of the week in NCAA Division I hockey. So tap of the stick to Easy Mac.

Here's who's on a hot streak for the UND hockey team.

Forward Rocco Grimaldi has seven-game points streak (3g-5a—8pts).

Forward Michael Parks has four-game points streak (2g-3a—5pts).

Forward Luke Johnson has scored points in 5-of-6 games (3g-4a—7pts).

In the last six games, UND defenseman Jordan Schmaltz has (0g-7a—7pts).

In the last five weekend series, forward Connor Gaarder has at least a point, each weekend (2g-5a—7pts).

During the seven-game win streak, goalie Zane Gothberg 7-0-0, 1.86 GAA, and a .926 save percentage.

Forward Bryn Chyzyk returned from a month suspension and scored (1g-2a—3pts) last weekend and now has (3g-4a—7pts) for the season.

And MacMillan's Saturday goal is No. 3 on the @NCAAIceHockey Top 5 Goals of the Week: http://t.co/hPZtiw8PQo
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) January 14, 2014

Mark MacMillan's goal from Friday night is No. 2 on the @TheNCHC's Top 5 Goals of the Week: https://t.co/KTESXUiibh
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) January 14, 2014

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Hockey City Classic: tOSU jersey

Buckeyes are throwing back to uniforms of the early '60s for the @HkyCityClassic vs Minnesota Friday. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Eec0lsnApz
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) January 13, 2014

Wow! talk about ugly jerseys this one takes the cake. Yuck!

Possible Wild Jersey?

What does everyone think about this possible @mnwild jersey? #mnwild pic.twitter.com/8hXJqQydZS
— Wild About Minny (@WildAboutMinny) January 15, 2014

God I hope not, this would be one ugly Minnesota Wild jersey.

Canucks vs. Kings: Dale Weise slew foots Drew Doughty

The big question now is will there be a Shannaban for for Dale Weise's slew foot on Kings defenseman Drew Doughty? There was no penalty called on the play. Through two periods of play there was over 100-minutes in penalties.

All bets are off now gang after the slew foot by Weise on Doughty! The inmates are going to run the prison with the guards on leave!
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) January 14, 2014

Kings vs. Canucks: Ryan Kesler vs. Dustin Brown

It's about time someone stood up to Dustin Brown. Fellow USA teammate Ryan Kesler pounds Dustin Brown in the second period of tonight's game between the L.A. Kings and Vancouver Canucks.

Great message from Kesler. Much leadership there. Two USA teammates fighting about the CDN goalie
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 14, 2014

Vancouver Canucks:Tom Sestito Jumps Jordan Nolan on the Face-Off

The Vancouver Canucks took 41-minutes in penalties during the first period and didn't give up a power play goal. Vancouver Canucks forward Tom Sestito was given the gate for attacking L.A. Kings forward Jordan Nolan who went after Henrik Sedin. Sestito's hardly broke a sweat tongiht, his game lasted one second before he was thrown out of the game tonight. The Kings has a seven-minute power play off of the call.

02:33 VAN Darren Archibald served by Tom Sestito Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Jordan Nolan
02:33 VAN Darren Archibald served by Tom Sestito Instigator - 2 min against Jordan Nolan
02:33 VAN Tom Sestito Game misconduct - 10 min

Sestito with all sorts of #BreakinTheRules. He won't be back tonight. 17:30 minutes left in the 1st.
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 14, 2014

UND Hockey: List of recruits from College Hockey INC

College Hockey INC has a nice section that lists where recruits that have committed  too and to what school they're committed to.

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B1G Hockey: Sam Warning interference call

Another call from the bad call department. Actually, this is a brutal call by the B1G officials. Minnesota forward Sam Warning is rammed into the Penn State goalie Eamon McAdam. I don't know how Warning could have avoided contact with the goalie. I would have penalized the McAdam for punching Warning with his blocker. Pretty obvious to see why Lucia was upset with this call.

UND Hockey: Dillon Simpson named NCHC Defensive player of the week

UND defenseman Dillon Simpson was named NCHC Defenseman of the week. This is the second time this season, that Simpson has received the player of the week award.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Dillon Simpson, North Dakota, Senior Defenseman, Edmonton, Alta.

Simpson was strong at both ends of the ice to lead North Dakota to a sweep of Colorado College and extend UND’s winning streak to seven. In the series, he recorded three points on a goal and two assists, while also blocking five shots. In Friday’s 5-3 win, the captain assisted on North Dakota’s first goal while scoring the game-winning goal in the closing seconds of the second period to earn third star of the game honors. The next night, Simpson again assisted on the game’s first goal and blocked three shots. The Edmonton Oilers prospect finished with an even +/- rating in the series and leads NCHC defensemen with 11 points in league play. Simpson has now won NCHC Defenseman of the Week twice this year (Nov. 11).

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UND Hockey: Circle of Sticks

For those that didn't get to see it last night, UND swept at home for the second time this season. Last year, UND only had one sweep at home. That's two consecutive sweeps at home in a row. With the sweep at Western Michigan UND now has three of series sweeps on the season.

UND Hockey: Add your Caption

Good to see @SchlossmanGF and @gfherald are up to their old tricks again! pic.twitter.com/TxPGebAnhb
— Brendan O'Donnell (@bodonnell21) January 12, 2014

Ha! I think this picture is a good one for add you caption.

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Current NCHC Standings

Current standings:

	Conference									Overall
Team	Pts	GP	W	L	T	SW	Win%	GF	GA	GP	W	L	T	Win%	GF	GA
St. Cloud State	22	10	7	2	1	0	0.750	33	21	18	12	3	3	0.750	64	40
North Dakota	21	12	7	5	0	0	0.583	35	37	20	11	7	2	0.600	58	57
Denver	17	10	5	4	1	1	0.550	26	24	22	11	7	4	0.591	58	47
Nebraska Omaha	17	10	5	4	1	1	0.550	29	26	20	8	11	1	0.425	59	67
Minnesota Duluth	15	10	5	5	0	0	0.500	30	31	18	9	8	1	0.528	51	50
Western Michigan	15	10	5	5	0	0	0.500	31	28	22	11	8	3	0.568	58	51
Colorado College	10	12	2	7	3	1	0.292	25	38	20	2	15	3	0.175	35	65
Miami	9	10	3	7	0	0	0.300	26	30	20	9	9	2	0.500	66	54

After being the pre-season favorite, Miami sits in the bottom of the NCHC Standings. If I had to be a betting man, I think that C.C. will finish in the bottom of the NCHC Standings. Miami is 13 points out of first place. UND and C.C. have played 12 games and the rest of the league has played 10 games.