Hey Diddle Diddle, Look Who's in First Place

Pts	GP	W	L	T	SW	Win%	GF	GA	GP	W	L	T	Win%	GF	GA
North Dakota	NoDak	24	13	8	5	0	0	0.615	39	39	23	13	7	3	0.630	67	62
St. Cloud State	SCSU	23	12	7	3	2	0	0.667	39	28	21	12	5	4	0.667	71	51
Nebraska Omaha	UNO	21	12	6	4	2	1	0.583	36	29	22	9	11	2	0.455	66	70
Denver	DU	21	13	6	5	2	1	0.538	33	32	25	12	8	5	0.580	65	55
Western Michigan	WMU	20	12	6	5	1	1	0.542	38	34	24	12	8	4	0.583	65	57
Minnesota Duluth	UMD	17	12	5	6	1	1	0.458	34	36	21	10	9	2	0.524	60	59
Colorado College	CC	13	13	3	7	3	1	0.346	29	39	23	3	16	4	0.217	43	75
Miami	MIAMI	11	13	3	9	1	1	0.269	30	41	23	9	11	3	0.457	70	65

I didn't think we would be saying this, but look who's in first place in the NCHC. Here's a look at the records the last 10 games.

UND 9-0-1 last 10 games.

SCSU 4-4-2 last 10 games.

UNO 3-5-2 last 10 games.

DU 4-3-3 last 10 games.

WMU 6-3-1 last 10 games.

UMD 5-4-1 last 10 games.

C.C. 2-6-2 last 10 games.

MU 2-6-2 last 10 games.

 

(Video) Ty Loney's immaculate recovery

The acting job by Ty Loney is worthy of an Academy Award. Seriously, this is the best acting job that I have seen in college hockey this season. I am sorry, but  Loney rolls around on the ice like he's been shot, then miraculously recovers to score the goal on the five-minute power-play. I didn't think this was worthy of a five-minute power play.

Related articles

• NCAA Hockey: Revisiting the Outdoor Game (hockeywilderness.com)

(Video) UND 4 DU 2

UND took DU to the proverbial woodshed last night, and dominated DU. In my opinion, it wasn't even close. UND head coach Dave Hakstol talks about playing on their toes.  UND was on their toes all-game long and had DU on their heels for most of the night.  This was the best effort that I have seen from UND this season, bar none. Also, we have to give have to give UND goalie Clarke Saunders credit, he was simply amazing stopping 29-of-31 shots and the defenders in front of him were very good when they had to be. UND game into the game going 1-for-18 on the power play went 2-4 tonight. In the last 12 games against DU, UND is 9-3-1.

UND Hockey: Clarke Saunders to take Center Stage.

Coming into the weekend, there is some concern. UND lost their starting goaltender Zane Gothberg to the dreaded lower lower-body injury and will miss him for 2-to-3 weeks.

I know some of the fans are concerned about losing Gothberg, but Clarke Saudners hasn’t been all that bad in his career against Denver. What I am saying is don’t panic yet. Last season, Saunders played in 26-of-42 games last season compiling a 13-9-4 record, had a 230 GAA and a .917 save percentage.  

Obviously, Saunders numbers haven’t been that great this season (2-2-0, 3.60 GAA and a .900 save percentage), but he’s not a bad goaltender either. Saunders is a seasoned goaltender and the guys are behind him and trust him.

For his career, against DU, Sanders has a (3-2-1, 2.83 GAA, .904 SV%), with UND his record is 2-1-1. He was also 1-1 with Alabama Huntsville. When Saunders gives up 3 or fewer goals, his record is 3-0-1.

The Saunders File

With Huntsville, 01/06/2012, Beat DU 3-2 @DU

With Huntsville, 01/07/2012, Lost to DU 5-2 @DU

With UND, 2/07/2012, Tied 2-2 @UND

With UND, 2/08/2012, Beat DU 6-3 @UND

With UND, 02/22/2013, Lost to DU 4-5 @DU

With UND, 02/23/2013, Beat DU 6-1 @DU  

UND HOCKEY: UMN vs. UND in an Outdoor Game?

Here’s something interesting from Charlie Walters daily column, yes I know, it’s Shooter. But Walters does make a good point. If Minnesota and Ohio State can make $350,000.00 for an outdoor game, I would imagine that could make more money with an attractive match-up like North Dakota versus Minnesota in an non-conference outdoor hockey game.

Can you imagine the number of fans that would probably want to see this event? I think you could definitely sell 50,000+ tickets for UND vs. UMN in an outdoor hockey game. The two teams haven’t played for a season and there’s the possibility they might go two or three more years without playing. Tickets could be in high demand.

The University of Minnesota's share from its recent outdoor hockey games will be about $350,000. When the Gophers, whose men's team hosted Ohio State last week, host another outdoor game, North Dakota will be sought as the opponent. (Shooter)

I talked about this subject last week on the Hockey Wilderness.

If you're going to schedule a high-profile event like this, you should at least schedule it against a more attractive opponent. I am just throwing it out there. This event would have been more appropriate for an opponent like the Wisconsin Badgers, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans or another heated rival. I would have even suggested North Dakota. In my opinion, last year's Hockey City Classic between Wisconsin and Minnesota was way more entertaining, than this year’s Hockey City Classic.

It doesn't sound like Golden Gopher head coach Don Luica was all that excited about having another outdoor game anytime soon.

Lucia, however, demurred when asked whether the Gophers should play another outdoor game and instead lobbied the NHL to schedule one at TCF Bank Stadium.

"I think we'll wait for a while now," Lucia said. "Quite frankly, the next team that deserves to play this is the Wild."

The president of the Minnesota Twins would like to see the Minnesota and North Dakota faceoff in an outdoor game at Target Field sooner rather than later. I think that's one outdoor game that I would like to see.

Oneida Indians to meet with U.N. over Redskins name

It's an interesting story, but the UN has no power in our country. I am not sure what they could possibly do in this situation? If the Washington Redskins don't have any intention of changing their names, I am not sure what the UN could or would do. The UN has no power to compel people in the USA to do anything.  Thoughts?

Erik Bradly, USA Today -- The Oneida Indian Nation is scheduled to meet with human rights representatives of the United Nations on Friday to discuss the Washington NFL club's team name - and the team says the U.N. should be working on world peace.

Oneida Nation representative Ray Halbritter is set to speak with Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights at the U.N. in New York, just as the National Football League is preparing for its seminal event, the Super Bowl, with events in New York and northern New Jersey all next week.

UND vs. DU; A Trip Down Memory Lane

Here's another video for you. Former Fighting Sioux forward Mike Prpich "cup-checks" Geoff Paukovitch of the Denver Pioneers. Former DU head coach George Gwozdecky then climbs onto the boards to give WCHA official Todd Anderson a piece of his mind. Good stuff...

Brandon Bollig shot off Darcy Kuemper's mask

s/t @CJZERO Checkout this shot by Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig as he puts a snapshot off of Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper's mask... Ouch!

UND vs. DU Time to renew the rivalry with our old friends

ee

Good times, I think Kyle Radke is the only UND player that I can remember getting into two fights in one game. I think that's unprecedented. UND and Denver this weekend and if you have DirecTV, you will be able to see both games. My question, is referee Todd Anderson going to ref the games this weekend? I think it would only be fitting. Just for the record, UND is 8-3-1 against the Denver no-names in the last 11 games.

Friday’s game will be telecast live nationally on CBS Sports Network, which is also available on DirecTV (channel 221) and DISH Network (channel 158). Ben Holden handles the play by play and will be joined by analyst Dave Starman and rinkside reporter Shireen Saski... (UND Athletics).

One low spot for the series is there's no more Denver coach  George Gwozdecky. The guy was a character. I am sure that UND and DU fans will find someone to dislike.

(Video) Marc-Andre Fleury and Peter Budaj Almost Fight

Last night, the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins hooked up in an eastern conference match-up. The Penguins beat Les Habs 5-1. The refs should have let Marc-Andre Fleury and Peter Budaj fight.

Richard Sherman on hockey

I thought this was interesting.

Barry Petchesky, Grantland -- (Richard) Sherman then referenced the Flames-Canucks line brawl on Saturday:

"There was a hockey game where they didn't even play hockey, they just threw the puck aside and started fighting. I saw that, and said, 'Oh man, I'm the thug? What's going on here?'"

Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

We have now hit the home stretch of the schedule; it is pretty much all NCHC games that rest of the way.

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T-SW………Points

St. Cloud St……………….7-3-2-0…………...23
North Dakota………………7-5-0-0……….….21
Denver…………………..…6-4-2-1…………..21
Nebraska-Omaha…………6-4-2-1…………..21
Western Michigan………..6-5-1-1…………...20
Minnesota-Duluth…………5-6-1-1……….….17
Miami………………………3-8-1-1….…….….11
Colorado College……….. 2-7-3-1…….….….10

NCHC Games

Miami @ Colorado College

Last weekend the RedHawks split with the Mavericks (2-2sow, 5-1L) in Oxford and the Tigers tied and lost to the Providence Friars (2-2ot, 7-2) in Colorado Springs.

Who would have thought that Miami would be one point ahead of the last place team in January?  The RedHawks need a sweep this weekend if they want to try and salvage this season.  The Tigers are in the same boat as the RedHawks, they need points, and fast.  This is a chance to get back into a race for home ice in the first round, get swept and uh-oh, you’re all by yourself in the basement.  RedHawks Sweep.

#18 North Dakota @ #16 Denver

Last weekend NoDak tied (in Bemidji) and beat (in Grand Forks) the Beavers (1-1, 4-2) and the Pioneers split with the Bulldogs (3-2Wot, 2-2sol) in Duluth.

These longtime rivals get to renew their acquaintances this weekend in Denver.  But now DU has a new head coach in this series, the first time since Hakstol took over at UND nine years ago.  I don’t predict any “fighting” in this series since they are tied in the standings and no one wants to be suspended for a game.  NoDak is playing well as of late and so is Denver.  SPLIT

Minnesota Cup Tournament

MSU-Mankato (14-10-0) vs UMD (9-9-2)

Last weekend the Mavericks swept the Ferris State Bulldogs (6-2, 4-3) in Mankato and the Bulldogs split with the Pioneers (3-2Lot, 2-2sow) in Duluth.

With this being a tournament and in-state bragging rights it’s safe to say all the teams will be playing to win this thing.  I’m going with the Mavericks, just because they have some momentum in their corner.  MAVERICKS WIN

#5 SCSU (12-4-4) vs #1 Minnesota (17-2-3)

Last weekend the Huskies were swept by the Broncos (5-5sol, 2-1) in St. Cloud and the Gophers swept the Buckeyes (1-0, 4-2) in Minneapolis.

The Huskies will be looking to bounce back this weekend and prove they are one of the elite teams in the country.  And if they knock of the Gophers that will prove they belong in the top five.  HUSKIES WIN

The winners play each other and the losers play each other on Saturday.  So if my Friday night predictions are correct, that would end up with SCSU versus MSU-M for the championship and UMD vs UM for third place.  MSUM wins the title and UM takes third.

Bye Week

Nebraska-Omaha

#19 Western Michigan