David Clarkson vs Mike Commodore

This was a really short fight between New Jersey Tough Guy David Clarkson and former Fighting Sioux Mike Commodore, hey Mike it is easier to fight when you stay on your feet. According to hockeyfights.com Mike's fight record this season is 2-2-1.

MTU and UND

I found this video on youtube, reminded me of old time hockey and Eddie Shore. This weekend UND plays MTU in an important WCHA match up, there are no weekends off in this league, and this isn't the CCHA. It's time for the Sioux to show some heart and sweep this series. One could say that this is a make or break weekend. While I don't like cliché’s it is time to find out if my team is a contender or a pretender. If the Sioux are going to win this series they are going to have to play with an edge and be ready to do the things that MTU does. The Sioux must play like they did when they played the Badgers in Madison in November. Hit the skilled forwards and counter attack. The Sioux need to be miserable to play against. We used to say when I was in football that it's beter to be the hammer than it is to be the nail.

MTU is not afraid to do the things that they need to do to win the games. MTU has one of the best goalie tandems in the WCHA, one could call it a two headed monster and it doesn't matter which one is in the net as Rob Nolan is 5-5-0 with a 2.50 gaa and a .903 save % and Michael-Lee Teslak is 4-4-2 with a 1.71 GAA and a .934 save %.
UND will have to move their feet against MTU or run the risk of getting run out of the building. I am hoping the Fighting Sioux remember the bitter pill they had to swallow after being swept by MTU in our building last season.

Haven't we seen this prediction before?

Bethlyn: UND 9-0, UND 7-0. The Sioux will walk all over the WCHA “perennial doormats.” Print this out and hang it in the locker room, Coach Russell.

Hum, I don't think this is going to work this season.

Is Sean Avery a Jerk?

I think this is a interesting article that I found on line. I also found a clip on this incident as well. This is the type of guy that Sean Avery is. Honestly, this guy is a piece of work, first he about start a brawl in the warm up attacking Darcy Tucker and insulting Jason Blake. What a class act. Here is what Sean Averyhad to say, this is some classic stuff. With friends like Avery you don't need enemies.

“I never enjoy playing in Toronto really,” Avery said after the Rangers practiced Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Center. “Why? I don’t enjoy hockey-obsessed Canadians. The exchange rate is not very good right now. And it’s going to cost me a lot of money for tickets for people I don’t even like. How’s that for a list?”

Avery laughed, but he was serious about most of his list. Maple Leafs fans are sure to share his animosity. The last time the Rangers visited Toronto, in mid-November, Avery started yelling at one of his favorite targets, forward Darcy Tucker, during warm-ups, when no officials were on the ice. The trash-talking nearly set off a brawl — for which Avery, Tucker and both teams were fined. Speculation later circulated that Avery had started the altercation by making a derogatory remark about Toronto forward Jason Blake’s bout with cancer.

Avery denied it. Blake said he did not hear Avery say anything about cancer. And when those rumors made it into a radio broadcast and several newspapers, Avery said he was suing the radio reporter, Howard Berger, and the station FAN 590, for libel. The station retracted the report, but Avery said the papers for the lawsuit were served this week.

“I’m sure they’ll be fired up,” Avery said. “I’m just planning to play the same game I always do. I don’t think I’ll do anything different. I feel like I’ve got my legs back, and I’m just going to go in there and play a Sean Avery-type game.”

That game usually involves mayhem. In Wednesday night’s 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, he fought with forward Andrew Ladd despite being held back by an official.

This Picture is for Boosh

Some one sent me this picture and I didn't want this picture to go to waste. So... Since it was MTU playing UND in hockey this week I couldn't resist this post, if you read Boosh's blog you would know that he is a big Mike Commodore fans, he, he, he...

Gabby and Lemaire dust up?

I was listening to Dan Barreiro's show on pod cast today; Barreiro was talking about the dust up between Wild Star Marian Gaborik and Hall of Fame Coach Jacques Lemaire. In this week’s Minneapolis Star and Tribune Wild Coach Jacques Lemaire called Gabby out challenging him to work harder. I think it is about time Lemaire called out more of his star players. In fact it is long over due. While it is no doubt that Marian Gaborik is a dynamic offensive hockey player I believe Gaborik needs to take his play up a notch in the defensive zone, especially playing for the defensive minded Jacques Lemaire.

After watching the Wild’s horrible effort the last couple of games it would appear that the Wild are going to struggle to make the playoffs this season unless something changes. The Minnesota Wild can not be the good teams in the Western Conference. I might argue that if the Wild manage to make the NHL playoffs it will be another one and done playoff series, like last year when they were beat by a bigger and tougher team the Ducks.

That being said; I also believe that Gaborik’s play isn’t the only problem the Wild are facing. There are other issues on this team that need to be addressed as well. Contrary to the belief of some the Minnesota Wild Management the Minnesota Wild are not a very deep and talented team. The Wild lack top line players need to get over the top, after Gaborik, Demtra and Rolston there is a huge drop off in talent especially with one of their top forwards being hurt. It is no mystery that the Wild are hurting offensively from the absence of forward Mikko Koivu who has missed 22 games due to the broken leg. I believe the Wild are in need of a shake up. They Wild just aren’t getting it done

DALLAS - This is becoming an almost daily occurrence. Monday morning, before the Wild played the Dallas Stars and two days after Marian Gaborik was a minus-3 in Nashville, coach Jacques Lemaire implored him to "work harder."

"The skilled players, sometimes they want to use only their skills," Lemaire said. "But in today's game, the guys are too good, they work too hard. It's not only your skill that's important. You have to work with that skill. And work and work and work harder.

"Gabby's working, but it's not hard enough -- plain and simple. It's got to be harder. He does that, you add his talent, he's going to have a better chance of success."

Before Monday, in the seven games since Gaborik's five-goal game against the Rangers, he scored three goals, three assists and was a minus-8. In three of the past six games, Gaborik's ice time had been reduced -- 15 minutes, 39 seconds at Dallas, 14:28 against San Jose and 14:39 in Nashville. Lemaire said he played less than that.

"He played less than the other two because I wasn't satisfied the way he played," Lemaire said.

Friction is clearly building between Lemaire and Gaborik. Asked about Lemaire's assertion that his work ethic must improve, Gaborik said: "You want to play more than you're playing. It's up to them. I try to go out and play my best games. Sometimes, it just doesn't work. There's 82 games. Sometimes you don't feel as good. Sometimes, of course, there can be a little more effort.

This weeks picks

The second half of the season is under way and now it is cruch time for all the teams in the WCHA, there is a lot of team fighting for the top five positions. One could make the argument that each point is very important and there are no longer any throw away games. It will be interesting to see how this race shakes up.

FRIDAY:

Alaska-Anchorage at Colorado College
Minnesota State at Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin at Denver
St. Cloud State at Minnesota
Michigan Tech at North Dakota

SATURDAY:

Alaska-Anchorage at Colorado College
Minnesota State at Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin at Denver
Minnesota at St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech at North Dakota

Last week 8-2
For the year 67-47

Steve Downie will not be suspended for Suckering Blake

I think that Steve Downie is becoming one of the biggest hacks in the NHL. The kid has played a grand total of four games in the NHL and has already been suspened for 25 games. This is the same clown that beat up his own team mate in the OHL Check out the video of this incident; there is no doubt in my mind that Steve Downie sucker punched Jason Blake. If Steve Downie had sucker punched Sidney Crosby it would have been a 5-10 game suspension for his gutless act.

PHILADELPHIA - Steve Downie has received a stern talking to from the league and his coach but the Philadelphia Flyers forward will not be suspended for sucker-punching Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said he and Downie spoke to NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell after the incident in Philadelphia's 3-2 win at the Air Canada Centre last Saturday night.

"We had a conversation with Mr. Campbell and that's it. The rest will be between the league, the Flyers and Steve," Holmgren told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It was a good talk.

"It's Steve's (fourth) NHL game. He's walking a fine line there, which is basically what he was told. My conversation with Steve was a little harsher than Colin Campbell's."

Downie, who scored his first NHL goal in the game, punched Blake in the face while the veteran forward was being held by a linesman. Downie's double minor came in the third period and the Leafs scored on the power play to get back in the game.

"I took a penalty that hurt the team and I can't do that," Downie told the Inquirer, admitting he has again been put on notice by the league. "There's a fine line you've got to follow and I crossed it again. I got to learn."

Downie was suspended for 20 games earlier this season after a pre-season hit on Dean McAmmond in Ottawa. Blake's eye was swollen after the punch but he was not expected to miss any action.

These pictures should erase all doubt

Super Fighting Sioux fan Sioux-Cia (name changed to protect the innocent) from Siouxsports.com sent me these very funny pictures. Most Fighting Sioux fan will think that these pictures are very funny especially after watching last years UND and Minnesota series. One does have to wonder if WCHA ref Jon Campion had a Gopher jersey under his ref uniform. I am sure there were other Sioux fans that wondered the same thing. Although I am sure most Gopher fans won't see the humor, they never do you have to admit that this is funny. If your not laughing you should be...

On Frozen Blog; Mean Joe Finley — Even Meaner?

I found this article at the ON FROZEN BLOG I know it is a little late but we might as well enjoy big Joe now because he is going to be gone at the end of the season.

The Wisconsin State Journal this week has a detailed account of the mayhem the North Dakota Fighting Sioux directed at freshman phenom Kyle Turris of the Wisconsin Badgers this past weekend. Turris, the third overall pick of the 2007 draft by Phoenix, is an understandable target of old-time attention one month into the college hockey season: he’s been perhaps the most impressive and dominant first-year performer, piling up 14 points in 8 games thus far. He’s third in the nation in scoring, behind a pair of St. Cloud State teammates: Ryan Lasch and Vienna, Va.’s Garrett Roe, also a freshman. They have 17 points in 10 games.

The Fighting Sioux have their share of dominating forwards, including last year’s Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan. Nonetheless, they made like their namesakes last weekend, as the Journal notes:

“In the first period of the series opener Friday, won 4-0 by UW, Turris was walloped at the offensive blue line by Fighting Sioux junior defenseman Joe Finley, a fellow NHL first-rounder (Washington) who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds . . .

“Things escalated in the second game . . . Finley literally tackled Turris along the right boards . . .”

Not content to make life miserable for skilled Badgers on the ice, Big Joe apparently got rough off it, too:

“. . . a UW official confirmed that Finley allegedly used his stick to smack Bucky Badger in the leg when the two passed one another on the runway to the dressing rooms Saturday night.”

He can’t get to D.C. fast enough for me.

Here are a few pictures that Win-Twins sent me.
Here are a couple of pictures of Joe Finley that were sent to me. While a lot of fans of opposition teams think Finley is a gutless thug or a tireless hack. I think that honor has been earned by Stu Bickle. Personally I think Finley is a great defenseman that has done nothing but get better since his arrival at UND... The fact that fans complain about him means he is affective and giving them reason to grumble, fans used to say the same things about Matt Greene. Joe has also cut down on the stupid penalties this season and has been a effective penalty killer since his arrival at UND.

Sioux get another Split

There is two ways you can look at this past weekend's series. One can look at this weekends results with negativity or one can look at this weekend's series and see the silver lining. SCSU while 7th in the standing of the WCHA has a lot of talent and can beat any team on any given day. UND after the split this weekend is sitting third in the league with the third most wins.

~UND has not swept an opponent this season.

~UND has not been swept by an opponent this season. By this time last season UND has been swept by three opponents.

~UND is still 9th in the Power Rankings after the weekend split.

Can someone step up?

I got this picture from The WinTwins blog and this picture really kind of explains the whole team effort of the Fighitng Sioux in the third period; out of place and standing around watching.

If SCSU is the seventh place team in the WCHA the Sioux might be in touble this season, because SCSU really kicked it in during the third period and the Sioux lost another game they were leading in the third period, UNACCEPTABLE...

~Someone needs to take some leadership on this team.

~I am tired of watching veteran players making rookie mistakes.

~I am tired of watching UND loose.

~I am revamping my predictions for this season. Nohthing good is going to happen this season, I just don't see another run to the Frozen Four, cause they suck this season. The Fighting Sioux are a veteran team that looks disinterested in doing anything or playing 60 minutes of hockey. Wear that uniform with pride or go home. If The Fighting Sioux coaching staff can't get their players to beat the league teams how are they going to qualify for the NCAA tourney.

Adam Burish and Keith Ballard

A person from Sioux sports game me a heads up on couple of great fights. First one is Adam Burish as he comes to the aid of former and current teammate Jack Skille, you have got to love it a Badger kicking the snot out of a Gopher, I would have paid money to watch that one. All I can say to Ballard you live by the sword you die by the sword, Ballard got his ass kicked.

Here is a great fight between James Wisniewski and Jordin Tootoo I have to say that I enjoyed watching Tootoo getting his ass kicked.

Four seconds into the game Ryan Hollweg vs Mike Brown

The sky is falling.

I have been reading the Siouxsports.com this week or WHINEABOUTEVERYTHING.COM as the Gophers fans call it and its getting really silly. Some of the stuff I have read this week is really over the top. I think some of these people forget about their days in college. Hell when I was in the military we could have gotten charged with disorderly conduct every weekend.

Lets look at this folks T.J. Oshie was charged with a misdemeaner not a felony and lets not forget that T.J. is innocent until proven guilty. One thing that I think everyone forgot there is actually going to be a game tonight which is on CSTV tonight.

I answered some questions over on the Win Twins blog there were a few minor additions to my answers but it was fun answering the questions.

Former Maverick David Backes and Ladislav Smid go toe to toe.

Apparently David Backes doesn't just get into fights Keith Ballard, here is Former MSU-M Star David Backes fighting Ladislav Smid during the Oilers and Blues game on Jan 2, 2008. In my opinion the decision goes to David Backes, but I am biased because I am a WCHA guy.

Links to the Oshie and Radja incident

I figured that I would put something that is positive on here before we get to the more negative story. Folks, lets also not lose perspective, while Oshie screwed up it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. T.J. Oshie is a great hockey player and I am sure that T.J. and his Fighting Sioux team mates will stay out of trouble the rest of the hockey season. Listening to coach Dave Hakstol the other night on the Fighting Sioux coaches show; lets just say that the Coach was less than happy with the play in the third period Saturday night but also unhappy about what transpired this past weekend after the Saturday night game. Myself, I would not want to be the next person that makes an knuckle headed move like getting arrested.

Links to the Story

Here are some of the links to this story, it seems that T.J. might gotten off a little easier than the UNH player Radja, who also seems to have a history of disciplinary problems.

DURHAM – The University of New Hampshire hockey team will be without leading goal scorer Mike Radja for its two games this weekend, after coach Dick Umile suspended him following his arrest early Sunday in Grand Forks, N.D.

Radja, who had two goals and three assists in UNH's 7-4 win over North Dakota Saturday night – one that salvaged a weekend split – was arrested hours later for disorderly conduct, along with a North Dakota player. He leads the Wildcats with 10 goals.

Umile said Radja, a senior, told him later Sunday of his arrest, which followed a fight between the two players in an elevator on campus.

"That's all I needed to hear and that's enough for me to do what I did," Umile said on Wednesday. "Right now (the suspension) is for at least this weekend."

Radja's suspension will be indefinite; I wonder if the local media will make anything of this little tid bit?

DURHAM - Mike Radja, the University of New Hampshire hockey team's leading goal scorer and one of its assistant captains, has been indefinitely suspended by Coach Dick Umile following his arrest for disorderly conduct early Sunday morning in Grand Forks, N.D.

Just hours after the most productive game of his career - a two-goal, five-point effort in a 7-4 Wildcat win over the University of North Dakota - Radja and Sioux forward TJ Oshie were both arrested by the Grand Forks police. The arrests were made at 2:28 a.m., at a building that lists law offices and accountants among its occupants, but the police would provide no additional details because the case has yet to go to court.

A spokesperson for Grand Forks Municipal Court said an appearance date has been set for Jan. 16. In the meantime, Radja will miss UNH's two games this weekend before Umile reevaluates the situation for the future. Oshie has been handed a one-game suspension by UND.

Naturally, the leftist rag the Red Star and Sickle had to chime in with their own article on this story. Don't get me wrong this is a news story when one of their top rivals top players gets into trouble. I suppose they probably welcome this story because it does take some of the focus off their troubled program that seems to be in disarray themselves.

UND's T.J. Oshie, pride of Warroad hockey, suspended after arrest
West Virginia surprises Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl
One of the top Minnesota high school hockey players to come out of the state in recent years is in trouble with the law again.

T.J. Oshie, who led Warroad to state titles in 2003 and 2005 and is a first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, has been suspended for the University of North Dakota's next game after being arrested early Sunday, the school announced Wednesday.

According to the Grand Forks Herald, Oshie was arrested for disorderly conduct at 2:28 a.m. Sunday in Grand Forks. A Grand Forks County jailer said Oshie listed the same address as his home, the newspaper said.

Even ESPNU had a piece on this subject:

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota has suspended the leading scorer on its men's hockey team after he was arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct.

Junior forward T.J. Oshie, of Warroad, Minn., will miss Friday's game at St. Cloud State for violating team rules, head coach Dave Hakstol announced Wednesday.

"Right now, it's a one-game suspension," Hakstol said. "I can't get into the whole situation ... I'm disappointed right now.

" Obviously, this will be a public issue," Hakstol said.

Oshie was arrested at 2:28 a.m. on Sunday, Grand Forks police said. The Sioux, ranked No. 8 in the nation, wrapped up a two-game series with visiting New Hampshire on Saturday night. Michael Radja, a New Hampshire player, also was arrested for disorderly conduct, police said.

Radja, the leading scorer for No. 7 New Hampshire, will be suspended for at least two games, coach Dick Umile said.

No details were released by UND.

It's the second time Oshie has been arrested since joining UND. He and former Sioux teammate Jonathan Toews, now with the Chicago Blackhawks, pleaded guilty last year to being minors in a bar. Both were placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.

Oshie, a 6-foot, 192-pound forward leads the Sioux with nine goals. He's tied with two other players for the team lead in points with 16.

The Sioux (9-7-1, 6-6 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) will conclude a two-game series with the Huskies on Saturday.

In the end this story will blow over and be a bad memory, lets just hope that Oshie and the guys don't have anymore eruptions the rest of the way from here.

Oshie suspended for one game.

I heard about this story through the rumor mill this moring but this is the first official announcement that I have actually read of this incident. I would imagine that Mike McFeely down in Fargo is going to have a field day with this incident and we are probably going to see more silly articles about how UND is a program out of control and that the UND hockey players are a bunch of criminals. I am sure we will hear how that Hakstol didn't punish T.J. Oshie enough and let him off easy. I think that a one game suspension is more than enough. Lets just hope that Oshie can come back strong and score some goals on Saturday night.

UND forward T.J. Oshie has been suspended for one game following an arrest early Sunday morning.

According to a Grand Forks police report, Oshie was arrested for disorderly conduct at 2:28 a.m. Sunday at 100 N. 3rd Street in Grand Forks.

New Hampshire senior forward Mike Radja also was arrested for the same offense at the same address. Radja, 22, had five points in New Hampshire's 7-4 win over UND on Saturday night.

UND announced the suspension Wednesday afternoon, saying that Oshie, 21, would miss Friday's game against St. Cloud State for violating team rules. No further details were given in the release.

Oshie, a junior from Warroad, Minn., is the team's leading scorer nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 17 games.

He also was arrested last January for being a minor in a bar. Oshie entered a guilty plea on that charge and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay about $225 in fines and fees.

Fomer WCHA players Stuart and Commodore toss them

Fomer C.C. Tiger Mark Stuart took on former Fighting Sioux Mike Commodore after he smoked P.J. Axelson with a big hit. Here is the hit as Mike Commodore Smokes P.J. Axelson. Ouch

Photos from the UNH series

Here are some pictures from this past weekends series the UNH Wild Cats. Go ahead and use them if you like, there will be no copy right violation and they are not professional done. If you look closely at this picture you will see Kyle Radke on the ice. I don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me or did Radke put on a bunch of muscle in the off season? I don't know but Radke does looks a hell of a lot bigger than he did last season.

A friend of ours that sits in the seats next to us had extra seats in the lower bowl for Friday night game so I was lucky to sit in a seat that was a lot closer to ice. While the seats in the lower bowl are good for taking pictures and are a lot closer to the ice, I still like sitting in the upper deck better. You can see the ice better from the upper deck. I did find a great beer stand in the section behind the student seats.
I you look at the pictures it kind of captures how defensive mined UNH played against the Fighting Sioux this past weekend. UNH is probably one of the better defensive teams I can remember seeing this season. I would put them up there with the Wisconsin or Denver teams when they won the NCAA title. UNH clogs up the neutral zone and gets in the shooting lanes. UNH was also one of the cleanser teams I have seen come to the REA. Of coruse we don't play them every year either.
Here is a picture of Lets Go Mav's favorite goaltender.

Kessel score 10th goal of the season: Sophmore slump?

This year there has been a lot of discussion about Phil Kessel being a bust and not playing that well. I am not sure what or whos standards we are messuring him by. some have actually suggested that the 20 year old is having a sophmore slump. Today Kessel actually scored his 11th goal of the season equaling last season goal total in 38 games.

This weeks picks: Misc Ramblings/Rants

Games this week in the WCHA

01/04/08

Colorado College at Wisconsin
North Dakota at St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech at Mercyhurst
Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State
Wayne State at Minnesota

01/06/08

Colorado College at Wisconsin
North Dakota at St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech at Mercyhurst
Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State
Wayne State at Minnesota

Last week 9-9-0
Year 59-45

WCHA does well in Holiday Tourneys

The WCHA proved once against that it is a top notch league by going 10-5-3 overall in the recent holiday tourney play. I think this record speaks volumes about the type of league that the WCHA is. I am sick and tired of fans from other leagues disrespecting the WCHA. If you look the power rankings and the KRACH you will see that the Strength of Schedule of the WCHA speaks for itself our league leaders are not lining up against and beating up on a bunch of weak sisters of the poor cup cakes. The WCHA is playing top notch competition and beating them. While the CCHA’s top teams are probably deserving of their rankings they are not playing a lot of tough teams.
This is the stupidest thing I have read all week: USCHO

IMO the WCHA is overrated and the only reason they have 7 teams in the top 20 is because of what the conference has done the past 5 years. To be frank they have 4 really good teams and a handful of mediocre teams that are ranked because they beat up on each other and the conference is overrated. SCSU is a solid team, but they lost some high power players last year. DU, CC, and ND are excellent teams but after that, Minnesota and Wisconsin are mediocre and in the top 20 because of their name. Facts are facts; it will all play out in the end. SCSU does pose some threats because of their team speed, wish I could make it up there for the tourney.

First off if the WCHA is such a overrated league why has the WCHA won 5 of the last 7 NCAA titles. Also if the WCHA is so week why did it take (2) overtimes for Michigan to beat MTU and Miami (1) overtime to beat SCSU. If you use the logic above Michigan and Miami should have run both of those WCHA patsies out of the building.