Jets Dustin Byfuglien to Have Hearing for Dirty Cross-Check on J.T. Miller

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety for his dirty cross-check on the Rangers J.T. Miller. There was no penalty called on the play.

First, there's no way you can defend a dirty hit like this. There are players that play hard-nosed hockey, but this is down right bush-league. Byfuglien's hearing in a phone hearing, so his suspension won't be more than five games.

Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien will have a hearing tomorrow for cross-checking NY Rangers forward J.T. Miller.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 1, 2015

#NYR HC Alain Vigneault: “Violent,deliberate. Could have broken his neck. It was one of the most vicious cross-checks I've seen this year."
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) April 1, 2015

Former RedHawk Austin Czarnik signs with the Boston Bruins.

And now there will be two former Miami RedHawks on the Boston Bruins hockey team. Austin Czarnik joins former RedHawk Reilly Smith.

Congratulations to captain @ACzarnik7 on signing with the @NHLBruins! Thank you for 4 great years! #Brotherhood pic.twitter.com/j7X6tjkK2p
— The Brotherhood (@MiamiOH_Hockey) March 31, 2015

Excited to be a part of the Boston Bruins organization! Thank you @MiamiOH_Hockey and @MiamiUniversity for the best 4 years of my life!
— Austin Czarnik (@ACzarnik7) March 31, 2015

UND Gets a Commitment from Grant Mismash

Another great pickup for the University of North Dakota on the recruiting front. Today, Grant Mismash from Shattuck St. Mary's committed to the University of North Dakota. Here's the link to his Elite Prospects page.

Proud to announce my commitment to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota. Thank you to all my friends and family #Nodak #UND
— Grant Mismash (@GMISH16) March 31, 2015

Scouting the Terriers: BU vs. Yale

I thought I would start this off early. UND's opponent in the Frozen Four the Boston University Terriers. They sport a lineup that includes Jack Eichel (24g-43g—67pts), Evan Rodrigues (21g-40a—61pts), Danny O’Regan (22g-26a—48pts). Here's two of the goals from BU's semifinal against Yale.

Two Games, Two Majors, Joey LaLeggia & Brandon Thompson Get Tossed

For Denver defenseman Joey LaLeggia the box score will read.

DEN-3 Joey LaLeggia (5-Contact to the Head) (Served by Matt Marcinew) PRV 2x4 10:37
DEN-4 Joey LaLeggia (10-Disqualification).

For Brandon Thompson the box score will read.

RIT 05:43 Brandon Thompson: Checking From Behind
RIT 05:43 Brandon Thompson: Game Misconduct

After watching the video, what do you think?

(Video) West Region Highlights: UND vs. QU & SCSU

I hope this video isn't too bad. My DVR didn't get all of the goals from Friday's game against QU. The started a little late.

I added a few other things to the video as well. There's the Andrew Panzarella interview. If you have any more video requests feel free to give me a hollar and I will see if I can get them up.

Stick tap to the Bobcats and Huskies they gave UND two great games.

Oh yea you like daaaatttt!!! Thank you to the fans who made this weekend so special #sioux #yoiiiii #ncaahockey

A photo posted by Zane McIntyre (@zanoinsano_31) on Mar 29, 2015 at 1:45pm PDT

(Vine) Zane McIntyre's Shot on Goal

Last night, Zane McIntyre reminded me of former New Jersey Devils goalie Marty Brodeur with his attempt on net. The shot was stopped with a very high stick.

Quinnipiac's Brayden Sherbinin Hit on UND's Keaton Thompson

Here's the video for Quinnipiac's Brayden Sherbinin hit on Keaton Thompson. Sherbinin received a major for checking from behind. You can make your own decision on the hit.

QU vs. UND, Lines

As you can see, Quinnipiac Bobcats forward Sam Anas is playing. I would imagine that the UND players will hit him any chance they get. Just like last Saturday, Wade Murphy is back in. Last weekend, I thought he played pretty good. Only problem he hasn't scored a goal in two seasons of hockey.

(Video) Awesome Save by Phillips on Benik

Check out this save.

Heck of a save by @mtuhky Philips to deny the 2 on 1 at the end of the 1st period. #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/huhktIAqdV
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 27, 2015

Game Day A few Things

Electronic billboard greets @UNDmhockey fans driving south into #Fargo. pic.twitter.com/fe0R9gZPrq
— Kirsten Stromsodt (@AgweekNews) March 27, 2015

The NCAA playoffs start today. You could say, today, is the first day of the rest of your season. Lose and your team goes home. Win and you move on. Only one team in the NCAA playoffs is going to win their last game. A reporter from Fox asked Hakstol about the playoffs and this is what the head coach had to say.

“You said it. It’s one-and-done," Hakstol said. "Winner moves on, loser does not.”

FRIDAY vs. QUINNIPIAC TV: ESPNU, DirecTV 208, DISH Network 141, TSN3 WEB/MOBILE: WatchESPN, TSN Go RADIO: UND Sports Radio Network
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 27, 2015

Believe in the process, believe in the people. Believe. #UNDproud pic.twitter.com/jaLeDBLcYG
— Jayson Hajdu (@UNDSID) March 27, 2015

With Video - UND HOCKEY: Ready or not, NCAAs are here for UND: http://t.co/H6HhoD1FeM pic.twitter.com/mQm6d2h3OI
— Grand Forks Herald (@gfherald) March 27, 2015

UND Looks to Knockout Bobcats http://t.co/8bCb85WMwl
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) March 27, 2015

A Few Quotes from the West Regional Media Day http://t.co/7DeOMoNX2e pic.twitter.com/ydojeJI4BK
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) March 27, 2015

Montgomery, 'the Quality of the League; It's High-End' http://t.co/mBPRRcE3MM @theNCHC
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) March 26, 2015

@theNCHC Hockey: Super Conference or down Year? http://t.co/1s4EM462oB #THW http://t.co/2CHG9xTPra
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) March 26, 2015

Wall Street Journal: North Dakota Needs a Nickname

 like many UND fans know that the nickname is gone and never coming back. I also didn't know that UND could become the first Division I team to win a title without a nickname.

Matthew Futterman, Wall Street Journal -- In 2012, North Dakota dropped its old nickname, the Fighting Sioux, after a long legislative and legal battle. The NCAA had threatened to not allow North Dakota to host postseason games if it continued to use the name and display its Native American head logo. In a statewide referendum, 67% of voters supported getting rid of them.

But in the process, a cooling-off period was imposed until 2015 before the school could pick a new name. So as North Dakota begins play Friday in the 16-team hockey tournament—it is hosting the West regional in Fargo, about 80 miles from its Grand Forks campus—there is another crucial piece of business at hand: replacing the beloved Fighting Sioux name.

“It is a very emotional issue,” said Lowell Schweigert, a North Dakota alumnus and booster who was a quarterback and a pitcher for the Fighting Sioux in the 1970s.

n January, Schweigert began serving on a committee charged with facilitating the selection of a new nickname this year. The committee only came into being as the end of the cooling-off period loomed. “Our charge now is to have something done by May,” said Schweigert, a financial consultant in Grand Forks. “That is a pretty ambitious goal.”

Relief is on the way. On Wednesday, the committee on the new nickname announced it will accept suggestions from the public through April. Suggestions must be 25 characters or less. The committee will choose three finalists for a public vote as soon as May.

Brock Boeser Is in Good Company

.@BBoeser16 joins 7 other @BlckHawksHockey players in #USHL Tier 1 era to score 30 goals http://t.co/c8CelDTTEY pic.twitter.com/VVKpnDX4Lh
— USHL (@USHL) March 25, 2015

As you can see by the tweet above, UND recruit Brock Boeser is in good company.

(Video) Dion Phaneuf and Kyle Brodziak Fight

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Minnesota Wild forward Kyle Brodziak drop the mitts. I would say that this was a good fight. I am actually surprised that Phaneuf fought.

NCAA Brackets are Set

The Gophers and the Bulldogs face off in the North East Regional.

For those that are wondering, UND 7:00 PM on ESPNU. Some fans are saying that UND has the easiest draw, but there are no easy draws this time of year.

The NCAA Bracket Projections

This is the bracket projection from College Hockey News.

Midwest Region, South Bend, Ind.
1. Minnesota State vs. 16. RIT
8. UNO vs. 10. Minnesota

West Region, Fargo, N.D.
2. North Dakota vs. 15. Providence
7. Michigan Tech vs. 12. St. Cloud State

Northeast Region, Manchester, N.H.
3. Boston University vs. 14. Quinnipiac
6. Duluth vs. 11. Boston College

East Region, Providence, R.I.
4. Miami vs. 13. Yale
5. Denver vs. 9. Harvard

Here's what SBN College Hockey is projecting.

Northeast Regional
Verizon Center
Manchester, NH
1. Miami
2. Denver
3. St. Cloud State
4. Yale

West Regional
Scheels Arena
Fargo, ND
1. North Dakota
2. Michigan Tech
3. Minnesota
4. Providence

Midwest Regional
Compton Arena
South Bend, Ind.
1. Minnesota State
2. Nebraska-Omaha
3. Harvard
4. RIT

East Regional
Dunkin Donuts Center
Providence, RI
1. Boston University
2. Minnesota Duluth
3. Boston College
4. Quinnipiac

Shot Charts After Two Periods

The shot charts after two period. Most of UND shots were from the perimeter. Not a lot of in the slot shots. s/t Stats on Crack.

UND vs. DU, Third Place Game

For UND, Johnny Simonson is out, Wade Murphy is in. Refs: Joe Sullivan and Tom Sterns. Linesmen: Sterling Egan, Justin Hills.

A Look at the Pairwise with One Game Left

According to Brad Schlossman, he seems to think that with the win, UMN will be heading to Fargo, ND. With the win, SCSU is in the tourney. UND is now the number two team in the Pairwise.

SCSU vs. UND Semifinal Lines

A couple of big lineup subtractions for the SCSU Huskies. Out for the game is forward Kalle Kossila and defenseman Andrew Prochno.