(Video) Eddie Wittchow blows up Leon Bristedt

There was a little excitement to finish Saturday's game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Minnesota Gophers. Wiscon's Eddie Wittchow was given five-minute major and a game disqualification for contact-to-the-head on Leon Bristedt. That's what the final box score said.

I think there's a chance that Wittchow could get a game suspension for this hit, it was high.

WIS-13 Eddie Wittchow (5-Contact to the Head) 19:29
WIS-14 Eddie Wittchow (10-Disqualification) 19:29
MIN-13 Mike Reilly (5-Contact to the Head) 19:29
MIN-14 Mike Reilly (10-Game Misconduct) 19:29

UND Sweeps Niagara - Traditional Circle of Sticks

Sweep... Traditional Circle of Sticks

A photo posted by Eric J. Burton (@eric.burton.94801) on Jan 17, 2015 at 7:25pm PST

This weekend, four UND players had two goal games (Mike Parks, Mark MacMillan, Bryn Chzyk and Austin Poganski), one player (Stephane Pattyn) had a goal each night.

UND vs. Niagara lines

Same lineup tonight as last night. UND goes for it's second sweep at home. So hopefully, we will see the traditional circle of sticks tonight. Copy Right Dan Hammer.

NCHC Suspends Omaha’s O’Rourke and UMD’s Toninato (Video)

The NCHC took action against two of it's players today following incidents from Friday night's games. If I come across video, I will post it.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has issued suspensions to both Omaha senior defenseman Brian O’Rourke and Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward Dominic Toninato, in accordance with the conference’s supplemental discipline policy, the NCHC announced Saturday, Jan. 17. The suspensions stem from illegal hits during their respective games on Friday, Jan. 16.

O’Rourke was suspended two games after a review of the play in which direct contact to the head was made with a Colorado College player at 5:32 of the first period of UNO’s game against CC Friday. O’Rourke was assessed a five-minute major penalty for interference on the play. O’Rourke will miss Saturday’s series finale with the Tigers, as well as Omaha’s next game on Friday, Jan. 30 against North Dakota. He is eligible to return on Saturday, Jan. 31 in the series finale with UND.

Toninato was suspended one game following a review of the play in which knee-on-knee contact was made with a Western Michigan player at 13:31 of the first period of Friday’s game with the Broncos. Toninato was issued a five-minute major for kneeing on the play. He will be required to serve the suspension during Saturday’s series finale with WMU and is eligible to return next weekend, Jan. 23 against Bemqidji State in the North Star College Cup.

Dan Carcillo Is up to His Old Tricks

It will be interesting to see how the NHL responds to this moronic cross-check by Chicago Black Hawks goon Dan Carcillo on Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault. Apparently, the Jets aren't very happy with this bush league cross-check, either. Frankly, I don't blame them. Perreault left the game with an injury as a result of this dirty hit.

Personally, I don't have a problem with goons, but Carcillo is a hockey player that we could do without.

Ken Wiebe, Winnipeg Sun -- But the fallout from Friday's game includes the loss of red-hot Jets forward Mathieu Perreault to an apparent arm injury after taking a vicious slash from Blackhawks winger Daniel Carcillo late in the second period.

Carcillo received a slashing minor, but the Jets didn't even get a power play, since Mark Scheifele was called for slashing.

“It was a vicious cross-check to an unsuspecting player,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice, who said Perreault would be further evaluated on Saturday. “This was as big a character win as we've had since I've been here.”

I predict that this will be a five-game suspension.

Grand Forks Herald: UND nickname task force hands plan in for final edits

This was an article that was in today's Grand Forks Herald. article that was in today's Grand Forks Herald. So, we move forward in the process of selecting a new nickname.

Yippy skippy, right?

One of the option to come out of the nickname taskforce has been the option to be simply being UND or North Dakota. It will be interesting to see the reception that this option receives. I have talked to many that like that option. There are those people that have criticized that option saying that it's nothing more than an attempt at clinging to the old Fighting Sioux nickname.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald – While it isn't official yet, the task force plans to recommend appointing a new 15-person committee that would begin work as soon as possible.

That committee would gather input and nickname suggestions from the general public that would then be narrowed down based on qualifications the public voted for in a November survey, including that a permanent name should be inspiring, unforgettable, honorable and representative of the region.

Depending on the number of nickname suggestions the group ultimately ends up dealing with, a series of public polls and votes would narrow down options until the task force could choose a permanent name from a small number of possibilities. The plan recommends keeping the school's current title, "UND/North Dakota," as a permanent nickname option. The school has been using the name since the controversial Fighting Sioux name was retired in December 2012 after a drawn out legal battle and the NCAA threatened sanctions.

"Rather than saying 'new' nickname, we want to finalize a name," task force co-chair and UND alumna Sheri Kleinsasser Stockmoe said.

If you're keeping up with the nickname issue, this past week, ND House Decisively Defeats UND Nickname Moratorium Bill, 21-62. That result didn't really surprise me, I think that there are many in North Dakota that just want to move on.

UND vs. Niagara Lines

College Hockey: Friday Morning Reading, Putting on the Links

The NCHC Blog has their weekly predictions - I disagree that WMU is going to get a split this weekend. I would be very shocked if that happened. (USCHO)

College Hockey: Division III Atmospheres that Rival Division I (The Hockey Writers)

UND vs. Niagara (The Hockey Writers)

Getting to know UND goalie Cam Johnson (The Hockey Writers)

Friday Morning Reading (University of North Dakota Hockey)

The NCHC Power Rankings (Inside Hockey)

The Sioux Football Insider has a list of Visitors for the weekend. (Sioux Football Insider)

The College Hockey News is fawning all over the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs this week. Duluth Defense Partner Swaps Key Recent Run (College Hockey News)

The NCHC has had a strong year: the Pairwise Rankings are as follows, UMD 2, UNO 4, UND 6, MU 7, Denver 17. (Pairwise Rankings)

Chris Kreider Boards Carl Soderberg and Then Gets Worked by Chris Kelley (Video)

Before someone tries to tell me that New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider is a clean hockey player. Or that there was no intention by Kreider to board Carl Soderberg. Please don't.

I am also waiting for the comment that Soderberg put himself in a vulnerable position and deserved to get hit like that.

Please don't do it.

Take a look at the two videos that I have embedded in this blog post. I am going to ask you, where have we seen this move before? I see a pattern developing here. Kreider did the same thing to Jonas Brodin earlier in the year.

06:13 NYR Chris Kreider Boarding - 2 min against Carl Soderberg
06:13 BOS Chris Kelly Instigator - 2 min against Chris Kreider
06:13 NYR Chris Kreider Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Chris Kelly
06:13 BOS Chris Kelly Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Chris Kreider
06:13 BOS Chris Kelly Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min

Half Way NHL Power Rankings

It is time to give my mid season NHL Power Rankings. Like always, if you think different from me, please share your opinions with a comment on the article or contact me on twitter @siouxhockey33.

1. Nashville Predators
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. New York Islanders
6. St. Louis Blues
7. Montreal Canadians
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
9. Washington Capitals
10. New York Rangers.
11. Detroit Red Wings
12. LA Kings
13. Boston Bruins
14. Winnipeg Jets
15. San Jose Sharks
16. Vancouver Canucks
17. Florida Panthers
18. Toronto Maple Leafs
19. Calgary Flames
20. Dallas Stars
21. Minnesota Wild
22. Colorado Avalanche
23. Ottawa Senators
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
25. Philadelphia Flyers
26. Arizona Coyotes
27. New Jersey Devils
28. Carolina Hurricanes
29. Buffalo Sabres
30. Edmonton Oilers

Suter Gets Two Games

The Department of Player Safety has made the ruling that Minnesota Wild defenseman, Ryan Suter, will be given a two game suspension for his hit to the head on Penguins player Steve Downie.

The hit would happen in the second period of Tuesday night's contest when Suter and Downie were battling for a puck out front of the net. Suter's elbow would then come up and hit Downie in the face. For video on this, scroll down some on the blog, there is a video and a gif posted.

This is the first offense for Suter and will miss the game tomorrow night in Buffalo and Saturday's Hockey Day Minnesota celebration at Xcel Energy Center against the Arizona Coyotes. I guess when it rains, it pours for the Minnesota Wild. I think the team has finally hit its rock bottom.

(Video and Vine) Zedeno Chara Pops Cedric Paquette and J.T. Brown Attacks David Krejci

I am not sure what Tampa Bay Lightning forward  Cedric Paquette is attempting to accomplish. Seriously, Zedeno Chara is one of the toughest players in the NHL and talk about poking the bear. Then Paquette goes after Chara again at the end of the game.

Also, when did former UMD Bulldog J.T. Brown become a fourth line hack? s/t to Jack Edwards after Brown attacked Krejci for no apparent reason. Brown is very lucky that Milan Lucic was held up by one of his Lightning teammates.

04:03 BOS Zdeno Chara served by Reilly Smith Boarding - 2 min against Matthew Carle
04:03 BOS Zdeno Chara served by Reilly Smith Roughing - 2 min against Cedric Paquette
04:03 BOS Zdeno Chara Roughing - 2 min against Cedric Paquette
04:03 TBL Cedric Paquette Roughing - 2 min against Zdeno Chara
09:34 TBL J.T. Brown served by Jonathan Drouin Roughing - 2 min against David Krejci
09:34 TBL J.T. Brown Roughing - 2 min against David Krejci
09:34 BOS David Krejci Roughing - 2 min against J.T. Brown

Punch & run. https://t.co/3cTkNyHA8P
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 14, 2015

(Video & Vine) Wild Defenseman Ryan Suter Elbows Pengiuns Forward Steve Downie

There used to be a theory that if a star player like Ryan Suter committed an egregious act on the ice against a player with a reputation like Steve Downie, he wouldn’t get suspended.

I believe this dirty, questionable hit is going to test that theory. I don’t like optics of this hit, either. I predict that this hit should get a look from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. Downie was also hurt on the play. I am a Wild fan, but I can't defend this hit. Do you think this hit deserves a suspension? Thoughts?

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

UND drops to third in this week's USCHO poll. Also, MSU-M makes the top spot in the poll for the first time in their club's history. UMD fans are going to have to wait for another week to be the #1 team in the nation.

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

January 12, 2015

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Minnesota State	(20)	16- 4-1	937	4
2	Boston University	(12)	12- 3-4	916	2
3	North Dakota	( 9)	14- 5-2	907	1
4	Harvard	( 5)	10- 2-2	832	3
5	Minnesota-Duluth	( 4)	13- 7-0	807	7
6	Massachusetts-Lowell		14- 4-3	668	6
7	Bowling Green		13- 3-4	642	11
8	Nebraska-Omaha		14- 5-3	639	13
9	Miami		14- 8-0	602	5
10	Vermont		15- 5-1	575	12
11	Michigan Tech		15- 6-1	496	8
12	Quinnipiac		15- 6-1	400	15
13	Denver		11- 7-1	333	10
14	Providence		14- 7-1	330	14
15	Colgate		13- 6-1	312	17
16	Minnesota		10- 7-1	311	9
17	Boston College		12- 7-2	253	16
18	Yale		9- 4-2	203	19
19	Michigan		12- 7-0	137	NR
20	Merrimack		11- 6-2	132	18
Others receiving votes: Robert Morris 33, Northern Michigan 15, St. Cloud State 7, Union 7, Mercyhurst 2, Penn State 2, Bentley 1, Western Michigan 1.

WHKY: North Dakota splits with Syracuse

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- North Dakota came out of winter break in non-convference action against Syracuse University. By the final buzzer on Sunday afternoon UND earned a split on the weekend.

It took the first 20 minutes of Saturdays's game for North Dakota to work out the rust from break. With tired 'Cuse players on the ice, Gracen Hirshy scored the first goal of the game.

During the second period UND was able to hold the Orange to four shots on goal. North Dakota maintained the lead and dictate the majority of play for the remainder of the game.

Former Warroad Warriors teammates Layla Marvin and Kayla Gardner both found the scoresheet. This included a two-goal game for Marvin who potted an empty net goal with under a minute remaining in the game.

North Dakota got off to a strong start on Sunday, but ended the first period with a one-goal deficit when The Orange scored on the power play at the 6:42 mark. There were no shortage of chances in the form of odd-player rushes and open nets, but UND was never able to capitalize.

The lone goal for North Dakota came after they were able to tire Syracuse after a power play in the second. As time dwindled on the clock during the third period the pressure mounted. "Kids started gripping their sticks and it was brutal," head coach Brian Idalski said.

North Dakota will resume WCHA conference play when they meet with the WCHA third-ranked, Ohio State Buckeyes this coming weekend. OSU left the weekend with a sweep over the St. Cloud State Huskies.

(Video) Highlights of UND vs. UMD

As promised, the video highlights of game two between UND vs. UMD game. I think the boys in stripes has a rough weekend, all weekend long. Also, I included the first penalty of the game. Mark MacMillan was hit with a shoulder/elbow in the head by UMD defensmen Andy Welinskito, this should have been a five-minute major.

Some had made the argument that Steph Pattyn should have been tossed from the game. The Duluth player definitely embellished the call. It was a good weekend of hockey. Feel free to chime in with your opinion.

NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Brendan O'Donnell (6) (Keaton Thompson/4, Andrew Panzarella/2) 13:25
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 LL Mark MacMillan (9) (Paul LaDue/7, Zane McIntyre/1) 6:11
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 GW Brendan O'Donnell (7) (Connor Gaarder/5) 10:19
NDK 4 - 1 6x6 Drake Caggiula (9) (Nick Schmaltz/13, Jordan Schmaltz/13) 12:47
NDK 5 - 2 6x6 HT Brendan O'Donnell (8) (Luke Johnson/6) 9:16

Hockey Humor: Caption This :)

I couldn't resist this one. Caption this picture.

Congrats to Red Berenson for Winning His 800th Game

s/t to Aaron Ward of TSN. Regardless if you like the Michigan Wolverines or not, this is quite an accomplishment. Kind of ironic that his 800th win is against the Minnesota Gophers.

UND Adds Two More Recruits

UND has added two more recruits. Today, UND recieved verbal commitments from Jackson Keane Manitoba, Canada and Joel Janatuinen of Finland. One has to wonder if Michelle Karvinen had anything to do with Janatuinen signing here?

Proud and excited to announce my commitment to the University of North Dakota. Thank you to everyone who have helped me on the way. #gosioux
— Joel Janatuinen (@JoelJanatuinen) January 10, 2015

Jackson Keane is the son of former NHLer Mike Keane.

Happy to announce my commitment to the University of North Dakota! Thanks to everyone who has helped me get here. @UNDmhockey #GoSioux
— Jackson Keane (@Jacksonkeane12) January 10, 2015

Related articles

• Minnesota-Duluth Bites North Dakota in Game One(insidehockey.com)

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(Video) UND'S Steph Pattyn drops Derik Johnson

This play won't make the highlights on Fox Sports 1. You can bet on that. Both players were assessed 14 minutes in penalties for their efforts.

MND-4 Derik Johnson (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 10:31
MND-5 Derik Johnson (2-Embellishment) 10:31
MND-6 Derik Johnson (10-Misconduct) 10:31
NDK-4 Stephane Pattyn (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 10:31
NDK-5 Stephane Pattyn (2-Roughing) 10:31
NDK-6 Stephane Pattyn (10-Misconduct) 10:31

@goon48 so a guy punches you and you should stay on your feet. Wow. Great reffing. A punch is a auto 5
— DHG (@UmdPenaltyBox) January 11, 2015

@goon48 He should receive a suspension for fighting if or when it's reviewed. He threw a legit haymaker
— Adam (@adampiet) January 11, 2015