T.J. Oshie scores his 10th of the season.

Former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie scored his 10th goal of the season for the St. Louis Blues.Oshie has points in four of his last five games for the Blues (3g-2a—5pts). Oshie is currently tied for the team lead in scoring with Alexander Steen,

Dion Phaneuf not suspened for hit on Zach Kassian

The NHL decided not to suspend Dion Phaneuf for this hit on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Kassian. Going forward I am surprised that Phaneuf wasn't given at least a game suspension. I think this is the type of hit that the league has to take out of the game hockey, this is a dangerous unnecessary hit. 

Translation of last post.

Image via Wikipedia18/12/2011
Red Stars - Fighting Sioux 1:5

Red Stars (Russia) - Fighting Sioux (USA)

0-1 Gaarder (Nelson)
0:2 Rodvell
O `Donnell 0-3 GB
0-4 Nelson (Simpson, Christo) GB
1:4 Lyubimov (Gareev, Aksyutov) GB
Parks 1:5 (O `Donnell, MacMillan) GB

Goalkeepers: Khakimov - Eydsness (00:00-40:00), Merris (40:00-60:00)
Penalty: 12.12

Throws: 20-37

Attendance: 11,640

60:00 end of the match

That came to an end the first game Red Stars on American soil. As they say, worst-first. I hope that our team will continue to prosper deystovat. Thank you for being with us at this early hour!

Someone posted the box score from the game in Russian. Interesting!!!

Red Stars (Россия)1 - Fighting Sioux 5 (США)

Red Stars - Fighting Sioux 1:5

Red Stars (Россия)1 - Fighting Sioux 5 (США)

0:1 Гаардер (Нельсон)
0:2 Родвелл
0:3 О`Доннел ГБ
0:4 Нельсон (Симпсон, Кристо) ГБ
1:4 Любимов (Гареев, Аксютов) ГБ
1:5 Паркс(О`Доннел, МакМиллан) ГБ

Вратари: Хакимов – Эйдснесс(00:00-40:00), Мэррис (40:00-60:00)
Штрафное время: 12-12

Броски: 20-37

Зрители: 11640

60:00 ОКОНЧАНИЕ МАТЧА

Вот и подошел к концу первый матч Red Stars на американской земле. Как говорится, первый блин комом. Надеюсь, что дальше наша сборная будет дейстовать куда удачнее. Спасибо, что были с нами в этот ранний час!

Milan Lucic hit on Zac RInaldo

Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo. In looking at the video, and watching the game, I don't think you will see a suspension to Milan Lucic.

The reason I say that I don't think that Lucic will be suspended is that last night Toronto Defenseman Dion Phaneuf  buried Buffalo Forward Zack Kassian into the boards and wasn't suspended. In my opinion that hit was worse than Lucic's hit on Rinaldo. So I don't see a this and there was no suspension given to Phaneuf.

I know that if Lucic isn’t suspended by the NHL we are going to hear the conspiracy theorist claim that the NHL is in bed with the Bruins because Colin Campbell’s son Gregory plays for the Boston Bruins, however, I don’t think this hit is suspension worthy.

After Milan Lucic's questionable hit on Flyers goon Zac Rinaldo, who has been in eight fights this season, goes after and challenges Bruins forward Nathan Horton to a fight. As a Bruins fan, I get a little worried  seeing one of the Bruins top six forwards, who has suffered a concussion in the past year, fighting an experienced fighter like Rinaldo. Rinaldo (1g-4a—5pts) is a cement head and is on the ice for one thing. Rinaldo is there to fight and cause havoc, you would think he should have challenged Lucic to the fight.

Related articles

• Dion Phaneuf plants Zack Kassian into the boards. (mvn.com)

Drew Stafford gets his 6th of the year.

That's four points in five game former Fighting Sioux and current Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford, after scoring (31g-21a—52pts) last season, Stafford has had what one might classify as a down season scoring (6g-10a—16pts). The Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4.

Dion Phaneuf plants Zack Kassian into the boards.

Toronto Maples Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf was given a five minute major and a game misconduct as he planted the Sabres forward Zack Kassian into the boards. Kassian went to the locker room and received some stitches.

All season long we have heard how fighting is ruining the game of hockey and is a major cause of all of these concussions and head injuries, but I am more concerned about these kind of hits. Some one is going to get maimed getting slammed head long into the boards. The players have got to learn that you can't smash you opponent head first into the boards.

Implementation of $2,000 allowance suspended until January

Here is the latest on the NCAA’s $2,000 stipend allowance; the program has temporarily has been suspended until January2012. When the stipend was announced, there were some that complained that allowing teams to give athletes a 2,000 stipend would give athletic departments with deep pockets an unfair advantage.

Michelle Brutlag Hosick, NCAA.org --- The new rule allowing Division I institutions to give some student-athletes an additional $2,000 miscellaneous expense allowance has been suspended until the Board of Directors convenes in January.

As of Dec. 15, enough schools – 125 – have called for an override of the legislation to prompt the automatic suspension under NCAA bylaws.

The reasons the schools cited fell into four areas: how quickly it was implemented, perceived impact on competitive equity, application of the allowance for student-athletes in equivalency sports, and implications for Title IX.

“Based on conversations I have had, I am confident that there remains a very high level of support for this permissive legislation to provide better support for our student athletes,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said.

“I am also confident that we can develop implementation changes that will address most of the concerns raised by many of our campus leaders. It is absolutely critical that we implement this legislation, for example, in a way that supports Title IX and women’s athletic programs. Modification of the legislation language can certainly achieve this essential requirement. Similarly, changes can be made that will clarify how this legislation can be implemented more smoothly and with less confusion.”

Taking a look on Friday morning.

	Minnesota	1497.	.9180	3	17-3-0	0.8500	5.667	1	299.3
8	Minnesota-Duluth	331.7	.7415	18t	9-8-1	0.5278	1.118	2	298.5
1	Wisconsin	3426.	.9620	2	17-1-0	0.9444	17.000	3	293.7
4	North Dakota	422.6	.7805	13	12-7-1	0.6250	1.667	4	260.0
10	Bemidji State	284.0	.7144	15t	9-7-2	0.5556	1.250	5	229.9
21	Minnesota State	76.35	.4412	31	4-12-0	0.2500	0.333	6	212.1
11	Ohio State	254.4	.6942	15t	9-7-2	0.5556	1.250	7	205.9
6	Harvard	365.2	.7575	10	8-4-0	0.6667	2.000	8	193.4
13	Boston University	186.0	.6328	20	10-9-1	0.5250	1.105	9	169.1
14	Dartmouth	175.7	.6212	17	6-5-1	0.5417	1.182	10	150.6

Per the Division I Women College Hockey KRACH , the WCHA has the strongest Strength of Schedule again this season, if you take a look you'll see that six of the top 10 teams are from the WCHA. Thanks Millsy.

2011-2012 WCHA STANDINGS

		WCHA Games								Overall
		GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA		W	L	T	GF	GA
1	Minnesota	14	11	3	0	22	51	28		14	5	1	83	41
	Minnesota Duluth	14	10	2	2	22	59	32		12	3	3	73	44
3	Nebraska Omaha	14	7	4	3	17	46	43		9	8	3	62	60
4	Colorado College	12	7	5	0	14	51	45		9	5	0	59	47
	North Dakota	14	7	7	0	14	39	37		9	8	1	51	50
6	Denver	12	5	4	3	13	43	38		7	6	3	55	48
	Michigan Tech	14	6	7	1	13	41	43		9	8	1	53	51
8	Bemidji State	14	5	7	2	12	36	46		7	9	2	47	56
9	St. Cloud State	12	4	5	3	11	36	37		6	8	4	57	58
10	Wisconsin	14	4	8	2	10	40	50		7	9	2	57	59
11	Alaska Anchorage	14	3	10	1	7	29	54		6	10	2	46	63
12	Minnesota State	12	2	9	1	5	34	52		5	12	1	52	67

Here is the WCHA standings with one more weekend of play before the holiday break.

Here Jim Rich and this week in the WCHA.

Here is this weeks Gopher Puck Live Post Cast.

Here is this weeks Cardinal's Country Clomp Feast on KFAN.

Boston University has lost two players in the last week. First; BU forward Corey Trivino was dismissed from the team after he was arrested for showing up at a woman's dorm roon, he then pushed his way into her room, where he then started kissing her and fondling her against her will. Also, Charlie Coyle has left the team for academic reason and will report to the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.

Year Before After
2004-05 13-7-2 (.636) 12-8-3 (.587)
2005-06 12-7-1 (.625) 17-9-0 (.654)
2006-07 7-10-1 (.417) 17-4-4 (.760)
2007-08 8-6-1 (.567) 20-5-3 (.768)
2008-09 9-8-1 (.528) 15-7-3 (.660)
2009-10 9-6-3 (.583) 16-7-2 (.680)
2010-11 13-5-2 (.700) 19-4-1 (.813)
2011-12 9-8-1 (.528) ?
Totals 80-57-12 (.577) 116-44-16 (.705)

The Fighting Sioux are known for their second half surges under Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol. So are the Sioux posed for a second half run?

2	Minnesota-Duluth	379.0	.7794	2t	12-3-3	0.7500	3.000	18	135.3
8	Minnesota	264.0	.7141	4	14-5-1	0.7250	2.636	28	105.6
18	Colorado College	170.0	.6221	12	9-5-0	0.6429	1.800	33	98.42
20	Denver	149.8	.5937	25t	7-6-3	0.5312	1.133	20	133.2
22	North Dakota	141.2	.5802	27t	9-8-1	0.5278	1.118	23	127.1
27	Bemidji State	122.2	.5469	38t	7-9-2	0.4444	0.800	11	151.0
28	Wisconsin	116.1	.5349	38t	7-9-2	0.4444	0.800	15	143.4
29	Nebraska-Omaha	108.7	.5196	30	9-8-3	0.5250	1.105	32	98.85
30	Michigan Tech	108.7	.5195	27t	9-8-1	0.5278	1.118	34	97.82
34	St. Cloud State	95.05	.4881	38t	6-8-4	0.4444	0.800	26	117.4
36	Alaska-Anchorage	77.07	.4394	46	6-10-2	0.3889	0.636	24	118.2

According to the Men's Division I KRACH, the BSU Beavers have played the toughest schedule to date in the WCHA.