Thursday, February 20, 2014

Women's Olympic Hockey: a game of Inches... So Close



I guess it's not really cliche' Hockey is a game of inches....
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Olympic Women's Hockey: Hilary Knight trips Hayley Wickenheiser - GIF


Here's a good look at controversial penalty in OT. It does look like USA forward Hilary Knight gets a skate on Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser. I think she might have made contact with her stick or hand as well.
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Women's Olympic Hockey: USA vs. Canada gold medal game - Open thread

What a save by the Canadian goalie. And I don't think either contry wants him.











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Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

The race for the Penrose Cup is on.  We are down to the last three weekends of NCHC regular season play.  The only thing we know for sure is Miami is out of contention for the title.  The other good bet is CC will also not win the title.


NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T-SW………Points
St. Cloud St……………….11-4-3-0…………...36
North Dakota……………..11-7-0-0…..…….….33
Nebraska-Omaha………..9-7-2-1…..…………30
Denver…………………….8-7-3-2…….…….…29
Minnesota-Duluth………..8-8-2-2….…….……28
Western Michigan……….8-8-2-1…….……….28
Colorado College……….. 4-9-5-1…….….…...18
Miami………………………4-13-1-1….…….….14


NCHC Games

Colorado College vs #22 Denver (home/home)
Last weekend the Tigers tied and beat the Broncos (4-4SOW, 3-0W) in Colorado Springs and the Pioneers split with the Mavericks (4-2L, 4-1W) in Omaha.

The fight for the Gold Pan continues this weekend.  The teams met back in November, with the Pioneers winning the first game in a shoot-out and taking the second game 2-1 in regulation.  The Tigers shot at the title are not realistic, but a shot at taking arch-rival Denver out of the race picture is realistic.  The Pioneers need to get points this weekend for two reasons, one to keep the last home ice spot, and keep a shot at the title within reach.  I think CC will get a win this weekend and so will DU.  SPLIT


#28 Nebraska-Omaha @ #22 Western Michigan
Last weekend the Mavericks split with the Pioneers (4-2W, 4-1L) in Omaha and the Broncos tied and lost to Tigers (4-4SOL, 3-0L) in Colorado Springs.

The Broncos have been hit and miss this season, one weekend their hot, the next their not.  It’s hard to guess what WMU team will show up at Kalamazoo this weekend.  The Broncos are 5-6-1 at home this season and the Mavericks are 5-5-2 on the road.  The numbers point to these old CCHA teams splitting this weekend’s games.  SPLIT


#3 SCSU @ Miami
Last weekend the Huskies swept the Bulldogs (5-3, 4-3) in St. Cloud and the RedHawks were swept by NoDak (3-2, 9-2) in Grand Forks.

Honestly what can I say about this series, the top team in the conference versus the bottom team.  A bottom team now, that started off the season the top team in the nation, in the pre-season polls.  The RedHawks have fallen on hard times, especially after their last game in Grand Forks.  MU might show some life this weekend, to prove that they are not dead, and recoup some pride.  The Huskies on the other hand look to be rolling right along, and could just flatten the RedHawks this weekend.  A SCSU sweep would just about secure them home ice advantage and dibs on the Penrose Cup.  I think the RedHawks might surprise the Huskies, but they still won’t win.  HUSKIES SWEEP


#11 North Dakota @ #16 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend NoDak swept the RedHawks (3-2, 9-2) in Grand Forks and the Bulldogs were swept by the Huskies (5-3, 4-3) in St. Cloud.

These teams met back in November in Grand Forks, with UND wining the opener 4-2, and UMD winning the next night 6-3.  The Bulldogs might have lost their shot at the conference last weekend at SCSU, now eight points behind the Huskies.  But NoDak is holding steady at second place with a shot next weekend at SCSU.  NoDak needs to keep on keeping on, and that means getting at least one win this weekend in Duluth.  If the can play like they did last Saturday, watch out, they can score goals.  UMD needs to play sound defense this weekend to keep the scoring low, if they want to win.  SPLIT 

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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Talent doesn't always win games.


Can't say that I am real sad that the Russians lost today. Saw that one coming, actually.
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Zach Parise goal GIF


This was Zach Parise's first point of the 2014 Sochi games. If you're not following @PETEBLACKBURN on twitter, I recommend doing so.
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Olympic Hockey: And then there were four teams

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Going to be an awesome day of hockey on Friday.Game time for the USA vs. Canada is 11:00 A.M. on Friday.




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Canada Outshoots Latvia 57-14

I think this sums it up pretty well, Latvia has a pretty good goalie
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USA vs. Canada twitter

The Women's Olympic Hockey team goes for gold against the Canada "the Evil Empire" tomorrow.








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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Rocco Grimaldi 2nd best play of the week in the NCAA



It's a double for Rocco Grimaldi this week as the Sophomore forward has the second best play of the week in the NCAA. But we're not done there, Rocco also has the second best goal in the NCHC this week.




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Deadspin: IIHF To Change Rule That Gave U.S. Victory Over Russia

100 px
100 px (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Apparently, all of the grumbling about the way USA won the game against the Russians will cause the IIHF to change the dislodged net rule.
Barry Petchesky, Deadspin – The IIHF intends to go that route too. President Rene Fasel spoke to reporters today. From Championat.ru, via and translated by Puck Daddy:

What can you say about the disallowed goal because of the dislodged net?

"We will change that rule. To disallow a goal because of two centimeters? That's nonsense. But that is the existing rule, nothing can be done. That's why I think that this rule needs to be changed and officiate the way it is done in the NHL. That's what we will do."
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NHL won't adopt T.J. Oshie Rule

Original NHL logo, used until 2005. A version ...
Original NHL logo, used until 2005. A version of the logo features it in the shape of a hockey puck. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
According to Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, don't count on the NHL adopting the T.J. Oshie Rule. I would say that I like this... It works great for International play.
Puck Daddy -- “Obviously, the one feature that’s different in international competition and the National Hockey League is the ability to use the same shooter in a game-winning shots competition,” said deputy commissioner Bill Daly on Tuesday, before the qualification round of the Sochi Olympic tournament.

“We haven’t even talked about that with our general managers at any point and time, but I would very surprised if the general managers would ever be supportive of that type of concept. It’s tough enough that they don’t like the shootout as it is.”

One of the reasons why the GMs would find the concept repellant: The idea that “shootout specialists” might need to be a consideration on their rosters. Which would be great news for the Linus Omarks of the world, but not something Daly sees the League’s team executives desiring all that much.
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No NHL players in 2018 Olympic games?

I think it’s a horrible idea to not send the NHL players to the 2018 Olympics games. I like the concept of having the best players in the world playing in the Olympics games. The hockey this season has been amazing.
Steve Keating -- SOCHI, Russia (Reuters)The National Hockey League (NHL) was non-committal about players' future participation in the Olympics on Tuesday, leaving open the possibility that the Sochi Games might be the last to showcase the world's best players.

The three most powerful men in hockey - Rene Fasel, head of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association chief Donald Fehr - had no firm answers for reporters when asked whether NHL players would be back in four years' time.

"Yes, Rene would love for Don and I to say today that we are coming (to Pyeongchang), but he knows that's not the case," said Bettman. "This is the fifth time we have participated in the Olympic tournament - where we are in this process should not be a shock to anybody."

In North America, talk persists that Sochi will mark the final time that NHL players will be seen on Olympic ice. Bettman insisted nothing has been decided and negotiations would continue, as has been the case after every Winter Games.
I remain hopeful that will see the NHL players in Pyeongchang. Thoughts on this?
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Monday, February 17, 2014

Noora Raty's retirement letter.



Noora Raty is probably the best female goaltender in the world, and she's has a lot of valid points. Raty's retirement letter said a lot of things that many of us grapple with as we move forward in our adult lives. Women's hockey is good hockey and the product has grown on the ice and she is definitely one of  the pioneers in the sport. I consider myself lucky enough to seen her play in person.  I wish her good luck in what ever she does. 

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UND 11th in both National Polls

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

Rk. School (1st place) Record Pts. PR
1. Boston College (49) 24-4-3 999 1
2. Minnesota (1) 21-4-5 948 2
3. Union 20-6-4 884 3
4. St. Cloud State 17-6-5 832 6
5. Quinnipiac 21-6-5 778 4
6. Ferris State 21-7-3 755 4
7. Massachusetts-Lowell 20-7-3 740 7
8. Wisconsin 17-9-2 655 8
9. Northeastern 17-10-3 563 12
10. Michigan 14-9-3 487 10
11. North Dakota 16-9-3 435 17
12. Providence 15-9-6 428 9
13. Cornell 12-7-5 411 11
14. Yale 13-8-4 336 13
15. Notre Dame 17-12-2 255 20
16. Vermont 15-11-3 205 15
17. Maine 15-10-3 175 NR
18. Denver 14-10-6 157 18
19. Colgate 14-11-5 138 19
20. Minnesota Duluth 13-11-4 112 16
Others receiving votes: Clarkson 95, Minnesota State 65, Ohio State 29, New Hampshire 6, Air Force 5, Western Michigan 4, Nebraska Omaha 2, Mercyhurst 1.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll    

1. Boston College (33) 24-4-3 509 1
2. Minnesota (1) 21-4-5 477 2
3. Union 20-6-4 411 3
4. St. Cloud State 17-6-5 398 6
5. Ferris State 21-7-3 360 4
6. Quinnipiac 21-6-5 356 5
7. Massachusetts-Lowell 20-7-3 309 7
8. Wisconsin 17-9-2 281 8
9. Northeastern 17-10-3 217 12
10. Michigan 14-9-3 168 11
11. North Dakota 16-9-3 144 NR
12. Providence 15-9-6 129 9
13. Cornell 12-7-5 110 10
14. Yale 13-8-4 82 13
15. Maine 15-10-3 43 NR
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(Edit) Women's Hockey: Team USA and Canada for the Gold


Round two of the Hatfields and McCoys... Should be a great game. Nice to know they will be the first North Dakotas to win two Olympic medals.



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UND vs. UMD TV programming note

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – With the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) race going down to the wire, fans can see both games of North Dakota’s critical Feb. 21-22 series at Minnesota Duluth on live television.

Friday’s game will be broadcast live nationally on FOX Sports North Plus, which is also available on DirecTV channels 652-1 (HD) and 652 (SD) and DISH Network channels 9515 (HD) and 445 (SD).

Saturday’s game can be seen live regionally on Midco Sports Network channel 622 (HD) and 26 (SD).

Coverage from UMD’s AMSOIL Arena begins both nights at 7 p.m. Central. Tom Hansen will handle the play-by-play duties alongside former Minnesota Duluth player Judd Medak.

North Dakota will enter the series tied for second place, three points ahead of third place  Nebraska-Omaha, just three points behind league-leading St. Cloud State and five points ahead of Minnesota Duluth, which is tied for fifth place.

Note: It was originally announced earlier this month that Midco Sports Network would televise both games of the series. With FOX Sports North Plus now carrying Friday’s game, Midco Sports Network will pick up Saturday’s game only.
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Sunday, February 16, 2014

Angry Russians level their guns at USA referee

Good stuff here. Russian star Alex Ovechkin accused American goaltender Jonathan Quick of dislodging the net.
Greg Heakes, Sochi — Russia blasted American referee Brad Meier Saturday for disallowing a goal that would have given them a lead late in their Olympic Games hockey clash they eventually lost to the USA in a shootout.

"The referee made a mistake," said Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov following the Russians 3-2 loss to the Americans in a preliminary round contest.

"Of course, it would have been more effective to have a different judge."

T.J. Oshie scored four times in the shootout after a roller-coaster contest in front of a raucous crowd of 11,678 at the Bolshoi Ice Dome.

Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin insisted the goal should have counted and said that USA goaltender Jonathan Quick deserved a penalty for intentionally dislodging it.

"It was definitely a goal. The goalie touched the net so that the net moved," Ovechkin said. "The referee had to see it. He should have given him two minutes."

With the score tied 2-2, the Russians appeared to have scored the go-ahead goal with just under five minutes left in the third on a shot from the point by Fyodor Tyutin.
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UND Hockey: Not all Doom and Gloom today


After giving up a two goal last weekend, it seems like things were looking kind of glum. What a difference a week makes. With the win, UND moved up in the Pairwise Rankings.

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UND pounds Miami 9-2 in Grand Forks

Grand Forks, ND – The first shot on net by the University of North Dakota went into the Miami net. Unfortunately for UND, the referee ruled that junior forward Mark MacMillan interfered with the Miami goalie Ryan McKay. Video replay confirmed that MacMillan caught the McKay with a forearm, in the head, knocking his goalie mask off– you can’t do that.
The next shot by sophomore defenseman Jordan Schmaltz went in the net, this time it counted. UND would have another goal waved off in the first period, but it didn’t seem to faze UND all that much.
“It didn’t seem to matter,” head coach Dave Hakstol said. “We were ready to play. We had a great start. Couple of disallowed goals through the first period, but it really didn’t matter.  We were ready to play the next shift. Everybody was ready to play.”
UND would push the lead to 2-0, when sophomore forward Colton St. Clair scored his second goal of the season to make it 2-0. That was St. Clair’s first goal since October 19, 2013, when he scored against Miami.
Rocco Grimaldi and Keaton Thompson scored four minutes apart to push the lead to 4-0 after one period of hockey, and the route was on.
UND would score four more goals in the second period, and add a single goal on the power-play in the closing seconds of the third period. Yeah, you heard that right, UND scored two power-play goals on Saturday night. On Saturday night, UND was 2-5 on the much maligned power-play. After coming to the series going 3-for-38 on the power-play, UND was 3-11 (27.3%) for the weekend on the man advantage.
North Dakota had two goals waved off in the first period, but it didn’t seem to matter, as UND took Miami to the proverbial woodshed, winning 9-2. That was most goals that UND had scored at the Ralph Engelstad Arena since December 31, 2011, when UND beat Havard 7-3.
“I thought we had great jump from the start. all the way through the first period,” Rocco Grimaldi said. “I thought that every line was building momentum, every time they were on the ice. The power-play was clicking. Things were just going our way. It was a total team effort.”
While Grimaldi led UND with a goal and three assists, he was quick to credit his fellow teammates who played a sold 60-minute game.
“It was total team effort, every guy did his part,” Grimaldi said. “Every guy played his heart out, and was just motivated to get the three points. Especially looking at last weekend, we had Omaha on the ropes on Saturday night, and let it slip away and let them score five unanswered (goals). It was a message that was preached a lot.”
There were a lot of positives for UND tonight and the head coach seemed pleased with his team’s effort, 14 players recorded at least a point, and five players record two or more points.
“I thought our third period, other than probably two or three shifts where I thought we were happy to play defense in our own zone," Hakstol said. "We played on our toes. Guys were having fun.  Again, nobody stepped outside the box. They just went out and played well, played hard."
Sophomore goalie Zane Gothberg returned from injury, and continued his torrid streak. Over his last 10 starts, Gothberg is 9-0-1 with a 1.79 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.
UND now has two of its three remaining series on the road. Next weekend, UND travels to Minnesota Duluth, to play the Bulldogs in an important two-game NCHC series. With the win, UND improves to (16-9-3 and 10-7 NCHC).

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