(Video) Hockey East officials admit mistake on Doyle Somerby HFB call

Interesting turn of events. It's not very often you can get a hockey or any sports league to admit they blew a call on a play. We have seen it before, in some cases a head of officials from a conference will close ranks around around one of their officials that made a questionable call.They'll come up with some explanation on why their official made a certain call.  Ahem, WCHA... 

I didn't think the play originally looked all that bad, nor did I originally think it was worthy of a five-minute hitting from behind call. You can watch the video from the play and decide for yourself. Obviously, Doyle Somerby hit Kevin Hays from behind, but it wasn't a malicious play.

Quinn: "[Schachte] told me it was a bad call and BC should’ve gotten the penalty for diving...Doesn’t do us any good."
— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) February 6, 2014

David Quinn said Hockey East Coordinator of Officials Dan Schachte called him Tuesday re: Doyle Somerby hitting-from-behind/game-misconduct.
— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) February 6, 2014

Who's not going to the Olympics from the NHL.

Here's some of the big-time players aren't going to the Sochi games because of injury... The list is starting to grow.

BREAKING: #CBJ F Marian Gaborik will miss the 2014 Olympic Games due to injury —> http://t.co/voMwLaZJaJ
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 6, 2014

Swedish media reporting that #Canucks Henrik Sedin is out of the Olympics and that Mikael Backlund will be his replacement.
— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) February 6, 2014

St. Louis replaces Stamkos on Team Canada: http://t.co/NJCFb7tsPx @sportsnet
— Hockey Central (@SNHockeyCentral) February 6, 2014

#Isles won't let Lubomir Visnovsky go to Olympics, per @StapeNewsday. Too much risk. He recently returned from long-term concussion layoff.
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsNHL) February 6, 2014

Mikko Koivu remains a "long shot" to play for Finland in Sochi at the Winter Olympics. http://t.co/qXqU379Zan
— theScore (@theScore) February 6, 2014

Goon’s World Site Changes

I am please to announce that a brand new commenting system that has installed on Goon's World. I think the transition will be a smooth one. A while ago, I inadvertently deactivated the Intense Debate commenting system that I had on the blog for some time. That being said, I was not happy with the blogger commenting system. So,  LiveFyre is now installed and you "should" be able to log in with a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or with a LiveFyre log in.  Don't worry, I will still be able to moderate comments and ban trolls.

Putting on the Links; Thursday afternoon

There's some good news, good tickets still remain for this weekend's series. So let's put some butts in the seats this weekend. Cold weather, no problem, fans in North Dakota are tough.

Tickets still left for the @UNDMHockey games this weekend. Don't miss the big @TheNCHC series vs. @omavs. pic.twitter.com/8FVzZYTxIE
— Dexter Albrecht (@dexteralbrecht) February 6, 2014

The hits keep coming. More great news, the series between UND vs. UMD will be on MidcoSN. However, you will need to live in the regional area to watch the games.

MidcoSN picks up men’s hockey series at UMD http://t.co/RwsRV1kJ3Q
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) February 6, 2014

Former UND goalie Aaron Dell is making an impact in the ECHL. You would have to think he's going to get a look at the next level, if he keeps playing like this.

Aaron Dell of the @UtahGrizz named @Warrior Hockey #ECHL Goaltender of the Month http://t.co/iIDcwtQeKQ pic.twitter.com/tGdfKtQBS4
— ECHL (@ECHL) February 5, 2014

Looking ahead to this weekend's games. Matt Semisch of USCHO fame and I reviewed this weekend's pivotal NCHC series. I think that you will find his answer interesting.

UND Hockey: Taking a Look at the UNO Mavericks with Matthew Semisch - http://t.co/QxhBPJFLrv #hockey #THW pic.twitter.com/sXZ4Plop7k
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) February 5, 2014

The UND vs. UNO series is quickly becoming one of those series that you mark off on the calendar. The two teams don't like each other.

UND Hockey: Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota set to Battle - http://t.co/fdQ4c0qyQP #NHL pic.twitter.com/T9GqTUZkoN
— THW Hockey (@HockeyLinks) February 6, 2014

Check out this article with UND junior defenseman Nick Mattson, he's made the transition from the USHL to college hockey very nicely. My brother-in-law Andy Brink, who run the Breakaway Hockey School with former Gopher and Buffalo Sabres forward Dave Snuggerud, talks highly of Mattson and his skills as well.

@goon48 @SchlossmanGF Check out this interview with Nick Mattson. http://t.co/sR9gaPnz8H
— Indiana Ice (@indianaice) February 6, 2014

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Sub-Par Faceoff Numbers Plague Team (thehockeywriters.com)

Weekend Match-Ups (By Donn)

The rest of the season is nothing but NCHC games, so the race is on for the first ever NCHC regular season championship.  And mathematically everyone still has a shot at the title. 

Last weekend in the Saturday SCSU-UNO game both teams had a player score a hat trick, Kossila for the Huskies and Zombo for the Mavericks, you don’t see that very often!

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T-SW………Points

St. Cloud St……………….8-4-2-0…………...26
North Dakota………………8-6-0-0……….….24
Denver…………………..…7-5-2-1…………..24
Nebraska-Omaha…………7-5-2-1…………..24
Minnesota-Duluth…………7-6-1-1……….….23
Western Michigan………..6-7-1-1…………...20
Miami………………………4-9-1-1….…….….14
Colorado College……….. 3-8-3-1…….….….13

NCHC Games

Western Michigan @ Miami

Last weekend the Broncos were swept by the Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1) in Kalamazoo and the RedHawks had a bye weekend.

The Broncos suffered their first losses of 2014 last weekend, and head to Oxford this weekend.  These teams just played a series last month, to kick off 2014, which resulted in a Broncos sweep.  But this time around it’s at the RedHawks home rink. Miami started off the season as one of the pre-season favorites to win the league.  Now the RedHawks are looking at a bottom half finish.  If the Broncos sweep the RedHawks this weekend, it would be a monumental task for the Oxford guys to get into the top half.  SPLIT

#15 Denver @ #6 SCSU

Last weekend the Pioneers were on a bye and the Huskies split with the Mavericks (5-3W, 8-6L) in Omaha.

With three points separating the top five teams, it goes without saying that these series are big games for both these teams.  The Pioneer’s hosted the Huskies back a month ago and the teams split that series, SCSU won the opener 6-3 and DU evened it up 5-2 that following night.  I think a repeat is on tap this weekend with each team getting a win.  SPLIT

Colorado College @ #17 Minnesota-Duluth 

Last weekend the Tigers were enjoying an off weekend and the Bulldogs swept the Broncos (5-2, 3-1) in Kalamazoo. 

The Bulldogs are on a good streak, having not lost in their last 5 games (3-0-2).  Meanwhile the Tigers managed only one win in December and one win in January. I don’t think a Bulldog sweep would surprise anyone this weekend, not even the Tigers.  BULLDOGS SWEEP

Nebraska-Omaha @ #16 North Dakota

Last weekend the Mavericks split (5-3L, 8-6W) with the Huskies in Omaha and NoDak was resting up on a bye weekend. 

The Mavericks went winless in December, and managed one win and January and have one win already in February.  NoDak was on a 10 game unbeaten streak until they dropped their last game at Denver.  That last game in DU featured a stellar performance by their goaltender that stopped all 43-shots he faced.  I think NoDak is in the midst of their traditional second half run, and will get back on track this weekend at the expense of Omaha.  NODAK SWEEPS.

Related articles

• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers at the Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)

UND Hockey: Zach Yon commits to UND.

On the recruiting front, Roseau forward Zach Yon has committed to UND. It looks like he's a 2015-16 freshman. As soon as we find out, I will let you know.

Excited to announce that I have committed to the University of North Dakota. Thanks to everyone who's helped me along the way
— Zach Yon (@Zach_Yon16) February 5, 2014

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Adam Tambellini Leaves UND for the WHL (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: Taking a Look at the UNO Mavericks with Matthew Semisch (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Colorado College Defenseman Gustav Olofsson not Bolting for the WHL (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND and BSU Tie in Bemidji (insidehockey.com)

Happy 80th Birthday Don Cherry

Happy Birthday to Don Cherry. Without you, our TV sets wouldn't be visually, ummmmmm, stunning pic.twitter.com/C11UMJwDeS
— Bruins Daily (@BruinsDaily) February 6, 2014

Linus Omark Embellishment

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen is given a two-minutes minor penalty for high sticking the Sabres Linus Omark. Wow! Talk about selling it. Thoughts?

More Thomas Vanek

Deutsch: Alex Kotalik&Thomas Vanek beim Spiel Rangers Vs. Sabres (Madison Square Garden) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I thought this was a funny article, no really, it's me not you... Why doesn't Vanek just tell the Islanders, really it's you, and I don't want to play for you guys after the season is over.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Vanek is going to test the free agent market and he's set to make boatloads of money. 

Arthur Staple, Newsday - Thomas Vanek knows how it looks, turning down a seven-year contract believed to be around $50 million from the Islanders.

"I'm sure people will look at it and say, 'Wow, that's crazy by him,' or whatever," Vanek told Newsday Tuesday morning, a day after news broke that he had indeed rejected such a deal and will now almost certainly be traded before the March 5 deadline.

But it's not about the Islanders, he said.

"As I've told [general manager] Garth [Snow] before . . . It's like a breakup: It's not you, it's me. And it really is me wanting to explore this."

Vanek knows that his decision to head to July 1 free agency means the Islanders, a team that has been the punchline to plenty of hockey jokes over the past two decades, will get the short end once again. Big-time player says "no thanks" to struggling team, and so on.

In reading the news, it doesn't appear that Thomas Vanek is going to sign with the Islanders and it doesn't sound like he's going to be an Islander after the trade deadline either. I would imagine, the Islanders will trade Vanek to a team that needs a rental player for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  I would say, don't count on the Wild trading away prospects for Vanek. Maybe the Wild can entice the Islanders to take Dany Heatley? They will wait and sign him after July 1st, if he's still available. Just a hunch. 

Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com --- Once news got out Monday via Arthur Staple of Newsday that Vanek had rejected a contract offer from the Islanders -- and Vanek's agent, Stephen Bartlett, confirmed to ESPN.com that his client was very likely going to the July 1 UFA market -- Isles GM Garth Snow's phone began to light up.

The early word around the league is that the cost to snag Vanek would be a three-asset haul, whether those assets are first-round picks or prospects or a player. It could be any combination. And if one of the assets is high-end enough, perhaps a two-asset package could do it.

Reached by ESPN.com Tuesday, all Snow would say is that he valued Vanek's presence on Long Island.

"I hope Thomas Vanek retires an Islander," Snow said. "I still hope to re-sign him."

QMJHL: Mickaël Beauregard blows up Sergei Boikov

Check out this hit... Get off of the track if you don't want to get run over by the train. From time-to-time, I watch the CHL and this game was on my DVR. Wow what a hit!... Gatineau Olympiques defenseman Mickaël Beauregard absolutely destroys Drummondville Voltigeurs defenseman Sergei Boikov. Beauregard was thrown out of the game for a check to the head of Boikov, as he should have

T.J. Oshie, where's the puck?

Check this out. St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie shoots the puck into the net and after a review, he's awarded the goal. Oshie is having a great season for the Blues, he’s tied for the team lead in points with (13g-32a—45pts). Oshie is headed to the Olympics this weekend to play for the US Olympic team.

Hockey vs. Soccer?

Flawed logic: Just give Hockey East Six Bids in the NCAA tourney

No joke, these are the real thoughts of a Notre Dame hockey fan.... "As a life long believer that top to (cont) http://t.co/FhRl0TtTsk
— MN State Of Hockey (@MNState0fHockey) February 4, 2014

Minnesota State of Hockey, aka Josh Hewitt, had a funny tweet in his twitter feed tonight. It's from a Notre Dame fan. I thought I would share it with you because it's friggen hilarious. Enjoy, sometimes you just need a good laugh... Right?

(Video) BU's Doyle Somerby hits B.C.'s Kevin Hays from behind - Bean Pot

Boston University defenseman Doyle Somerby was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Boston College forward Kevin Hays. Hayes didn't miss a shift, and he was back out on the power-play.

More Outdoor games... Bruins and Habs

Just when you think you've seen enough of the outdoor hockey games, this news tidbit has come up. Looks like the Les Habs and the Boston Bruins are going to play at Gillette Field next year.

NHL is considering Bruins-Canadiens at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro for an upcoming Stadium Series game. Details in @sbjsbd.
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) February 3, 2014

College Hockey: Some more Links

Twin sisters @Moniquelam7 & @JocelyneUSA17 both looking to bring home Gold from Russia: http://t.co/rx6UtY1Smm pic.twitter.com/fOfr9LPu9D
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) January 24, 2014

There seems to be some question who's pairwise rankings are correct. I will let the math whizzes duke it out. Also, we're going to find out in March anyway. Apparently, CHN thinks there number's right. Recently, I have talked to Brad Schlossman and he told me that Jim Dahls is a PWR guru and we shouldn't doubt his site's calculations.

My first look inside the Pairwise for this year - lots to chew on for the stat heads. ... http://t.co/GnbBJUlgYU
— Adam Wodon (@CHN_AdamWodon) February 3, 2014

Oh Boy, more outdoor hockey. According to CHN. Bowling Green and Robert Morris will play in an outdoor game next season on January, 3, 2015, at the home of the Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team. Yay!

Bowling Green, Robert Morris to Play Outdoor Game - http://t.co/Yx1sSzpd8U @BGSU_Hockey
— College Hockey News (@chnews) February 3, 2014

#AHLHeat Roommates @jjooris19, @CorbanKnight and @benhano10 talk to us about living together for the season. VIDEO ~ http://t.co/qUqeBbH6Du
— Abbotsford Heat (@abbotsfordheat) February 1, 2014

Brendan Gallagher Punched, Hit and Tripped No Call

I saw this over on Kuklas Korner and it's a perfect example of embellishment and why the divers don't get the call sometimes. Someone asked former NHL official Kerry Frazier about the non-call over on TSN and this is what the "ref" had to say.

Players that embellish on a consistent basis run the risk of not receiving the benefit of the doubt when they are legitimately fouled. Brendan Gallagher is too effective and too good a player to develop that unwanted reputation from the refs.

UND Moves up to 16th in USCHO Poll

USCHO POLL 2/3/2014

Record Points Last Poll
1. Minnesota (40) 19-2-5 989 1
2. Boston College (10) 19-4-3 959 2
3. Quinnipiac 19-4-5 897 3
4. Union 17-6-3 798 4
5. Ferris State 18-6-3 758 6
6. St. Cloud State 14-6-4 745 5
7. Lowell 18-7-2 738 8
8. Providence 15-7-5 621 7
9. Cornell 12-4-5 602 11
10. Michigan 13-6-3 546 12
11. Northeastern 15-8-3 528 10
12. Wisconsin 14-8-2 460 9
13. Yale 11-6-4 342 13
14. Clarkson 16-10-2 291 15
15. Denver 13-8-5 278 16
16. North Dakota 13-8-3 266 17
17. Minnesota-Duluth 12-9-3 166 NR
18. Notre Dame 15-11-1 147 14
19. Vermont 13-9-3 130 19
20. New Hampshire 16-13-1 120 NR
Others receiving votes: Maine 50, Colgate 23, Ohio State 18, Mercyhurst 11, Air Force 6, Nebraska-Omaha 4, Western Michigan 4, Minnesota-Mankato 3.

New Yorks Islanders: Thomas Vanek turns down Isles contract offer

This would be a good sign for Minnesota Wild fans that would like to see Thomas Vanek as member of the Minnesota Wild.

Arthur Staple, News Day – It appears that Thomas Vanek's stay with the Islanders likely will not last beyond the March 5 trade deadline.

NHL sources told Newsday that Vanek, acquired from the Sabres on Oct. 27, turned down a substantial contract offer from the Isles and that general manager Garth Snow is fielding offers for the 30-year-old wing.

The offer is believed to be in the same range as Vanek's current seven-year, $50 million deal. That contract expires on June 30.

Steve Bartlett, Vanek's agent, told Newsday on Monday morning that he and Snow have not talked in the past several days. Bartlett said Vanek has not closed the door on the Islanders but added that his client "has no real deadline" to let the team know he intends to go to unrestricted free agency on July 1.

Super Bowl Tweets and Hockey

Classy Boys pic.twitter.com/0XlQYZ5gKO
— Tumblr Hockey (@TumblrHockey_) February 2, 2014

“@GoalieWays: Here's to the hockey fans: pic.twitter.com/hXGBlLfI1u”
— Rachel Bergen (@Rbergen21) February 3, 2014

The Stanley Cup: pic.twitter.com/1fceDQn2Tw
— Goalie Ways (@GoalieWays) February 3, 2014

With under 10 minutes remaining, who thinks this guy should get #SB48 MVP honors? pic.twitter.com/qA8yLLZUrT
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) February 3, 2014