CHN Drops Bomb Shell

Merry Christmas everyone, today, Mike McMahon and Adam Wodon from College Hockey News have put out a pretty serious story. This is not good if true. These kind of incidents could lead to sanctions from the NCAA.

Mike McMahon and Adam Wodon , College Hockey News --- Boston University junior forward Nick Roberto, who has not played this season due to a team-imposed suspension, will not play for the remainder of this season, College Hockey News has learned.

According to several sources, Roberto's suspension is the result of gambling activity he participated in during last season. Sources indicate that Roberto was not the only BU player involved, though those players are no longer with the hockey program. The identity of those players could not be confirmed. Other sources have indicated that players from other teams were involved, too.

In a statement released to CHN today, the University said, “Beyond confirming that Mr. Roberto will not play for the Boston University hockey team this season, federal privacy laws prevent us from discussing his status.

NHL HOCKEY: T.J.. Oshie Named Star of the Week

Former Fighting Sioux All-American forward T.J. Oshie name one of the three stars of the week.

SECOND STAR – T.J. OSHIE, RW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Oshie paced the NHL with five goals and shared the League lead with eight points as the Capitals (24-6-2, 50 points) won all four of their games to move into first place in the overall standings. He opened the week with 2-1—3 in a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 14. After being held off the scoresheet in a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 16, Oshie responded with 2-2—4 – his third career four-point game and first since Jan. 3 at SJS (3-1—4 w/ STL) – in a 5-3 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 18. He finished the week with one goal in a 7-3 triumph over the New York Rangers Dec. 20, the team's second consecutive multi-goal comeback win. The 28-year-old Everett, Wash., native has 13-9—22 in 32 games this season, his first with the Capitals.

Did the Ref Make the Right Call? (Palmieri vs. Ferraro)

By definition, this was a fight. Kyle Palmieri was throwing punches at Landon Ferraro. .

The Box Score will read:
19:35 NJD Kyle Palmieri Roughing - 2 min against Landon Ferraro
19:35 NJD Kyle Palmieri Roughing - 2 min against Landon Ferraro
19:35 BOS Landon Ferraro Boarding - 2 min against Stephen Gionta
19:35 BOS Landon Ferraro Roughing - 2 min against Kyle Palmieri

After watching the video, was this the right call or not? I believe the proper call should have been boarding and fighting on Ferraro. Palmieri jumped Ferraro before he could get set and should have gotten an instigator, fighting and 10-minute misconduct.

Sidney Crosby Knees Brad Marchand

Pittsburg Pengiuns forward Sidney Crosby was given a two-minute minor for kneeing Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand. Thoughts?

Why Is Sidney Crosby One of the 3 Most Hated Stars in the NHL?

I ran across this article on the Score today. After reading it, I started thinking, why is Sidney Crosby so hated?

Sidney Crosby

Any player widely regarded as the best in his or her sport is going to attract the slings and arrows of critics, but Crosby just makes it so easy on his detractors. Sid the Kid was labeled a whiner not long after breaking into the league, and it's a label he's never been able to shake.

He's also gained the reputation as a flopper, which only adds to the frustration of his NHL brethren given Crosby's own extracurriculars are often overlooked.

Related: 3 younglings ready to become masters of the NHL

After a few years of early-round playoff exits, even the fans in Pittsburgh are beginning to turn on Crosby, wondering if the keys to the franchise should be taken away from him, or even if he should be shipped out of town while he can still fetch a significant return.

One of my friends is a staunch Pittsburgh Penguins fans and recently, I told him that the Pens don't seem to not get the calls that other teams get. During the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, fans were wondering why Crosby was not scoring as much? I told someone it's hard to score when you have an opposition player draped all over you. I also believe that Crosby takes a fair amount of cheap shots because he is one of the best in the NHL.

Finally, I think that his reputation that he earned in his earlier years is still following him around like a set of cheap luggage.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Patric Hornqvist Cross Checking Penalty (Blown Call)

I had to go back and watch this a couple of times. I am not even sure this is a penalty. Pittsburgh Penguins forward, Patric Hornqvist, was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for cross-checking Adam McQuaid. To me, this looks like a blown call.

Derek Dorsett boards Nate Prosser; then Fights Him

There are some fans that don't like fighting in any level of hockey, I am more fussed about dirty, dangerous, unnecessary boarding and checks from behind. I am more concerned about hits like the one Dorsett put on Nate Prosser.

First Derek Dorsett was in the game to cause havoc at the end of a lopsided game, no one is going to confuse him with Sidney Crosby or even Brad Marchand. Second, the boarding penalty was a dangerous hit and should have been a major penalty, in my humble opinion.

Props to Prosser challenging Dorsett. The one-dimensional Dorsett has played in 32 games scoring (2g-4a—6pts) he’s a minus 5 and has logged 100 penalty minutes. Dorsett alone has been in as many fights as the entire Minnesota Wild hockey team.

Brad Malone vs Wayne Simmonds

According to Hockey fights, former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone has been in four NHL fights this season. The last two, he's fared poorly, and he was beaten badly in both fights. You have to give him credit, he doesn't shy away from a scrap.

In this fight, Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds comes to the aid of a Flyers player that Malone has checked.

USA WJC TV Schedule

Just like last season, all of the USA WJC games will be on NHL Network.

Sat., Dec. 26	Canada	Helsinki Ice Hall	8:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.	NHLN
Mon., Dec. 28	Sweden	Helsinki Ice Hall	4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.	NHLN
Wed., Dec. 30	Switzerland	Helsinki Ice Hall	8:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.	NHLN
Thu., Dec. 31	Denmark	Helsinki Ice Hall	4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.	NHLN
Sat., Jan. 2	Quarterfinals	TBA	TBA
Mon., Jan. 4	Semifinals	Hartwall Arena	TBA
Tues. , Jan. 5	Bronze-Medal Game Gold-Medal Game	Hartwall Arena	TBA

T.J. Oshie Blows up Beau Bennett

My buddy is a Pittsburgh Penguins fan and he was unhappy with T.J. Oshie for this hit on Penguins forward Beau Bennett. Some might call it, Sioux on Pioneer abuse. The refs didn't call a penalty on the play.

Obviously, Pens fans aren't going to be very happy with Oshie, who also scored his ninth and 10 goals of the season tonight, leading the Capitals to a 4-1 win.

Here's my question; should the on-ice officials called a penalty on this play. One could make the argument for one.

UND 2nd in USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

December 14, 2015

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Providence	(48)	12- 0-3	996	1
2	North Dakota	( 1)	16- 2-2	932	4
3	Quinnipiac	( 1)	15- 1-2	880	2
4	Boston College		13- 2-1	798	3
5	St. Cloud State		14- 4-0	793	6
6	Nebraska-Omaha		12- 3-1	779	5
7	Harvard		6- 1-3	696	7
8	Massachusetts-Lowell		10- 3-4	629	8
9	Cornell		8- 1-2	564	10
10	Michigan		9- 3-3	532	9
11	Boston University		9- 6-3	476	12
12	Bowling Green		11- 3-5	428	14
13	Yale		6- 4-2	368	15
14	Penn State		11- 2-3	336	16
15	St. Lawrence		10- 5-2	320	13
16	Notre Dame		9- 4-4	306	18
17	Denver		7- 7-2	254	11
18	Minnesota State		10- 6-4	124	20
19	Minnesota-Duluth		7- 7-3	88	17
20	Merrimack		6- 4-5	84	19
Others receiving votes: Rensselaer 50, Michigan Tech 36, Holy Cross 14, Robert Morris 11, Minnesota 6.

The University of North Dakota moves up to second in this week’s USCHO Poll. For those that were wondering, under the new Fighting Hawks nickname, UND is now 7-1.

Dan Hammer leaving Midco Sports for KFGO

According to Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, Dan Hammer will be leaving Midco for KFGO Radio in Fargo., ND...

There will soon be a new play-by-play voice calling UND athletic games on television.

Dan Hammer is leaving Midco Sports Network to accept a job as a talk radio show host on KFGO in Fargo, multiple sources have confirmed to the Herald.

It is possible Hammer will still finish this season calling the remaining men’s hockey, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games that are scheduled for Midco Sports Network, but that still appears to be undecided.

Hammer will take the 2-5 p.m. KFGO time slot previously occupied by Mike McFeely, who left the station last month to return to WDAY and Forum Communications. An official announcement is expected soon.

I have gotten to know Hammer over the last couple of years and he's a very solid guy and will be missed by many. Hammer is a high energy guy that brings a lot of enthusiasm to the broadcasts.

The FNHawks Are Given The Bird

Duluth fans think .@UNDmhockey is #1 !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fy2UiievyY

— Eric Nelson (@ericpnelson) December 13, 2015

A couple of funny things from last night. Apparently, UMD fans like to wave with one finger and The FNHawks swept UMD this past weekend and all they got was the Bird from UMD fans. LOL!

Duluth fans think .@UNDmhockey is #1 !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fy2UiievyY

— Eric Nelson (@ericpnelson) December 13, 2015

I don't know if I am the only one that thought this was funny, but I think it's funny. I think before this year over, you're going to be hearing the FNHawks quite a bit.

(video) UND 3 - UMD 0

Another weekend, another sweep for the UND hockey team. The win streak is now up to six games. This past weekend, the FHawks were outshot both nights and didn't give up a goal.

Yep, you heard that right. UND sophomore goalie Cam Johnson has now gone 218 minutes and 30 seconds without giving up a goal. Johnson now has back-to-back-to-back shutouts. Johnson (7-0-1, 1.20 GAA, .955 GAA). This past weekend, Johnson led the Fighting Hawks to a series sweep of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (3-0 W, 3-0 W).

WHKY: Second period Shelby shuts out Badgers

GRAND FORKS, N.D. --

The University of North Dakota spoiled Wisconsin's 18-game winning streak on Friday with a shut-out win. For the second time this season the Fighting Hawks downed the No. 1 ranked team in the country in an attempt to gain traction on the season.

UND got on the board with a power play goal from Layla Marvin during about a little a little over 12 minutes into the first. Four minutes later Vilma Tanksanen put the Hawks up 2-0 with assist from Rebekah Kolstad and Tanja Eisenschmid.

Shelby Amsley-Benzie faced a flurry of 15 shots during the second period. The Badgers dominated offensively, but weren't able to produce results in the form of goals.

“Shelby was lights out and that’s a big part of [the win]. I thought everyone contributed and played well with a lot of passion,” Head coach Brian Idalski said.

Wisconsin was also able to hold off the Hawks' offense to two shots during the second.

“You know what I told the team?” Idalski said about second period. “That’s the great thing about hockey and having three periods. As soon as it’s over, it’s done, it has no bearing. It doesn’t matter. We were good in the first. Second, we got hemmed in, we turned pucks over too much. I said, 'That’s over, let’s go back to what we were doing in the first; keep things simple, manage the game a little bit.' We did that and grinded it out in the third.”

North Dakota was able to rebound in the third period which included a second assist for Eisenschmid on the third goal of the evening by Becca Kohler.

The Fighting Hawks improved to 11-6-2 overall and 8-5-1 in the WCHA. 

Tonight's game marks Amsley-Benzie's fifth shut-out of the year. The Fighting Hawks will attempt to sweep the Badgers Saturday afternoon at 4:07 p.m. at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.  

UND v.s UMD lines - Game 1

UND freshman forward Shane Gersich is back in the lineup. Freshman defenseman Christian Wolanin is a healthy scratch for a second game in a row. Hayden Shaw remains as UND's sixth defenseman. UND fans will get their first look at Derek Shepherd.

Finally, if you have Midco Sports, both games will be on TV this weekend.

Piggybacking on @SchlossmanGF's note, there will be 4 teams with 0/1 loss at break. First time since ???. pic.twitter.com/5BaK6Mtuxg

— Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) December 11, 2015