Monday, October 24, 2011
UAH to end College Hockey
Image via WikipediaCross Posted at Inside Hockey. The University of Alabama Huntsville’s Interim President Malcolm Portera announced today that following the 2011-12 hockey season, the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers will cease to exist as a Division I college hockey program.
This announcement means that there will no longer be a Division I college hockey program south of the Mason Dixon line.
This announcement officially ends 33 years of NCAA college hockey history for UAH. No other program that’s ever won an NCAA title has ever disbanded.
According to USCHO, UAH Chargers head coach Chris Luongo informed his team of the president’s decision on Sunday night.
There are many factors that have led to this decision; one the major factor is that UAH doesn’t have a conference to call home. After the 2008-09 season, the College Hockey American Conference disbanded and the UAH Chargers were left without a conference.
The Chargers applied for membership in the CCHA during 2009. On August 11th, 2009 the Chargers were informed that their bid for membership to the CCHA was denied. Without a conference to call home, the Chargers have had to play as an Division I independent, which put their program in further jeopardy. It’s very hard to get teams to travel to Huntsville to play hockey if they are not in a conference.
The Chargers also have don’t have a building of their own, they share the Von Braun Center with the Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL and are not the primary tenet, meaning the Chargers have had to play their games at odd times, which further complicates things for the Chargers.
Here is the official announcement from of the UAH interim president Malcolm Portera.
I want to share with you a decision that has been made following months of careful study. As a result of a financial analysis of our athletic program, and numerous conversations I have had with athletic directors, university presidents and commissioners of Division I ice hockey programs, it has become obvious that, for the best interest of this university, our athletic department and the ice hockey program, we move the team from the Division I level back to its original classification as a club sport at the end of the 2011-2012 season.In conclusion, this is a sad day for college hockey and for the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers hockey team and their fans. This story makes me physically sick to my stomach that in one swoop of a pen, a college administrator can kill a college hockey program with a rich hockey history.
Finally, I have been told by a source close to the UAH program that there is a businessman from Nashville Tennesee that has stepped forward to bankroll the operating expenses for the Chargers. All we know is that he is a top executive of a large corporation.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
EDIT - UAH to kill hockey
Holy Cow, after reading this newspaper article it doesn't look good for the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers hockey team. One doesn't really have to look very far into these comments to see where this is going, you have a non hockey friendly college administrator, who probably doesn't know what a hockey puck is, that is hell bent on axing a college hockey program to save money and make a political point... It would be an absolute shame if UAH killed their Division I college Hockey program.
John Turner, The Huntsville Times ---- Nathan Bowen, a 2000 UAH hockey alum and leader in private fundraising efforts to support the program, said in an email to The Times that $546,875 has been pledged over three years since that point. Bowen and a handful of supporters had hoped to meet with Portera on Tuesday to discuss the decision, but, according to Bowen, that sit-down will be preempted by the announcement.EDIT - I just got some very bad news; just a few minutes ago, I got word from a source that the UA Systems chancellor and interim UAH president Malcolm Portera is going to kill UAH Hockey, the announcement is coming tomorrow.
"It's just been amazing that one person has this much power to end 33 years of tradition," Bowen said. "And it really is coming down to just him. It makes no sense to me.
"He is completely disregarding the mayor, the people of Huntsville, the student council at UAH and 23 athletes that gave up opportunities to play at other places," he continued. "He's completely disregarding those people and going back to his home in Tuscaloosa. To me, it's astounding." Portera Altenkirch UA System chancellor Malcolm Portera, right, will deciding on the future of the UAH hockey program before removing his interim title and appointing Robert Altenkirch as university president on Oct. 31. (The Huntsville Times/Robin Conn)
Portera has maintained that he plans to announce a decision on the program's future before handing over the presidency to Robert Altenkirchen on Oct. 31. In the meantime, Portera has met with various groups associated with UAH or college hockey to discuss the team's status.
Goon's WCHA Power Rankings
Image via WikipediaStarting this week going forward, Zack Friedli and I will be submitting WCHA rankings every Monday to Inside Hockey.
1. Denver – The Pioneers 3-1-0 swept the depleted MSU-M Mavericks (10-2, 4-2) this past weekend. The Pioneers play this upcoming weekend at Michigan Tech 4-2-0.
1. Denver – The Pioneers 3-1-0 swept the depleted MSU-M Mavericks (10-2, 4-2) this past weekend. The Pioneers play this upcoming weekend at Michigan Tech 4-2-0.
2. Colorado College – The Tigers 2-0-0 were idle this past weekend. The Tigers play at RPI (1-4-0) this up coming weekend.
3. Minnesota – The Gophers 5-1-1 are red hot after a split with the Vermont Catamounts this past weekend (6-0, 4-5). The Minnesota Gophers will be looking for revenge as they head to Anchorage, Alaska to play the upstart UAA Seawolves (3-2-1). The UAA Seawolves are the team that swept the Gophers out of the WCHA playoffs last spring.
4. Wisconsin – The Badgers swept the Fighting Sioux in Madison (5-3, 5-4). The Badgers entertain the UNO Mavericks in Madison this upcoming weekend.
5. UMD – The tDogs took three of four points from the Providence Friars of Hockey East and will entertain the BSU Beavers 3-3-0 at Amsoil Arena.
6. North Dakota – The Fighting Sioux were swept by the Badgers in Madison (5-3, 5-4). The Fighting Sioux return home in a foul mood, to play the SCSU Huskies.
7. Bemidji – The BSU Beavers 3-3-0 swept the Tech Huskies this past weekend in Bemidji (6-5, 3-1). The Beavers travel to Duluth to play the Bulldog in Amsoil Arena.
8. Nebraska-Omaha – The Mavericks swept the UAA Seawovles in Omaha after losing the week before the Seawolves in the Alaska Goal Rush tourney. This week also marked the return Alex Hudson from his four game suspension. Hudson was held off the score sheet in both games by the Seawolves.
9. Michigan Tech – The Huskies 4-2-0 were swept in Bemidji by the Beavers (6-5, 3-1), this is after sweeping the Badgers the week prior in Houghton, Michigan. The Huskies play the Denver Pioneers at home this weekend.
10. Alaska-Anchorage – Swept by the UNO Mavericks in Omaha . Head home to play the Minnesota Gophers 5-1-0
11. St. Cloud State – A win and a tie against Hockey East team UNH (7-5, 3-3). Travel to REA to play the Fighting Sioux 2-3-1 who were swept by the Badgers.
12. Minnesota State – The Mavericks have been bit by the injury bug and were swept by the Denver Pioneers last weekend (10-2, 4-2). Off this weekend.
Finding the "Silver Lining" After Being Swept by the Badgers.
Image via WikipediaThe Grand Forks Police department rushed to shut down the bridges that connect East Grand Forks and Grand Forks shortly after the Sioux were swept by the Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin. There were fears that Fighting Sioux hockey fans en mass would jump off of the bridges after watching their team get swept at the hand of the Wisconsin Badgers. I couldn’t resist that one it's probably more funny on twitter and of course I am kidding… For a second time this season, the Fighting Sioux chat also blew up as a result of the Sioux being on the losing end of a game. It's a long season and there will be more loses. My offer to be a ticket broker for the Sioux fans that want to sell their season tickets is still on the table.
While I am not happy with the Fighting Sioux being swept this past weekend, let’s not forget that the Sioux did lose a “very big chunk” of their scoring prowess from last season's squad. Jason Gregoire 25g-18a—43 pts, Matt Frattin 36g-24a—60 pts, Chay Genoway 6g-31a—37 pts, Brad Malone 16g-24a—40 pts, Evan Trupp 17g-24a—41 pst, Brett Hextall 13g-16a—29pts. If my math is correct that is 270 points from last year’s squad that went 30-7-2.
Rant of the night – Why is it that the bigger schools like the Wisconsin Badgers; that are going to be going to the almighty Big Ten; so they can maximize their schools exposure and bank all kinds of money from their share of the BTN revenue, can’t have "all" of their home games on television so fans of other programs can watch their games when our team plays theirs? Seriously, I think it's a legitimate question. Also, this helps make the case for college hockey having a hockey television package like the NHL’s Center Ice.
On the flip side of that argument, why is it that a relatively small school like UND has all of its home games and a few of their away games on Fox College Sports, so anyone that has the sports packages on Direct TV can watch their games.
While I realized that college hockey is a niche sport, I am sure that there are many fans like me that would spend an extra $10.00-20.00 dollars a month to watch their favorite teams when they're away from home. After watching Friday's game on FSN Wisconsin, I had to spend $9.95 to purchase Saturday’s game from the University of Wisconsin so I could watch the Badgers and Sioux debacle part II. Let me say that I would rather watch a hockey game on my Toshiba flat screen, as opposed to watching it on my lap top that's four and a half to five years old.
Rare Sweep?
The Fighting Sioux do not get swept very often had not been swept to start a WCHA season opener since the 1994-95 season, when the Fighting Sioux went 18-18-3, incidentally that was also the first year under head coach Dean Blais.
The Good
The Fighting Sioux outshot the Badgers 42-15…
Aaron Dell stopped the Badgers forward Joseph LaBate on a penalty shot to keep the game at 5-3. Dell then stopped the Badgers forward Jefferson Dahl on a break away a short time later during the waning moments of the third period to keep the Sioux in the game.
It would be an understatement to say that junior forward Danny Kristo is on fire, this past weekend Kristo had a 4-point weekend (2-2-4). According to Jayson Hajdu of the UND Sports Information Department, Kristo has scored 20 points in his last 23 games. That’s an impressive clip for the junior forward; I would imagine the Montreal Canadians are also impressed with Kristo’s play so far
Freshman Defenseman Nick Mattson had a two point game and a three point weekend for the Fighting Sioux. After starting off the season without any points, Mattson has 5 points in three games (2-3-5).
Sophomore defenseman Derek Forbort had a better night defensively for the Fighting Sioux on Saturday night as he was only on the ice for one of the five goals that the Badgers scored on the Fighting Sioux.
The Bad
Despite outshooting the Badgers the Fighting Sioux were swept and out scored by the Badgers 10-7.
The Fighting Sioux lost for the first time 2007 when they donned the black jerseys against the Boston College Eagles during the Frozen Four.
Aaron Dell last year All-WCHA and All American goalie ahs a save percentage of .813 and a goals against average of 4.05.
This was probably the last time the Fighting Sioux will play a WCHA conference game in
Sophomore Defenseman Derek Forbort had another rough night on Friday as he was on the ice for three of the five goals the Badgers scored.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sioux vs. Badgers game two
Image via WikipediaUND’s Forward Lines29 Brock Nelson–10 Corban Knight (A)–7 Danny Kristo
16 Mark MacMillan–27 Carter Rowney–15 Michael Parks
28 Stephane Pattyn–9 Mario Lamoureux (C)–11 Derek Rodwell
8 Dan Senkbeil–14 Taylor Dickin–20 Joe Gleason
Defensive Parings
4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A)–5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella
Goalies
32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
Fighting Sioux Player Stats
Wisconsin’s Forward Lines
16 Joseph LaBate–9 Mark Zengerle–7 Tyler Barnes
25 Michael Mersch–23 Derek Lee–8 Matt Paape
21 Brendan Woods–14 Jefferson Dahl–20 Ryan Little
26 Brad Navin–12 Keegan Meuer–13 Gavin Hartzog
Defense Pairings
4 Eric Springer–6 Justin Schultz
27 Frankie Simonelli–24 Joe Faust
3 Patrick Daly–55 John Ramage
goalies
33 Joel Rumpel
30 Landon Peterson
35 Mitch Thompson
Wisconsin Player Stats
Tonight's officials; Brad Shepherd and Todd Anderson
Video webcasts for each game can be purchased at www.uwbadgers.com. Free (delayed) video streaming of both games will also be available at 10 p.m. each night at Wisconsin Public TV.
DirecTV Threatens to Drop FSN On November 1
This is a bad deal because it would affect Sioux fans directly, if you have Direct TV you will not be able to watch next weekend's game against the Sioux vs. Gophers 4th and 5th of November on FSN.
If "no" agreement is signed between DirecTV and News Corp you will not be able to watch the Minnesota Wild games either until this dispute is resolved.
From Fox Networks: --- Despite Fox Networks’ offer of an extension during our ongoing negotiations, DirecTV has informed us and their customers that unless we agree to their demands, they “will suspend our networks on November 1.”
DirecTV sent us a proposal on Tuesday afternoon. They have given us no chance to respond before taking an unnecessarily aggressive posture and going public. It is disappointing that they have chosen bad faith tactics over meaningful negotiation.
We have proposed to keep the Fox Networks on DirecTV for the same price, and on the same terms as they are currently carried while we attempt to work out a fair agreement. Unfortunately, DirecTV has decided that unless they get their way, they are going to pull the plug on their customers November 1.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Badgers Skate Past Sioux 5-3
Image via WikipediaCross posted at Inside Hockey.
Coming into this series, the Fighting Sioux had won five of the last six games against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers fortunes changed for them tonight as five different Badgers scored goals. They got two points each from Justin Schultz (1-1-2) and Tyler Barnes (0-2-2) to lead the Badgers past the Fighting Sioux 5-3.
Coming into this series, the Fighting Sioux had won five of the last six games against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers fortunes changed for them tonight as five different Badgers scored goals. They got two points each from Justin Schultz (1-1-2) and Tyler Barnes (0-2-2) to lead the Badgers past the Fighting Sioux 5-3.
The Wisconsin Badgers got off to a fast start as they opened the scoring at the 08:45 mark of the first period with a goal from Badger forward Mark Zengerle, who took a nice drop-pass from Tyler Barnes and blasted the puck past Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness, who was screened on the play by Fighting Sioux defenseman Ben Blood.
The Sioux rang the bell 27 seconds later at the 09:12 mark of the first period with a beautiful goal by Fighting Sioux freshman forward Mark MacMillan. The Fighting Sioux forward blew past the Wisconsin defense and shot the puck over Badger goalie Landon Peterson’s left shoulder. That was the first career goal for Fighting Sioux forward Mark MacMillan.
The Fighting Sioux got into penalty trouble at the 18:06 mark of the first period when Mark MacMillan took a two minute penalty for roughing. Corban Knight followed suit and joined MacMillan in the penalty box nine seconds later for tripping. The Badgers wasted little time on the power play and scored twenty seconds later at the 18:45 mark on a beautiful goal by Badger defenseman Justin Schultz.
The Fighting Sioux weren’t done taking unnecessary penalties in this period, as Sioux defenseman Ben Blood continued the Fighting Sioux march to the penalty box when he took an unnecessary penalty for slashing at the 19:25 mark, to put the Fighting Sioux down two men once again, for the second time during the first period.
The Second period didn’t start well for the Fighting Sioux, as Wisconsin Badger Michael Mersch scored on the ensuing power play at the 01:16 mark of the second period.
The Badgers increased their lead when they scored again less than five minutes later, when Badger forward Matt Paape picked up a Ben Blood turnover at the top of the circle and smartly passed the puck to Derek Lee, who shot the puck past an oblivious Brad Eidsness who was caught napping on the play. That goal ended the night for Eidsness who was relieved by Aaron Dell.
The Fighting Sioux responded to the Badger goal 23 seconds later with an unassisted goal by Fighting Sioux defenseman Nick Mattson. The Sioux defenseman took a shot from the point that bounced off of Badger defenseman John Ramage and into the net past Wisconsin goalie Landon Peterson.
The Fighting Sioux got another goal on the power play at the 9:33 mark of the second period. With Badger forward Brendan Woods off the ice for a high sticking penalty, Carter Rowney took a feed from Danny Kristo and shot the puck past the Badger goalie Peterson.
Badgers forward Brendan Woods made up for this mistake when he put the Badgers up by two goals by blowing by Ben Blood and Derek Forbort for the goal.
The Badgers outshot the Fighting Sioux 11-10 during the second period.
There was no scoring by either team in the third period and Fighting Sioux coach Dave Hakstol ended up pulling his goalie with two minutes left in third period. Sioux were unable to muster any more real threats as the Badgers collapsed about their net and made it impossible for the Sioux to get any more grade “A” scoring chances.
Badgers vs Sioux
Image via Wikipedia The Fighting Sioux have won five of the last six games against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin.
Fighting Sioux forward lines
16 Mark MacMillan–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
9 Mario Lamoureux–29 Brock Nelson–15 Michael Parks
28 Stephane Pattyn–27 Carter Rowney–11 Derek Rodwell
8 Dan Senkbeil–14 Taylor Dickin–20 Joe Gleason
Defensive Parings
4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood
2 Andrew MacWilliam–5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella
Goalies
31 Brad Eidsness
32 Aaron Dell
Scratches for UND: Scratches: Gaarder (F), St. Clair (F), Grimaldi (F), O'Donnell (F), Maris (G)
Officials Stats
Wisconsin’s Forward lines
16 Joseph LaBate–9 Mark Zengerle–7 Tyler Barnes
25 Michael Mersch–23 Derek Lee–8 Matt Paape
26 Brad Navin–14 Jefferson Dahl–13 Gavin Hartzog
20 Ryan Little–21 Brendan Woods–12 Keegan Meuer
Defensive Parings
19 Jake McCabe–6 Justin Schultz
4 Eric Springer–55 John Ramage
24 Joe Faust–27 Frankie Simonelli
goalies
30 Landon Peterson
33 Joel Rumpel
Wisconsin Stats
Tonight's officials; Brad Shepherd and Todd Anderson
Are you confused yet?
I am wondering if anyone is confused yet? The hit above by Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber's hit is worth a $2,500 fine by the National Hockey League. Color my cynical but there just seems to be too many inconsistencies in the recent rulings by NHL Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan.
This hit by Kris Letang on Alexander Burmistrov of the Winnipeg Jets, in my opinion isn't as bad of a hit as the one by Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber's on Jannik Hansen. Yet one hit is worth two game suspension while the other hit is worth a 2,500.00 fine which is really a drop in the bucket for someone that is making 4-5 million dollars a year to play hockey. WTF? I am really confused here.
Shea Weber boards Jannik Hansen
Shea Weber could be the next one to be suspended by the NHL for his vicious hit on Vancouver Canuck's Jannik Hansen. I wouldn't even like to speculate what kind of suspension that Weber could end up serving, because this past week we saw the Penguins Kris Letang suspended for two games for a less violent hit.
NHL.com --- Nashville's Shea Weber will have a disciplinary hearing Friday afternoon following a boarding penalty assessed to the Predators defenseman for a hit on Vancouver's Jannik Hansen during Thursday's game. At 5:12 of the third period, Weber was penalized for boarding Hansen, and also given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Through these doors- Episode 2 Part 1
Through These Doors is an awesome series and nice look into the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey program. It appears according to @UNDSID that Through These Doors will come out every Thursday. This should also put you in the mood going into the Wisconsin Badgers series.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The tale of two periods.
In the third period, the Fighting Sioux limited the Black Bears to three quality shots in the slot but unfortunately gave up a power play goal by Maine defenseman Ryan Hegarty.
So far this season the second period has been unkind to the Fighting Sioux as they have been out scored 5-8 in the middle frame.
A Look at the Numbers - Fighting Sioux Hockey
Name, Yr | GP | G | A | Pts.▼ | Pt/GP | PIM | GW | PPG | SHG | +/- |
| Ben Blood, D, Sr | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| Mario Lamoureux, F, Sr | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -3 | ||||||
| Danny Kristo, F, Jr | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.75 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Corban Knight, F, Jr | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Carter Rowney, F, Jr | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.75 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Andrew MacWilliam, D, Jr | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Gleason, D, Jr | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 6 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 5 | ||||||
| Brock Nelson, F, So | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Derek Forbort, D, So | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 |
| Dillon Simpson, D, So | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Taylor Dickin, F, So | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| Derek Rodwell, F, So | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -3 | ||||||
| Nick Mattson, D, Fr | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark MacMillan, F, Fr | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 |
| Michael Parks, F, Fr | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Andrew Panzarella, D, Fr | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Connor Gaarder, F, Fr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rocco Grimaldi, F, Fr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 |
| Brendan O'Donnell, F, Fr | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 |
| Stephane Pattyn, F, Fr | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -11 |
Two weeks into the season the Fighting Sioux hockey team is a minus -12 the Fighting Sioux freshman class is a minus -11. The junior class is carrying the water for the Fighting Sioux scoring (6g-11—17pts).
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