NHL Network to host WJC till 2018

Image via WikipediaHere is the official announcement.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USA Hockey and the NHL Network U.S. have agreed to a long-term extension of their broadcast deal that will keep NHL Network as the exclusive home for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in the United States through the 2018 event.

NHL Network will provide exclusive live broadcasts and NHL.com will provide live streams of all U.S. National Junior Team games at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship taking place Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in Alberta, Canada. NHL Network will also televise all medal-round games and five additional preliminary-round match-ups, airing a total of 15 games in high definition.

"We're extremely pleased to extend our partnership with the NHL Network," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "They're passionate about televising the World Junior Championship and fans will notice continued enhancements in their coverage of Team USA and the tournament overall."

“The IIHF World Junior Championship is not only a preeminent international hockey tournament, it has become known as the place to view future NHL stars," said Bob Chesterman, NHL Network vice president of programming. “Viewers will see a high level of skill and talent and intense match-ups between rival countries. The World Junior Championship is an excellent complement to our NHL programming.”

All Team USA games will be NHL Network original broadcasts. "NHL On the Fly," NHL Network’s signature highlight show, and NHL Live will provide intermission coverage and nightly analysis of the tournament.

The U.S. National Junior Team is coming off back-to-back medals in the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time ever, having earned a bronze medal in last year's event in Buffalo, N.Y., and a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.

The tournament's popularity stems from its reputation as a showcase for the game's best up-and-coming young players from around the world. Many current American-born NHL stars have played in the tournament, including Patrick Kane, Jack Johnson, Zach Parise and Bobby Ryan, to name a few.

The U.S. National Junior Team will begin preliminary-round play against Denmark on Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. EST. A full Team USA and NHL Network television schedule is below.

2012 IIHF World Junior Championship
NHL Network (U.S.) Television Schedule

Date	Matchup	City *	Time (EST)
Dec. 26	Canada vs. Finland	Edmonton, Alta.	3:30 p.m.
	USA vs. Denmark	Edmonton, Alta.	8 p.m.
Dec. 27	Denmark vs. Czech Republic	Edmonton, Alta.	8 p.m.
Dec. 28	Finland vs. USA	Edmonton, Alta.	3:30 p.m.
	Czech Republic vs. Canada	Edmonton, Alta.	8 p.m.
Dec. 29	Canada vs. Denmark	Edmonton, Alta.	8 p.m.
Dec. 30	Czech Republic vs. USA	Edmonton, Alta.	3:30 p.m.
	Finland vs. Denmark	Edmonton, Alta.	8 p.m.
Dec. 31	USA vs. Canada	Edmonton, Alta.	8 p.m.
Jan. 2	Quarterfinal #1	Calgary, Alta.	5 p.m.
	Quarterfinal #2	Calgary, Alta.	9 p.m.
Jan. 3	Semifinal #1	Calgary, Alta.	5 p.m.
	Semifinal #2	Calgary, Alta.	9 p.m.
Jan. 5	Bronze-Medal Game	Calgary, Alta.	3:30 p.m.
	Gold-Medal Game	Calgary, Alta.	8:00 p.m.

Jordan Schmaltz re-confirms commitment to UND

USHL.COM

Doesn’t sound like UND hockey fans don’t have to worry about losing Jordan Schmaltz to the Major Junior ranks as he states that he is committed to playing for UND.

Kevin Baumer; Hockey Prospect ---Schmaltz is set on honoring his new commitment to the University of North Dakota, which has produced NHL stars Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews in recent years, despite being at the center of a tug-of-war between the Canadian junior leagues and collegiate hockey.

In October the Windsor Spitfires went public with their recruitment of the heralded prospect. Schmaltz can't help being in high demand, but all he's worried about is fulfilling a life-long dream of attending college and following his family's legacy.


“I've always wanted to go to college,” he says. “My Dad went to North Dakota, my two uncles, they all played football there. They're actually all from there too. I think it's a no-brainer to go to North Dakota. I still want to go the college route and I think ultimately it will make me the best player I can be.”

Brad Malone's first NHL point.

That was the first point of his NHL career for former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone as he picked up the assist on TJ Galiardi's goal.The Colorado Avalanche won the game 3-2 in a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Related articles

• Colorado Avalanche defeats Philadelphia Flyers in shootout (denverpost.com)
• Avs perfect in shootout, beat Flyers 3-2 (denverpost.com)

Matt Frattin's fourth goal of the year....

As with most of former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin's goals; they all seem to be of the highlight variety. That goal by Frattin tied the game for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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• Burke on Frattin - "He's going to get a good look in camp." (mvn.com)
• Frattin ready to break out? (mvn.com)
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• Nazem Kadri: What Is His Current Value to the Toronto Maple Leafs? (bleacherreport.com)
• Maple Leafs recall rookie forward Matt Frattin (theglobeandmail.com)

Former Badger Rene Bourque Suspended by the NHL

Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque became the second player to be suspended by the NHL today.I think the NHL's Senior Vice President of Player Safety made the right decision in this case, because Bourque hit Seabrook with a check that the league is trying to eliminate from the game.

Checking Bourque's player profile from TSN, it would appear that this is the first time that Bourque has been suspended by the NHL. In other words this isn't Matt Cooke we are talking about.

NEW YORK -- Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque has been suspended, without pay, for two games for checking Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook from behind during NHL Game #479 in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 18, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Bourque will forfeit $36,036.04. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 15:25 of the first period. A major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct was assessed on the play.

Bourque will miss games Dec. 20 vs. Minnesota and Dec. 22 vs. Detroit. He will be eligible to return Dec. 23 at Vancouver.

Poll Monday - UND 18th in USCHO Poll

The Fighting Sioux stay at 18th place in the USCHO.COM on line poll.

Martin Havlat injured on line change

Former Wild and current San Jose Shark forward Martin Havlat has been known as being a soft player that get injured a lot, but this is just a freak accident. Havlat was traded to San Jose in the trade that brought Dany Heatley to the Wild. We hope that Havlat isn't hurt too bad.

Habs spared the wrath of Lucic, Lucic suspended for one game

After watching the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan and his ruling today I have come to the conclusion that there is no consistency in his ruling. Milan Lucic was suspended today for boarding Flyer goon Zac Rinaldo. Rinaldo didn't even think the hit deserved a penalty on the play.
Lucic drew a five-minute major and game misconduct, yet Rinaldo doesn’t feel that was warranted.

“It’s hockey, you hit and go into the boards, I don’t think it was dirty at all,” Rinaldo said. “Shoulder-to-shoulder and just momentum. He’s big guy, maybe double my weight. His momentum carried him into the boards awkwardly. I don’t think it was dirty at all.”

He added: “Should–to-shoulder, that’s fine, that’s cool. I don’t mind it at all.”

Then why, after a scrum developed, did Rinaldo leave the pile trading punches with Nathan Horton?

“I don’t know, I got up and he was first one in front of my face,” Rinaldo said. “I knew I was Lucic [who hit me].” [CSNPhilly]

After watching the NHL fail to suspend Dion Phaneuf's for his hit on Zach Kassian, which was more egregious in my opinion, you would have thought that Lucic would get off without a suspension. So go forward, the fans have no clue what is going to get a players suspended and what is not.

Related articles

• Milan Lucic hit on Zac RInaldo (mvn.com)
• Will Lucic be suspended? (mvn.com)

Time; NCAA Blunder: Changing North Dakota's Tribal Nickname

Image via WikipediaThis is a pretty good read if you haven't seen it yet. It's also time that some one stood up to the NCAA. They are an out of control organization.

Sean Gregory; Time --- The uniform of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey
For years, college and pro sports teams have taken heat for caricaturing Native Americans with their nicknames and mascots. Sometimes, teams do the right thing. In 1994, for example, St. John's University changed its name from the Redmen to the Red Storm. At other times, they've acted irresponsibly. We still have the Washington Redskins, and the Cleveland Indians haven't scrubbed Chief Wahoo — a cartoonish representation of Native Americans — off their hats. And in other instances, a tribe's backing has allowed a team to keep its nickname, as happened with the Florida State Seminoles and Utah Utes.

And then there's the puzzling, quite unique case of North Dakota. In 1930, the University of North Dakota (UND) adopted "Sioux" as its nickname for its sports teams. UND became the "Fighting Sioux" in the 1960s. The Sioux reservation closest to the University of North Dakota's campus in Grand Forks, Spirit Lake, overwhelmingly backs the name. The tribe argues, and evidence seems to support the case, that Spirit Lake and another local Sioux reservation, Standing Rock, actually gave the UND its blessing to use the nickname in a religious ceremony over 40 years ago. [Time.com]

The NCAA is out of touch... I wish this action would have happened a couple of years ago. Think of the irony of this, the NCAA is being sued in federal court by the very Native Americans they are claiming to speak for but also help. Does anyone see how silly this really is? The  NCAA is being sued by a bunch of white people they are being sued by one of the Tribes that voted to allow UND to use the name.

Video: Rene Bourque boards Brent Seabrook.

Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque received a five minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct for driving Brent Seabrook through the boards in tonight's game. Seabrook did not return to the game and suffered an upper-body injury. Former Fighting Sioux and current Blackhawk forward Jonathan Toews was less than impressed with Bourgue's hit on Seabrook.

“It comes down to respect,” Jonathan Toews said. “You hit guys when it’s a clean situation. Head shots and head injuries aren’t going anywhere if we’re going to keep making plays like that. And that goes for everybody around the entire league.”

If I was a betting man, I would say that you can expect that Rene Bourque will be receiving a phone call from the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan for his hit on Brent Seabrook, I would also predict a suspension for the hit as well.

Related articles

• Blackhawks D Seabrook out vs. Flames with injury (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Video: Bourque tossed for boarding Seabrook (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Seabrook knocked out of game with upper body injury (tsn.ca)
• Blackhawks' Seabrook leaves after hit to head (espn.go.com)
• Flames' misery continues in Windy City (sports.nationalpost.com)

Will Lucic be suspended?

Bruins forward Milan Lucic has a hearing Monday for his hit on Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo, the big question is, will Lucic be suspended for his hit on Rinaldo. I would have to say, based on what I saw in a recent ruling by Brendan Shanahan; comparing Dion Phaneuf's hit on Zach Kassian and Milan Lucic's hit on Zac Rinaldo, I would say no, this hit was not as bad as that hit.

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• Milan Lucic hit on Zac RInaldo (mvn.com)
• Dion Phaneuf not suspened for hit on Zach Kassian (mvn.com)
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Bobby Clarke weighs in on the head injuries.

Greatest Hockey Legends

Former NHL great Bob Clarke weighs in on the concussion issue. I have to agree with some of the things that he says in this article.

“They told the players they had to ‘take the hit,” Clarke said. “The players could no longer get their elbow up or their stick up, they were just supposed to take the hit. At that time, the players could protect each other. They could block, they could hook, they were expected to protect each other.

“But then I think the two-referee system that Bettman brought in, I don’t think it was brought in to help the game. They were brought in to take away the ability of players to get even with each other. That leads to more reckless hitting and stuff. Because if you do that, the league becomes the judge, jury and executioner.’’

Then came more moves, not all of them favorable to players’ health.

“When the lockout was over, the red line came out and the things the players could do — if you saw someone coming you could hold him up, make him break his stride, that was all taken out of the game,’’ Clarke said.

So what you had was something akin to pond hockey abandon, only with boards and glass to mitigate that feeling of open ice. [Phillyburbs.com]

Now-a-days when someone clobbers their fellow competitor head first into the boards, or knees them or hits someone with a questionable hit; if there is a whistle on the play, the refs almost immediately surround the offending players giving the players on the ice little chance to police the act themselves. Then you have to hope that the league will look at the play in question and make the proper decision based on what they feel is an appropriate punishment.

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.