Goon's World

s/t to USCHO, I have been told that the rest of UND's television schedule is being finalized. Apparently, there's a good chance that a number of UND's games will make a return to FCS.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Does Former Gopher Goon Stu Bickel have a Chance of Making the Wild

#181165895 / gettyimages.com

If former Minnesota Gopher Goon Stu Bickel is going to make the Minnesota Wild out of training camp, it’s going to be as a fourth line punching bag. You're probably wondering why I say punching bag? Bickel isn't a very good fighter, and he's definitely not a feared heavy weight. But he would fill a roll that the Wild need.

Chad Graff, Pioneer Press -- Bickel, who has played about one-third of his games in the NHL at forward, is hoping to show the kind of versatility that could earn him a spot on the roster.

Bickel, a 27-year-old former Gopher from Chanhassen, continues to climb up the depth chart in training camp. If he shows he can play forward Thursday night, it'll be another step in making the Wild out of camp.

"The more versatile a player is, the more opportunity is there for him," coach Mike Yeo said.

Bickel got into two fights during the Wild's 2-1 exhibition loss in Winnipeg on Monday, and he would add physicality and grit that the Wild lack without him.

He played 67 games with the New York Rangers in 2011-12 and 2012-13 -- and got into 28 fights.

Bickel has played in 67 NHL games and has scored an paltry (0g-9a—9pts), but has racked up an impressive 157 minutes in penalties. If Bickel makes the Wild out of training camp, it will not be for his offensive skills, which he obviously lacks.

If Wild decide that Bickel is going to be their designated punching bag, then he has a chance to play a few games with the Wild this season. Meh. Currently, the Minnesota Wild have no "real" punching bag/goon. So far in the preseason, the Wild have been in three fights. Bickel has been in two of those fights, Wild forward Jason Zucker was fought Simon Despres and didn’t fare so well. That being said, Zucker isn’t a pugilist and his job is to generate offense and score goals.

Pioneer Press: Wild's Justin Fontaine: Small-town boy starting to make big impact

Speaking of former college hockey players. Former UMD Bulldog Justin Fontaine is in camp with a new contract trying to cement a roster spot with the Minnesota Wild. Fontaine is on a one-way contract so he could end up playing for the Iowa Wild to start the season.

Chad Graff, Pioneer Press -- Justin Fontaine insists this Wild training camp is no different from last year's.

The two-year, one-way contract he signed this summer doesn't change his mind-set from a year ago when he was in the final year of his contract and fighting just to keep his job.

It's impossible to ignore how different things are for him, though.

For the first time in his career, he has job security in the NHL.

Rather than auditioning for a roster spot, Fontaine was tapped to play Thursday night's exhibition game against the Penguins alongside skilled forwards Thomas Vanek and Mikko Koivu, his chance to show he's ready for a bigger role on the team.

"I think there's a different feeling for him," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "There's no question he's coming in with the sense that he belongs here, the comfort level that he doesn't have to worry about whether one mistake might be the difference between him going home or staying."

BBC: Boston Mayor Backs Belfast Bid for Major Ice Hockey Tournament

This would be a first. I wonder what kind of a crowd a college hockey game would draw in Belfast, Ireland? I can't imagine that the Boston Garden would want to just let another venue have the Bean Pot.

BBC.COM - Boston mayor Marty Walsh has given his backing to a bid to bring a major ice hockey tournament to Belfast in 2016.

While visiting the Odyssey Arena, Mayor Walsh offered his support to an Odyssey Trust initiative to bring the NCAA Beanpot tournament to the city.

The Beanpot, which features Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern, is one of the biggest tournaments in the ice hockey season.

Boston mayor backs Belfast for Beanpot college ice hockey tournament.

"In the 62 years since its inception it has become the official battle for Boston's hockey bragging rights and is widely known as the 'social event of the winter season'," said Walsh.

"In light of the recent Sister City twinning between Belfast and Boston, which is underpinned by a longstanding connection between the two cities through ice hockey, I think it would be wonderful to bring the Beanpot to Belfast and am lending my support to the campaign."

Thursday, September 25, 2014

UND First in Preseason Poll

NCHC Preseason Poll 1. North Dakota – 181 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Miami – 167 (9)
3. St. Cloud State – 151 (4)
4. Denver – 117 (0)
5. Minnesota Duluth – 112 (0)
6. Omaha – 73 (0)
7. Western Michigan - 67 (0)
8. Colorado College – 32 (0)

Last year, Miami was voted number one by the media in the preseason poll. Hmm... I am not sure UND wants to have this honor.

Grand Forks Herald: Task force on Fighting Sioux Replacement Has First Meeting

#111872726 / gettyimages.com

It would appear that we have more clarity from the nickname task force. The nickname task force had their first meeting on Wednesday. Also, the nickname task force will be coming up with the process to select a new nickname for UND. That makes me happy. This is the kicker, the nickname task force's purpose is not to pick an actual nickname, they’re just defining the process of picking a new nickname. This will make a lot of UND fans less anxious.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald -- A UND task force met Wednesday to begin coming up with the process of picking a new nickname and logo for the school.

The task force won’t be picking a nickname, but will try to establish a concrete process the school will use to choose a new one after the controversial Fighting Sioux moniker was officially retired Dec. 31, 2012.

I’m not necessarily asking you to find the name, I'm asking you to identify the best pathway to get to that name,” UND President Robert Kelley said to the task force. “If we come up with a name at the end of that process, all the better, that certainly is our eventual goal, but just for right now, we're looking at the process.”

While this first meeting consisted mostly of policy discussion and planning potential meeting dates, the group had clear ideas about what it wants to accomplish.

Task force member and UND alumnus Chuck Horter stressed the importance of transparency while the task force co-chairman, Student Body President Tanner Franklin, said he wanted to make sure all stakeholders had their voices heard.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the nickname task force. Picking a potential replacement nickname for UND is a n emotional issue. There is going to be a lot of eyes on this task force and they're going to be under some pressure to make sure there's a smooth transition to a new nickname.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Breaking News: Tony Stewart not charged in death of Kevin Ward Jr.

#455739536 / gettyimages.com

I apologize to the readers that don't follow sprint car racing, once in a while I will stray into other areas not related to college hockey or the NHL.

I am also a big time racing fans and this is a big development in the racing world and I covered this story extensively as it happen back in August. For those that don't know, Stewart is also the car owner of World of Outlaw's sprint car driver Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota.

I think the most damning thing is the fact that Kevin Ward Jr. was under the influence of marijuana at the time of this incident. Actually, this announcement is kind of a shocker.

Jeff Gluck and Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports -- The Ontario County District Attorney's office took the evidence in Stewart's case to a grand jury, which found there was no basis for criminal charges, D.A. Michael Tantillo announced Wednesday.

Tantillo said toxicology reports revealed that Ward was under the influence of marijuana at a high enough level to impair judgment.

Tantillo said there were two charges submitted for consideration by the grand jury against Stewart: manslaughter in the second degree and criminally negligent homicide. He said neither received the necessary 12 votes from the grand jury to charge Stewart. The grand jury heard the evidence and deliberated "over the better part of two days," Tantillo said.

Tantillo said Stewart was presented the opportunity to testify but wouldn't confirm whether he did.

Tantillo said two videos of the incident were examined and revealed there was "no aberrational driving by Tony Stewart."

Stewart still could face a civil suit from Ward's family.

The fact remains, that a driver died in this incident and this will probably change Tony Stewart's life forever.

New Haven Register: ‘EZ-AC’ Hockey a thing of the past

#484640483 / gettyimages.com

Here's a good article about ECAC Hockey and how they have gone from being a league that many college hockey fans scoffed at, to a league that's now looked at as being "the" power conference in college hockey. The ECAC has won the last two Frozen Four and that's an accomplishment that nothing to sneeze at. Seriously. Especially, with the academic standards that they must uphold.

Chip Malafronte, New Haven Register “I think our league is as good as any, if not the best,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold, whose team finished as national runner-up to Yale in 2013. “We’re showing that we’ve got the high-end teams that can win national championships. Even more than that, the depth of our league; our bottom teams are always really good and you see every year our 11th- or 12th-place teams beating the No. 1 team in the nation. It’s a deep league and that’s a credit to our coaches and our universities and the commitment we have to our programs.”

Indeed, these are exciting times for the ECAC, once so callously referred to as the “EZ-AC” by fans of more prosperous conferences from Maine to Alaska. Yale’s title in 2013 snapped a 23-year championship drought dating back to Harvard’s run in 1989. When Union won it all in April, it marked the first time the league took consecutive crowns since Boston University went back-to-back in 1971 and 1972.

It’s clear the ECAC hasn’t been this strong since a chunk of members split off in 1984 to form Hockey East. Given the restructuring of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and demise of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association last year, the league is as competitive as ever against the rest of the nation.

“Real strong,” Yale coach Keith Allain said. “You’re talking about the last two years because the league won national championships. But four years ago we had a team that could have won, but lost to Minnesota-Duluth, who did win the national championship that year. The league has gotten stronger; the programs within the league are stronger in terms of feeding off each other. A rising tide lifts the other ships.”

UND Hockey: Get Your GameDay App

UND Hockey Fans, don't forget to get your GameDay App. It's free, just click on the appropriate link below. Hockey Season, starts in 11 days. I have a Samsung Mega and this app looks great on my phone.

Fans can download the app now on the App Store (link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/und-north-dakota-gameday/id824982957?mt=8) and on the Google Play Store (link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emotionmedia.fannex.und&hl=en).

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Big Ten Hockey Conference TV Schedule

The Big Ten Hockey Conference released their television schedule for the 2014-15 season.

2014-15 MEN’S HOCKEY TELEVISION SCHEDULE (All times Eastern)

DATE TIME MATCHUP TV

October 24, 2014 9 PM Bemidji State at Minnesota BTN

October 25, 2014 8 PM Bemidji State at Minnesota FSN+

November 1, 2014 5 PM St. Cloud State at Minnesota FSN

November 7, 2014 8 PM Notre Dame at Minnesota BTN

November 9, 2014 5 PM Notre Dame at Minnesota ESPNU

November 14, 2014 8 PM Minnesota-Duluth at Minnesota FSN+

November 20, 2014 TBD Michigan State at Ohio State FSD+/STO (delay)

November 21, 2014 7:30 PM Penn State at Michigan FSD+

December 5, 2014 7 PM Ohio State at Michigan BTN

December 5, 2014 7 PM Minnesota at Michigan State FSD

December 5, 2014 9 PM Penn State at Wisconsin ESPNEWS

December 14, 2014 5 PM Clarkson at Michigan State FSD

December 28, 2014 3:30 or 7 PM Michigan Tech vs. Michigan FSD+

December 28, 2014 3:30 or 7 PM Ferris State vs. Michigan State FSD+

December 29, 2014 3:30 or 7 PM MSU/FSU vs. Michigan FSD+

December 29, 2014 3:30 or 7 PM MTU/MICH vs. Michigan State FSD+

January 2, 2015 8 PM Merrimack at Minnesota FSN+

January 9, 2015 6:30 PM Minnesota at Michigan BTN

January 9, 2015 7 PM U.S. NTDP at Michigan State FSD+

January 10, 2015 4 PM Minnesota at Michigan FSD/FSN+

January 16, 2015 7 PM Michigan at Ohio State FSD+/STO

January 16, 2015 9 PM Wisconsin at Minnesota BTN

January 17, 2015 5 PM Michigan State at Penn State ESPNU

January 17, 2015 6 PM Wisconsin at Minnesota FSN/FS Wisconsin

January 23, 2015 7 PM Ohio State at Michigan State FSD/STO

January 23, 2015 8 PM Minnesota State vs. Minnesota FSN+

January 23, 2015 9 PM Michigan at Wisconsin BTN

January 24, 2015 5 or 8 PM UMD/BSU vs. Minnesota FSN

January 24, 2015 7 PM Ohio State at Michigan State BTN

January 30, 2015 7:30 PM Michigan State vs. Michigan FSD

January 30, 2015 9 PM Minnesota at Wisconsin BTN

January 31, 2015 8 PM Minnesota at Wisconsin BTN

February 6, 2015 6:30 PM Wisconsin at Penn State BTN

February 6, 2015 9 PM Ohio State at Minnesota BTN

February 7, 2015 8 PM Michigan vs. Michigan State BTN

February 7, 2015 8 PM Ohio State at Minnesota FSN+/STO

February 13, 2015 6:30 PM Wisconsin at Ohio State BTN

February 13, 2015 7 PM Penn State at Michigan State FSD

February 13, 2015 9 PM Michigan at Minnesota BTN

February 14, 2015 6 PM Penn State at Michigan State BTN

February 14, 2015 8 PM Michigan at Minnesota FSN+/FSD+/STO

February 20, 2015 6:30 PM Minnesota at Penn State BTN

February 20, 2015 9 PM Michigan State at Wisconsin BTN

February 21, 2015 5 PM Minnesota at Penn State ESPNU

February 22, 2015 TBD Ohio State at Michigan FSD+/STO

February 26, 2015 9 PM Michigan State at Minnesota BTN

February 27, 2015 6:30 PM Penn State at Ohio State BTN

February 27, 2015 7:30 PM Wisconsin at Michigan FSD+/FS Wisconsin

February 27, 2015 9 PM Michigan State at Minnesota BTN

February 28, 2015 4 PM Wisconsin at Michigan BTN

March 6, 2015 5 PM Minnesota at Ohio State ESPNU

March 7, 2015 6 PM Minnesota at Ohio State ESPNEWS

March 7, 2015 7 PM Wisconsin at Michigan State FSD/FS Wisconsin+

March 13, 2015 7 PM Michigan at Michigan State FSD

March 14, 2015 5 PM Michigan State at Michigan FSD

March 14, 2015 7 PM Ohio State at Wisconsin BTN

March 14, 2015 8 PM Penn State at Minnesota FSN+

March 19, 2015 4:30 or 8 PM No. 6 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed BTN

March 19, 2015 4:30 or 8 PM No. 5 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed BTN

March 20, 2015 4:30 or 8 PM No. 4/5 Seed vs. No. 1 Seed BTN

March 20, 2015 4:30 or 8 PM No. 3/6 Seed vs. No. 2 Seed BTN

March 21, 2015 8 PM TBD vs. TBD BTN

KEY:
FSD – FOX Sports Detroit
FSN – FOX Sports North
FS Wisconsin – FOX Sports Wisconsin
STO – SportsTime Ohio

Goon's World Extras

Monday, September 29, 2014

Friday, September 26, 2014

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

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