2015 WJC Television Schedule

2015 U.S. Game Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time (ET)
Fri., Dec. 26	Finland	Bell Centre, Montreal	3 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Sun., Dec. 28	Germany	Bell Centre, Montreal	8 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Mon., Dec. 29	Slovakia	Bell Centre, Montreal	4 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Wed., Dec. 31	Canada	Bell Centre, Montreal	4 p.m. NHL Network/ NHL.com
Fri., Jan. 2	Quarterfinals	Montreal or Toronto	TBD
Sun., Jan. 4	Semifinals	Air Canada Centre, Toronto	TBD
Mon., Jan. 5	Finals	Air Canada Centre, Toronto	TBD

 

Good news, the 2015 WJC games will be on the NHL Network.

Pitt's Season Ticket Campaign

This is an interesting way to sell season tickets. Apparently, the school is using the firing of their AD Steve Peterson as a way to sell season tickets.

ESPN.com -- Steve Pederson deftly guided Pittsburgh through conference realignment from the crumbling Big East to the rebuilt ACC. The longtime athletic director could never find stability for the football program.

When Paul Chryst left for Wisconsin on Wednesday to send the Panthers into their fourth coaching search in four years, it cost Pederson his job.

The school parted ways with Pederson in what chancellor Patrick Gallagher called a mutual decision but one necessary for Pitt to move forward following the latest setback for a football program stuck in neutral. Pederson had nearly four years remaining on a contract that ran through 2018.

Are The Boston Bruins shooting for T.J. Oshie?

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If you believe the rumors on the Internet, the Boston Bruins attempting to trade for T.J. Oshie. As a Boston Bruins fan, I can only hope this rumor is true. The Boston Bruins are struggling offensively and a player like Oshie would give the listless Boston Bruins a nice shot in the arm.

Of course this trade almost seems impossible due to the fact that Bruins salary cap doesn't have any available space. Right now, the Bruins have $912,000.00 in cap space. To acquire Oshie, the Bruins would have to give up some expensive pieces to the Blues.

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy -- The Blues have to look to the future, and Oshie might not be a part of it.

So they’re listening to offers, and Elliotte Friedman says a lot of interest is trickling down from the Boston Bruins.

On Brady and Walker on Friday morning, Friedman said the Bruins have “talked a lot” with the Blues. “They’ve been linked to T.J. Oshie, and the issue there is that he’s got more term,” he said.

And that’s the trick for the Bruins: Their cap situation is even more precarious. They too have over $12 million in space for next season, but only 14 players under contract. Adam McQuaid (UFA), Torey Krug (RFA), Matt Bartkowski (UFA) and Dougie Hamilton (RFA) are all up; so is Reilly Smith (RFA).

(Please recall this cap situation in 2015 was the reason they couldn’t give Jarome Iginla a 2-year deal.)

One assumes any deal for Oshie would be salary for salary. Loui Eriksson, struggling to find his footing in Boston, is signed through 2016 and makes $4.25 million. One-for-one?

With the season approaching the halfway mark, there are going to be teams that are looking to make trade to solidify their lineups for the stretch run. The Boston Bruins are looking for a forward to play with David Krecji and Milan Lucic. Oshie would probably fit that spot nicely.

(Video) Clayton Stoner Hit On Max Pacioretty

I was watching the video on this play and I am still wondering why Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner wasn't given a major penalty for this hit on Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty? You can break a guys neck with a hit like this. Should this have been a major penalty?

Clean hit. Period. - Canadiens' Pacioretty hospitalized after Clayton Stoner hit - NHL on CBC Sports http://t.co/2PIDaYg6Yu
— TheBieser (@thebieser) December 19, 2014

Goalie Kevin Aldridge Leaves Lake State

Another year, another player leaving their junior program at the semester break. Lake Superior State Freshman goalie Kevin Aldridge has left the Lakers and will return to his former junior team.

Hockey News North --- Lake Superior State University Lakers head coach Damon Whitten has confirmed that freshman goalie Kevin Aldridge has opted to leave the program and return to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League.

A 1994 birth-year, Aldridge backstopped Fairbanks to the NAHL’s Robertson Cup championship last spring.

But Aldridge — a recruit of former Laker head coach Jim Roque — struggled in four appearances with LSSU this season. He had an 0-2 record, .833 save percentage and 4.80 goals-against-average.

“We wish Kevin the best on his return to Fairbanks and in his next steps in his career,” Whitten said.

Very sad to see freshman goaltender @kaldridge30 leave Lake State. However, not seeing much play, I can't blame him. He's a good goalie! ⚓️
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

Apparently, Whitten had driven @kaldridge30 away by not playing him. It would appear he's playing favs by not giving him much ice time.
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

“@chelszalewski: @LakeStateHockey he is an amazing goalie who was not given the chance he DESERVED.” Agreed!
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

(Video) Brett Sutter check on Craig Cunningham

It almost looks like Minnesota Wild forward Brett Sutter caught Cunningham with an elbow in the chops. You make the call. That being said, it didn't look like interference to me.

Patrice Bergeron's Fluky Goal (VIDEO)

In the box score it will read, Patrice Bergeron (6) Wrist shot - ASST: Brad Marchand (11), Zach Trotman (4). In my opinion, it's God Awful goaltending by Niklas Backstrom.

(Video) Ryan Getzlaf Embelishment Penalty

This is totally unacceptable. Again, I am all for fining, punishing and suspending players that embellish to draw penalties. In my humble opinion, diving cheapens the game of hockey and is bad sportsmanship. In this case, you could probably stop some of the embellishment if you just penalized the player diving.

What I don't understand is why the officials don't just take one player? Is it necessary to penalize Dion Phaneuf? Why not just penalize Ryan Getzlaf in this instance?

02:10 TOR Dion Phaneuf Tripping against Ryan Getzlaf
02:10 ANA Ryan Getzlaf Embellishment against Dion Phaneuf

Nino Niederreiter Penalty Shot

GIFs: reason for penalty shot- http://t.co/6CnmTfBpRK Niederreiter penalty shot goal- http://t.co/SiFM17KzQX
— Steph (@myregularface) December 17, 2014

Nick Bjugstad's Sick Shootout Goal

Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Nick Bjugstad scores a sick game-wining shootout goal for the Florida Panthers against the Washington Capitals. The shootout in question went 20 rounds before the Panthers ended up winning the game.

Jack Eichel: "I'm Spending More Time in the Weight Room"

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Josh Cooper from Yahoo's Puck Daddy interviewed Boston University freshman Jack Eichel. I found the comment below to be interesting.

Why the NCAA route? What about college enticed you? It had to be more than just taking classes?

I grew up in Boston and watching Hockey East and the Beanpot, so it was always my dream to play at a school like BC or BU. I never dreamed of going to Quebec and playing for a team there, so I guess that’s first and foremost is this is my dream to go here. And then looking at the pros, a lot of people say it’s a disadvantage that I’m not playing as many games.

But I can look at it as an advantage of I’m spending more time in the weight room. There’s a lot more emphasis on each game. Everything is a lot more detailed if you’re playing 40 games in comparison to playing 80 to 100. That’s one thing. And I just thought the college game was better for me. I had played a few years of junior and I didn’t think another year of junior was the best route. I felt I needed to go challenge myself again against older, bigger and stronger competition, where it would challenge me night-in, night-out more than I believe the CHL would. I think on top of all that I was able to get the experience of going to college. Living in Boston. This is everything I’ve wanted, so it was kind of a no-brainer.

One of the benefits of playing college hockey over Major Juniors is you get more time to develop physically and get bigger. There's a lot of weight room time. You're not playing a full 75-80 game schedule.   One of the things that I have noticed since I started covering UND hockey is how a player transforms in four years of hockey.

North Dakota Drops to Second in USCHO Poll

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

December 15, 2014

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Boston University	(18)	11- 3-2	930	2
2	North Dakota	(12)	13- 4-2	896	1
3	Minnesota State	( 6)	13- 4-0	869	3
4	Harvard	(11)	9- 1-2	836	5
5	Michigan Tech		13- 3-0	758	4
6	Miami		11- 5-0	720	6
7	Minnesota-Duluth	( 3)	12- 6-0	664	9
8	Minnesota		9- 4-1	650	7
9	Massachusetts-Lowell		10- 3-3	643	8
10	Vermont		13- 3-1	612	10
11	Denver		10- 5-0	510	11
12	Nebraska-Omaha		10- 4-2	496	12
13	Bowling Green		11- 3-2	430	13
14	Quinnipiac		10- 5-1	292	15
15	Boston College		9- 7-1	233	16
16	Providence		9- 6-1	229	18
17	Colgate		9- 6-1	221	14
18	Merrimack		10- 5-2	158	19
19	Robert Morris		11- 2-3	125	17
20	Penn State		9- 4-2	79	NR
Others receiving votes: Union 61, Yale 56, Mercyhurst 10, Northern Michigan 9, Ferris State 8, Dartmouth 3, Holy Cross 1, St. Lawrence 1.

 

Nick Mattson and Johnny Simonson are Bruisers

Someone has posted this on Sioux Sports today, actually I find it hilarious and worth sharing with ya'll. Apparently, Nick Mattson and Johnny Simonson are now considered bruisers.


Actually, in my opinion, Steph Pattyn and Andrew Andrew Panzarella are more of the bruiser type. This is the problem when you someone that doesn't cover hockey on a regular basis get relegated to the press box. With the termination of Adrian Dater, I am sure that the Denver Post had Mike Chambers covering the Avs game last night.

Nick Groke, Denver Post -- Bad blood boiled over even before the puck dropped Saturday night in the University of Denver's 3-1 loss to North Dakota. DU and UND don't have to try hard to dislike each other.

After Denver's 4-1, runaway victory the night before, North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol inserted some muscle into his lineup, perhaps hoping to push the Pioneers around. He added 185-pound defenseman Nick Mattson and freshman lefty Johnny Simonson.

But while No. 11 Denver and No. 1 North Dakota traded ill will early on, matching retribution penalties, the two new bruisers from Grand Forks put North Dakota out front.

Mattson's slap shot goal off two posts, after Simonson won the puck in the corner, set North Dakota on its way to a victory over the Pioneers at Magness Arena.

SCSU's Jonny Brodzinski Tossed from the Game for a Legal Check (VIDEO)

This is why the St. Cloud State fans are unhappy today. Actually, they have good reason to be mad, too. SCSU power forward Jonny Brodzinski was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for Contact to the Head. No where in the video do you see the actual Contact to the Head.

Here another angle no one is talking about. Whether it's a blown call or not, Brodzinski now has a game misconduct on his record. If Brodzinski receives two game misconducts, he will be suspended for one game. With the way the refs are calling the game, you've got to be careful. I think the case of a blown call, if the refs blow the call, the game misconduct should be rescinded.

22.2 Suspensions - A player who receives three (3) game misconduct penalties in the same season (including exhibition games) shall not be permitted to play in the team’s next regular-season or tournament game against an NCAA member institution. For each additional game misconduct penalty (e.g. four, five, etc.) assessed to the same player in the same season, the

(Video) Drake Caggiula penalty - Blown Call

This is pathetic, Denver forward Daniel Doremus pulls the ole horse collars on Drake Caggiula. Of course Caggiula gets the retaliation penalty. Check out Doremus' embellishment in what would make Ryan Kessler blush. At the end watch the old wave off by head coach Dave Hakstol.

(Video) Andrew Panzarella Rocks Ty Loney and Mark MacMillan Ejected for Check from Behind

Check out the hit that UND defenseman Andrew Panzarella puts on Denver forward Ty Loney, he get absolutely rocked.

I don't know if I agree with this call or not. You do have to be careful when you're hitting another player along the wall. I think the Denver players sold it. That being said, Brad Shepherd and his reffing partner were brutal in the first period.

North Dakota vs. Denver Game One lines - With Links

North Dakota Forward lines

9 Drake Caggiula–16 Mark MacMillan (A)–15 Michael Parks (A)
21 Brendan O’Donnell–8 Nick Schmaltz–27 Luke Johnson
29 Bryn Chyzyk–28 Stephane Pattyn (C)–11 Trevor Olson
26 Coltyn Sanderson–13 Connor Gaarder (A)–14 Austin Poganski

North Dakota Defense Parings

6 Paul LaDue–24 Jordan Schmaltz
20 Gage Ausmus–3 Tucker Poolman
4 Keaton Thompson–22 Andrew Panzarella

North Dakota Goalies

31 Zane McIntyre
33 Cam Johnson

Denver Forward lines

8 Trevor Moore–19 Daniel Doremus–20 Danton Heinen
16 Zac Larraza–27 Quentin Shore–12 Ty Loney
26 Evan Janssen–9 Gabe Levin–23 Matt Marcinew
14 Larkin Jacobson–25 Matt Tabrum–39 Grant Arnold

Denver Defense Pairings

21 Joey LaLeggia–11 Nolan Zajac
7 Will Butcher–4 Josiah Didier
28 Adam Plant–6 Matt VanVoorhis

Denver Goalies

31 Evan Cowley
36 Tanner Jaillet
30 Greg Ogard

Bryn Chyzyk returns to the lineup tonight after missing five games due to injury. Andrew Panzarella goes in for the injured Troy Stecher.
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) December 12, 2014

Updated TV info for tonight: US: ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain, DirecTV (683), DISH Network (414) Canada: TSN 2, TSN GO (live stream)
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) December 12, 2014

UND vs. DU, a Series Preview http://t.co/oTPiSWRODR #THW
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) December 12, 2014

Former Moorhead star Brian Lee announces retirement from NHL | INFORUM http://t.co/qz4cSUAEcL
— Chris Murphy (@SeeMurphsTweets) December 12, 2014

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