Julie Robenhymer on the Frozen Four...

Check out Julie Robenhymer's blog on hockeybuzz and her take on the Frozen Four. The only problem with the article that I saw was that she said the Sioux were in the CCHA.

In a 40-ish game schedule (depending on in-season tournaments), a team will play about 10 non-conference opponents. The top tier teams often take on other top tier teams from different conferences to guage their abilities on a national level and improve thier strength of schedule. So it was a big deal when two-time National Runner-Up Boston College (Hockey East) hosted North Dakota (CCHA), the team they had beaten both times to advance to the National Title game, earlier this season...but more on this later...

Here is another interesting point on the Sioux and the Eagles.

I have loved the Fighting Sioux ever since the off season when current Hobey Baker winner - Ryan Duncan and teammates TJ Oshie, Taylor Chorney and Joe Finley decided not to follow former teammate, Jonathan Towes, to the NHL and stick together to hopefully finish what they started and make another run at the National Championship. They started the season ranked #1, but quickly fell after a rather mediocre start. In fact, they split every series in the first half of the season and didn't kick things into high gear until after thier holiday tournament (Click here to read my blog about it from earlier this year). Since then, they have found their groove. Backstopped by Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux and his 1.64 GGA and led by Oshie and Duncan and their 45 and 40 points respectively, they roll all four lines and boast 14 skaters with double digits in points.

On the flipside...I've not been a fan of BC ever since my time at UMass, but I've gotten over it...this team ROCKS! Talk about overcoming adversity...there was a time this season when they weren't even in the nation's Top 15!! But much like the Sioux, they kicked it into high gear mid-way through the season. They won their holiday tourny and then the Beanpot in February followed by the Hockey East Tournament. Led by Hobey Baker Finalist, Nathan Gerbe and his 60 points, these Eagles might be on the smaller side, but man are they FAST. Thier PP converts at 21.7% led by freshman and last week's OT hero, Joe Whitney and his 28 man-advantage points. Another freshman stand-out (much like Michigan, this was a rebuilding year for BC), goaltender John Muse has started all 42 games in goal with a 2.26 GGA, but stepping it up in the post season he has a 1.60 GGA in the last six games. Yet another freshman to keep your eye on is San Jose defensive prospect Nick Petrecki - an absolute stud at the blueline.

I also like the way she is thinking...

Personally, I'm hoping for a North Dakota victory, but most importantly a GREAT game and of that I am assured. :)

Jeff Frazee's WJC back up signs with LA.

The LA Kings signed Jeff Zatkoff "aka Jef Frazee's WJC backup" to an three-year entry-level contract. Jeff Zatkoff the L.A. Kings' 2006 3rd draft choice led the Miami RedHawks to a number two over all seed in this years NCAA hockey tourney. Unfortunately, Miami was bounced from the 2008 NCAA hockey tourney by the Boston College Eagles 3-2 in overtime during the North East Regional final.

Zatkoff LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. Zatkoff was the club’s third-round selection (74th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

(Caution this post is an attempt at humor and is not meant to be malicious)

Linkorama: Articles on the Eagles and the Frozen Four.

Here is an interesting discussion from B.C. Interruption I must say that I am nervous as well. One might say that it is hard to concentrate at work today. I am hoping that the third time is a charm against the Eagles. It would be interesting if the Fighting Sioux and the Fighting Irish both advance to the Frozen Four Finals the battle of the....

Last one, Toss Up - Who ya got? BC - North Dakota, and Michigan - Notre Dame?

Brian: I am nervous about the Eagles matchup tomorrow. It's REALLY hard to beat a team 3 years in a row in the national semifinals, but I'm going to go with my heart here and say that the Eagles keep things rolling. For the other matchup, again it's really difficult to beat a team 3 times in the same season ... ask this year's version of the Dallas Cowboys. I'm going to go the other way on this. I'm going with Notre Dame with the major upset, if only because Notre Dame survived the West regional of death, and Michigan had, by far, the easiest road to the Frozen Four. All Catholic final, let's do this.

Jeff: Notre Dame beat New Hampshire easily and then went on to beat Michigan State in this tournament. I don't know a lot about hockey but I know UNH had a good season so Notre Dame is clearly playing well and I give them the edge. Michigan expects to win and therefore has pressure, ND has no pressure on them to win. In the important matchup, I'm going with BC, obviously. What difference does it make that we've beat North Dakota the last two years? 3 times in one year might be a big deal but 3 times in 3 years ... no big deal. In 2001 North Dakota scored two late goals to force OT but then somehow BC regained composure and won the game. If BC could beat them under those circumstances I certainly expect them to win before the game starts tomorrow!

Foggy Notion: Eagles and Sioux destined to meet again.

Eagles confident they'll measure up

B.C.'s Muse plays like seasoned veteran

No stopping him: Irish's Pearce always wanted to be a goalie

Jeff "Long Island" Frazee gone at Minnesota.

Jeff Frazee has signed a professional contract with the New Jersey Devils and will forgo his senior season at the University of Minnesota. Goon's world would like to wish Jeff Frazee good luck and hopefully a fresh start in your hockey career. This video is one of the things I am going to remember Frazee for. Some of us are also going to remember Frazee in the WJC and being owned by Toews.

Early departures in the WCHA (In case anyone is keeping score)

Wisconsin (1)
Kyle Turris, freshman

MSU-Mankato (1)
Jon Kalinski, junior

Michigan Tech (1)
Michael-Lee Teslak, junior

Minnesota-Duluth (1)
Jason Garrison, junior

St. Cloud State (1)
Andreas Nodl, sophomore

Minnesota (1)
Jeff Frazee, junior

Frozen Four/NCAA hockey Linkorama.

The The Dasher Troll gives UND some unexpected love. Actually I was shocked when I read this since I thought Gwoz thought UND was a bunch of thugs/goons; especially after the series they had in Grand Forks.

* On North Dakota: "North Dakota is well balanced. They've had a terrific second half of the season and have great offensive capabilities with Ryan Duncan and T.J. Oshie. They complement each other and make others around them better. They have great experience in the Frozen Four. This is the fourth year in a row they have been there, and I think everybody expected them to advance no matter what regional they were in because of that experience and how well they played in the second half."

A MSU writer not a fan of the NCAA tourney selection process.

I am not a fan of the job the selection committee did for this year’s NCAA hockey tournament.

My lone complaint with the field is that Wisconsin made the postseason with a sub-.500 record. That shouldn’t be allowed, especially with other programs barely behind them with better records.

But that doesn’t really upset me as much as how the 16 teams were paired.

Essentially, I’m upset that MSU got shipped out to Colorado Springs, Colo., when it should be playing St. Cloud State in Albany, N.Y.

As it stands now, MSU, the best No. 3 seed, is playing Colorado College, the best No. 2 seed. That’s not how it’s supposed to work.

It should’ve been Clarkson that got shipped out to Colorado. Instead, Michigan is given an absolute cakewalk to the Frozen Four. It’ll destroy Niagara and whoever wins the game between St. Cloud State and Clarkson.

If MSU gets past Colorado College, it’ll have the tough task of facing either No. 1 seed New Hampshire or No. 4 seed Notre Dame. I’d guess New Hampshire. That is no small task, either, even though MSU has had New Hampshire’s number in recent years.

But the truth is, it’s sad when your first-round game looks to be the toughest of the four it would take to win a national title.

First off; I want to know where they get some of these skippy's? Does this kid not realize that MSU has benefited many times from playing in front of regionals that are very much in favor of MSU Spartans and or in their home state of Michigan. The team that advanced from the Colorado Springs regional was the last team to make the regional and they managed to prevail.

Linkorama Boston College Eagles.

Here is a pretty good blog from a Boston College Eagles fan: B.C. Interruption he seems to have a pretty good analysis of Boston College Hockey. This is the only B.C. Hockey blog that I have found this season.

History vs. the Eagles

Unbelievably, Thursday’s game marks the 7th time out of the last 10 years that the Eagles and Sioux have faced one another in the National tournament. The teams traded national titles in 2000 and 2001. BC has won the last two meetings, both in the national semifinal. This is North Dakota’s fourth consecutive Frozen Four appearance (longest current active streak). The last team to make four consecutive trips to the Frozen Four? BC from 1998-2001.

2007 – Boston College 6, North Dakota 4 (Frozen Four)

2006 – Boston College 6, North Dakota 5 (Frozen Four)

2005 – North Dakota 6, Boston College 3 (East Regional Final)

2001 – Boston College 3, North Dakota 2 OT (National Championship)

2000 – North Dakota 4, Boston College 2 (National Championship)

1999 – Boston College 2, North Dakota 1 (West Regional Final)

Goon's World makes the front page of Sayanything blog.

Yesterday my article about Hillary and the Fighting Sioux name made the front page of Sayany thing blog. To me that is a great honor and thanks goes out to the Whistler.

Marian Gaborik vs. Ian Laperriere

Do the Wild really need their top forward mixing it up before the first round of the NHL playoffs? I think someone should remind Marian Gaborik what his role is; it's not to be a fighter/goon. Gaborik can leave that to Simon, Boogaard, Fedoruk aka the Fridge. It would have been really devastating to the Wild if Gaborik had broken a fist or gotten a concussion. Lastly, I would also like to know why Jacques Lemaire didn't have Derek Boogaard in the line up? I look for Wednesday's game to have a little bit of life to it. Apparently the Minnesota Wild were less than thrilled with Ian Laperriere.

Here is an explaination of what happen from the Star and Tribune: Colorado winger Ian Laperriere, a veteran of 161 NHL fights, did everything he could to get inside Wild star Marian Gaborik's head.

Taking advantage of a rare Gaborik third-period shift without bruising linemate Todd Fedoruk on the ice, Laperriere locked onto Gaborik's stick, collared his arm around Gaborik's head and drove Gaborik hard where the glass ends and the Avalanche bench begins.

"It was just battling on the boards and stuff," Laperriere said.

Then, at the end of overtime and knowing there was nobody but Wild skilled players on the ice, Laperriere again collided with Gaborik, the shocking result being Gaborik's first fighting major in 485 career games.

"We kind of collided, pushed, shoved and just happened to drop the gloves," said Gaborik, his right hand covered in gashes. "It happened so quick. It shows things are heating up. It's going to be a tough series. It's going to be a battle like five years ago."

When the Wild next meets Colorado, Gaborik plans to "play my game and leave that stuff for other guys."

And those "other guys," Fedoruk, Derek Boogaard and Chris Simon, weren't happy with Laperriere's antics.

"Obviously I'm going to be playing in the first game," said Boogaard, who was scratched Sunday. "We'll see if somebody has a problem then."

"We'll see if [Laperriere] does it again and on who," coach Jacques Lemaire said.

The March to the Frozen Four...

Not everyone that is a Sioux fan read Siouxsports or USCHO.COM, so if you haven't seen this video you have got to check it out. The video is from RedFrogND and in looking at this video, while the original was pretty good this one even better. I think this video montage is a great illustration the Fighting Sioux's 2007-2008 season. If your a Sioux fans and this doesn't get you ready for this weekend Frozen Four you have to check your pulse. I like how the video starts off with UND dismantling the Michigan State University Spartans to last weekend's Madison regional.


The results of the latest poll are in.

Q: Do you like UND's Bracket?
a.) No problem with it all 293 (68%)
b.) It Sucks 63 (14%)
c.) UND should have gone east 54 (12%)
d.) UND should have been sent to the Springs 21 (4%)

Sioux recruits Corey Fienhage and Ben Blood photos

A buddy of mine that runs the new Sioux blog was at the USHL game between the Ceder Rapids Rough Riders and the Indiana Ice. The Indiana ice sports two Sioux recruits Ben Blood number 20 and Corey Fienhage number 15 on its teams. Jakes girl friend Kori took the pictures.











Here is the scouting report on Ben Blood according to Jake.

Ben Blood: is one of those recruits. I have to tell you I really enjoyed watching him play. He's a big, solid defenseman and moves the puck very well. He jumps up in the play when needed and scored a goal last night. He had a lot of ice time last night, I swear he was on every other shift. I think he's got a very similar style to Genoway or Chorney. Should be a great addition to our D core.




Here is the scouting report on Cory Fienhage according to Jake:

Corey Fienhage: is the other recruit. He didn't play nearly as much as Blood and his stats show that he's played many fewer games.



Note: Corey Fienhage played high school hockey at East View High School and joined the ice after his High School team was eliminated from the Minnesota High School hockey tourney.

You can track all of the Sioux recruits stats here.

More on Wheeler.

There seems to be more unfolding in the Blake Wheeler story. Check out this article on the Hip Shot blog... Seems as if Blake is holding a lot of the cards that make up a good hand. I has to be tough to be a college hockey player; your season has just ended you feel that you have more work to do but there is a chance of a life time waiting on the other end.

Blake Wheeler Yotes 2004 pick might stay in school...

Now some want to throw Hillary under the bus for uttering Fighting Sioux.

I am not a Hillary Clinton fan nor a democrat by any means but this is absolutely silly. The anti-nick name foes are always stirring something up and always seem to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Come on; honestly folks! Hillary Clinton is a liberal Democrat and I am sure she didn't mean anything disrespectful by uttering the Fighting Sioux nick name at a rally for DEMOCRATS. Again I am not a fan of Hillary but some of the stuff she has had to face because the main stream media's being in Barack Obama's corner is down right ridiculous. It is surprising she isn't down by 20 percentage points to McCain or Obama.

But Sele and the rest of the table said Clinton “stumbled” when she repeatedly used the full, and controversial, nickname of UND’s Fighting Sioux hockey team. Sele called herself a serious sports fan who’s not a nickname advocate, but not forcefully opposed to the nickname either.

By using the controversial nickname, Sele said, Clinton invited a divisive issue into the conversation that needn’t be there.

“I don’t think she recognized how contentious that is,” Sele said. “Unless you’re here, you can’t know that.”

A variety of UND student and faculty groups and many of the campuses’ American Indians have long opposed the school’s nickname. A legal settlement with the NCAA requires UND to retire the nickname within three years if it cannot win the endorsement of both the state’s Sioux tribes.

Clinton used the Fighting Sioux nickname at the opening of her speech after Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., presented her with a hockey stick signed by the entire UND men’s hockey team. She used the nickname again at the end of speech, comparing the determination that sent UND men’s hockey players to the upcoming Frozen Four competition in Denver with her own determination to stay in the presidential race.

Obama was also presented with an autographed hockey stick, but did not use the nickname while accepting it, joking instead that he’s a worse hockey player than he is a bowler.

Glassheim also called the Fighting Sioux statements an “error,” noting that Sen. Byron Dorgan called the team the “UND Sioux,” when presenting the hockey stick, considered by many to be a less offensive version of the name.

“I’m not violently anti-nickname, but it disturbed me a little,” Glassheim said.

Glassheim speculated Clinton was likely poorly prepared for the hockey stick acceptance, by staffers that aren’t sensitive to local issues.

However, he said, it’s just possible Clinton’s use of the nickname was a calculated appeal to her base. In primaries and caucuses nationwide Clinton’s supporters have tended to be more working class and socially conservative than Obama’s.

DS article on the Sioux name.

Here is an interesting article that I think all Sioux fans need to be read and possibly discuss it. Steve Fool Bear, Mato Iyotaka submitted an article to the Dakota Student on What it means to be Sioux. While there was an online petition to keep the Fighting Sioux name. I think the people we need to have a dialog with is the people of the Sioux, Lakota, Nakota nation. Contrary to the Sioux football people; Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota isn't going to play us in football no matter what our name is. It is a pipe dream by some at UND that we are going to magically be given a football or basketball game with these teams if the Sioux change their name. Heck, forget the snobby Big 10 conference. Maybe UND should concentrate on getting Montana, Montana State, UNI and some of the other Division 1AA schools to play us first.

I also disagree with Chancellor of the North Dakota University System
Bill Goetz that we need to bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible. What's the rush? Is Bill Goetz getting pressure from Ron His Horse Thunder? UND per the settlement has three years to get this issue solved? I think more time should be spent finding out from as many of the people of the Sioux nation as possible and not just the tribal council; and asking them what do you think? If the people of the Sioux nation does in fact really want UND to retire the name, so be it.

Here is some of the important points: This issue is not a clash of Native vs. White, or any combination of the two. This is an issue of people who seek to divide versus people who wish to unite.

Both races share these groups. The dividers respond to one another by creating turmoil, and the animosity that results radiates to the rest of us. Now our social atmosphere is in increased discord.

This topic has been long ignored by those who were indifferent; many of us believed this issue was settled in 1969, when Standing Rock gave our blessing to UND, but because of these divider groups, the issue has resurfaced and is now affecting us all.

Some believe that by taking back this given Sioux name from UND will result in some victory against racism, like a logo is going affect a racist person's behavior. We have no control of these people's thoughts and actions, removing the logo will not change their view of Natives.

To chastise UND for opposing team's antics and our states local bigoted population is fruitless; nothing good will come from it, but more importantly, nothing will change.

The people that create this turmoil will still be here. UND is not to blame; it is the immoral third party chauvinists who are. Reality: If we take back the Sioux name and logo we gave to UND, we are taking a piece of their adopted culture, heritage and identity. Sound familiar?
---snip----
We do not need outside entities speaking for us like we're some dysfunctional dim-witted defeated shells of our ancestors. The NCAA, APA, NAACP and whoever else who think they know what's best for Natives, do not speak for me, and should not speak for Standing Rock.

We are the decedents of the greatest culture to have ever walked these plains, and it's time to start acting like it. The self-pity attitude that many have adopted has reached its apex.

We cannot claim any honor by hiding behind these groups.

Chairman His Horses Thunder, I respect you and your accomplishments, your job I'm sure is challenging; I would respect you more as a leader if you actually visited our communities, and in a unbiased manner spoke to your members about this most debatable topic, or visited with the UND students who never experienced all the negative incidents others attest to.

It's evident that there are a very large number of your constituents who don't agree with what is happening. It's obvious this debate is split; I'm sure as the highest ranking officer of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, you would want to represent us accurately. After all; it is your job as our democratic leader to represent the majority, a vote would settle the issue once and for all. (Read the whole article here)

March 6th 2008 Andy Strickland interview with T.J. Oshie.

I have not seen this posted anywhere. Fighting Sioux forward, T.J. Oshie was on with Andy Strickland of AM 1380 From St Louis, March 6th 2008. Keep in mind that Strickland has always been in the camp of get T.J. to St Louis right away. After the Sioux get number 8 then the Blue can have him.

Recap from T.J. Oshie:

-Difference in UND from the beginning of season when they were struggling to now, "We had a couple of injuries and the bounces weren’t going our way. Now we are getting the bounces and getting the puck in the net and things are going well."

-Is this year's team as good as last season's, "I’m not sure, we are a different team and it is hard to say. We have other guys stepping up this year and we are on the better run this season than we were last season."

-Do you have any regret on going back to college this season to play for UND, "No regret at all. I am having the time of my life here and I am enjoying every minute of it. It is a blast and I have not once second guess my decision."

-On his health, "I am 100 percent. I had a hip injury but that is fully healed now and I am playing fully healthy right now."

-On if he catches himself watching more NHL hockey and the Blues, "Actually, I don't watch much hockey on television. I am coming around now though because it is fun watching the Blues and watching other guys in the league that I have played with. I don't like watching hockey on TV because it gets me going too much and it makes me just want to go out and play."

-On if he thinks he can make an immediate impact in the NHL whenever he decides to go pro, "I think I can. I will have to improve my strength, as well as my puck control and my vision on the ice. A couple of things that I have really been focusing on this season is becoming a better player on faceoffs and concentrating on my defensive play in our own zone."

-On leaving UND and playing for the Blues next season, "I have not made a decision yet. I am just focusing on the present and taking everything day by day. I haven't really thought about it too much and I am just blocking it out of my mind and focusing on what I am doing here with UND. When it is time to make the that decision I will, but the time to make that decision is not now. It would be unfair to my team if I did not focus 100 percent of my attention on my play here at North Dakota." (I love that answer all class right now I am playing for UND and concentrating on playing for the Sioux.)

-On UND's chances of winning the Frozen Four and being national champions, "I like our chances and it is the goal we have been striving for since the first day of practice. We just have to keep improving as a team and play up to our team's potential."

-On the rivalry with the University of Minnesota, "I am friends with most of the guys on Minnesota's team. But when we get on the ice, it is a big rivalry and with the emotions, it can get pretty heated out there."

Is Wheeler going to sign?

I found this little news nugget while I was over on HockeyBuzz.com checking out some of the posts that were in the fan forums when I stumbled across this blurb on Blake Wheeler. Personally it wouldn't shock me or probably anyone else, since even Minnesota Gophers head coach Don Lucia said on the PA and Dubay that he wouldn't be surprised if Wheeler signed a professional contract after this season. Here is a blog post that I found on the subject by the coyoteshipcheck blog.

Fan question: What is the status of Blake Wheeler?

General Manager, Don Maloney: right now we are not making much headway towards getting Blake signed but we are talking to his agent. Wheeler is very much a prospect, not someone we see as coming to the big club straight off and making an impact. He’s a very good prospect and we will continue to try to get him signed. If the contract doesn’t get done we have a *5th round* pick coming our way and that is good for the team too. *gotta confirm the exact pick… * probably like 2nd round (31st , or so pick)

Bruins make the playoffs on Phil Kessel's goal.

Former Gophers star Phil Kessel scored a big goal that helped the Boston Bruins clinch their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2004. The Boston Bruins were predicted by many of the so called hockey experts to finish as low as 15th in the eastern conference.

OTTAWA (AP) — The Boston Bruins took the front door into the Stanley Cup playoffs while the Ottawa Senators backed their way in as both teams clinched postseason berths, with a little outside help and plenty of scoreboard watching.

Tim Thomas came within 8:14 of recording his third straight shutout against Ottawa and Zdeno Chara scored against his former team, leading Boston to a 2-1 win over the Senators on Friday night.

Phil Kessel also scored for the Bruins, who also drew even with Ottawa for sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with 94 points.


"We knew what was at stake and we approached it that way," Chara said. "We just played every shift very, very hard and it was a great team effort."

The Senators completed their regular-season schedule, clinching a playoff spot midway through the third period — despite trailing 2-0 against the Bruins — when Florida beat Carolina 4-3.

"There was just kind of chatter on the bench and we could hear a few guys talking about it," Ottawa center Jason Spezza said.

The result out of Raleigh was also good news on the Bruins bench.

"Halfway through the third we found out that we were in if we won the game or at least got a point," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "It was good to know and obviously gave us a bit of breathing room and helped us finish the game on a strong note."

The sold-out Scotiabank Place crowd was advised that the Senators had clinched their playoff spot during a stoppage in play with 1:35 remaining, drawing a huge cheer.

"We didn't want to be sitting in front of the T.V. (Saturday) and Sunday," Spezza said. (read the rest of the story)

The Miami Student's take on their regional.

I saw this story reading the B.C. sports blog; B.C. Interruption. From the student newspaper that brought you Ice hockey on brink of dynasty now we have they bring us this article. My only question is where do they find these guys?

Dan Kukla
NCAA needs to change rules of tournament
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Sports
Win or lose, there was always one question Miami University hockey fans were bound to be asking after this weekend: "Why did we have to play Boston College 40 miles away from BC's campus?"

The No. 1 seeded RedHawks were 32-7-1 coming into the tournament and had recently come within one goal of Michigan, the top overall team in the entire tournament, in the CCHA Championship game. Boston College was 21-11-6, seeded behind the Red and White.

So why, when Miami had earned a higher ranking, were the Eagles rewarded with the distinct advantage of playing in their backyard?

The official NCAA rule says that host teams, if they make the tournament, must play at their host site.

This means that 15-16-7 University of Wisconsin, the host of the Midwest region, got to play on their home ice despite the fact that a week ago no one was even sure that they would be in the tournament at all. In other words: Hooray mediocrity!

But that's not even the most absurd part of all this. If the NCAA wants to screw over the tournament's top seeded teams by making a rule that guarantees home games to any school that generates them money by providing a host site, I guess they're entitled to do that. Read the whole article here.

Reality check

First off the NCAA isn't going to change the rules because a number one seed can't make the Frozen Four. On paper I don't know if Miami's regional draw could have gotten any easier. Seriously, that regional definitely wasn't a region of death like the Denver regional of last season or the Colorado Springs regional of this season. How many years have WCHA or other top seeded teams had to travel to Yost only to play the Michigan Wolverines in their barn, sometimes these teams lost sometimes they won. That is the way the old cookie crumbles in the NCAA hockey tourney. In a one and done tourney the best teams have beat the best to make the Frozen Four, every game is a war. Your team came within a goal of Michigan, give me a break. My team the UND Fighting Sioux has had to go through the Bean Pot Regional Boston University and Boston College's back yard in Worcester, Michigan in Grand Forks and Denver regional and this as the third seed over all Madison, Wisconsin.

To be a top team that you claim your Miami RedHawks were (32-7-1 against a very easy schedule) you have to face adversity and prevail or your team is nothing more than a pretender. I said before that Miami was a paper tiger and I guess I was proven right.

My first thoughts were you have got to be kidding me but Cornell coach Shaffer was whining about this after they had to play the Gophers in Minneapolis. Give me a break you're either good enough to advance or you're not good enough to advance. Where your team plays is irrelevant.

Nodl Gone... The Raid continues.

Heather from Win-Twins isn't going to be happy with this news, I predicted that this was going to happen and now it is official; the Broad Street Bullies of the NHL have signed Andreas Nodl to a contract.

Silly Season

This is the worst time of year, I call it the silly season when college hockey fans hold their collective breath and hope that their favorite player don't take the lure of the big money from the NHL that may hold their draft rights.

Nodl Signs with Flyers
CHN Staff Report

The Philadelphia Flyers' raid on college hockey continued today with the signing of St. Cloud State sophomore Andreas Nodl.

Nodl, the College Hockey News Rookie of the Year in 2006-07, was a second-round pick of the Flyers in the 2006 draft.

Nodl, a native of Vienna, Austria, is the fourth college player with eligibility remaining to sign with the Flyers organization since that player's season ended — joining Matt Clackson (Western Michigan), Michael-Lee Teslak (Michigan Tech) and Jon Kalinski (Minnesota State).

Nodl broke out with 46 points his freshman season and was a plus-16. He finished third in scoring in the WCHA this season, though his production actually dropped, going to 44 points and a minus-6.

Early departures in the WCHA

Wisconsin (1)
Kyle Turris, freshman

Mankato (1)
Jon Kalinski, junior

Michigan Tech (1)
Michael-Lee Teslak, junior

Saint Cloud (1)
Andreas Nodl, sophomore

University of Minnesota Duluth (1)
Jason Garrison, junior

Kane and Toews

Here is an interesting interview done with Chicago radio station B96. The future of the Chicago Black Hawks looks pretty promsing and both are very good inteviews.

Some more INCH stuff.

Jess Meyers who covers the WCHA for INCH has a really nice article with Jean-Philippe Lamoureux:

During last year's NCAA West Regional in Denver, an Inside College Hockey staffer in attendance at North Dakota's wins against Michigan and Minnesota noted that Fighting Sioux goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux was a battler. Listed as 5-foot-8, the Grand Forks native never cedes control of the blue paint and never, ever gives up on a puck.

Sure, he's a scrapper, but Lamoureux is also one of the nation's elite goaltenders. He leads Division I backstops in goals against average (1.64), save percentage (.936), is tied for first in the country with six shutouts, and ranks tied for second in the land in wins (27).

The guy who puts the fight in the Fighting Sioux and one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award is a major reason North Dakota is making its fourth consecutive Frozen Four appearance. In order to win the school's first national title since 2000, Lamoureux and Co. will have to conquer Boston College, the team that has knocked the Sioux in the semifinal round in both 2006 and 2007. (Read the whole interview) here.

Here are a couple of pointed questions that I like from the ESPN/INCH Chat

Good to see that INCH is still in Miami's court after they were bounced from the NCAA torney, Miami is now 2-5 in the NCAA tourney.

Ben (Grand Forks, ND): What was your favorite Regional moments?

Jeff Howe INCH: Watching the battle between Ryan Jones and Nathan Gerbe. While they weren't necessarily going one on one with each other, it was a real treat to watch them each create countless scoring chances for their teams.

Ryan (Grand Forks, ND): Did J.P.L. get snubbed by not being included in the Hobey Hat Trick? I thought last weekend locked up a solid second place behind Porter.

Joe Gladziszewski INCH/Hockey East/EZAC/CCHA appologist: I don't think it was a snub, more just a reflection on how strong the other three candidates were. The question that I had all along about Lamoureux's worthiness was that he wasn't even the First Team goalie in the WCHA. He became much more popular, it seems, when Bachman wasn't among the Hobey finalists.

stjerno (GF): Ryan Jones. Why? JPL 1.64 GAA .936 SP 6 SO SOS=first Ryan Jones plays on yet another overrated team in an overrated league.

Joe Gladziszewski INCH/Hockey East/EZAC/CCHA apologist: Ryan Jones was one of the best players on the best teams in the nation. That "overrated" league won six games last weekend in the NCAA Regional, including two head-to-head match ups against WCHA schools. Jones is the nation's leading goal scorer, a fantastic leader, and was consistent all year long.

Goon's perspective

Just for the record; C.C. hasn't won an NCAA title since 1957 and like SCSU is known for the NCAA tourney chokes. Since winning the the WCHA regular season championship and their first round WCHA series against the 10th place WCHA team the Tigers were 0-3 the rest of the way in the playoffs (Mcnaughton Curse). SCSU has never won an NCAA playoff games and throughly disappointed me by losing to the EZAC champs the Clarkson Knights. In defense of the WCHA 3 of the 6 WCHA teams from the WCHA were stuck in the same regional, hum, while the CCHA teams were spread out in the field.