UND Second in this Week's USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

February 08, 2016

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Quinnipiac	(37)	21- 1-6	984	1
2	North Dakota	(12)	22- 3-3	953	2
3	Boston College	( 1)	19- 4-4	890	4
4	St. Cloud State		23- 6-1	851	3
5	Providence		19- 5-4	793	6
6	Michigan		17- 4-4	748	5
7	Boston University		16- 7-4	685	9
8	Notre Dame		16- 5-7	610	10
9	Harvard		13- 6-3	591	7
10	Yale		14- 5-4	574	11
11	Massachusetts-Lowell		17- 6-5	511	8
12	Nebraska-Omaha		16- 9-1	436	12
13	Denver		13- 8-5	418	13
14	Michigan Tech		16- 7-5	336	15
15	Cornell		12- 7-4	256	17
16	Penn State		17- 8-3	241	16
17	Minnesota State		15-10-5	144	18
18	Rensselaer		14-10-6	123	14
19	Bowling Green		16- 9-6	119	19
20	Clarkson		15-10-3	67	NR
Others receiving votes: Robert Morris 64, Dartmouth 52, St. Lawrence 22, Minnesota-Duluth 14, Minnesota 6, Miami 4, Union 4, Ferris State 3, Air Force 1.

The University of North Dakota remains in second in this week’s USCHO poll. UND coming off a bye week remained in the third of the pairwise rankings. 

Let’s take a look at the NCHC. St. Cloud State dropped a spot in the USCHO rankings, but remained in second place of the more important Pairwise Rankings. Rough patch aside, UNO is 12th in the USCHO poll, but in 9th place of the Pairwise rankings. If the NCAA playoffs started today, UNO would be a number three seed, yet will probably have to travel in the first round of the NCHC playoffs. Denver is in 13th place in the USCHO poll but is in 12th of the Pairwise Rankings.

Bye Week: Gone Fishing

This weekend, the UND hockey team is off and I am heading north. I am going fishing in Lake Winnipeg with my buddy Mike. I will leave you my lastest.

UND Hockey: Team-First Mentality - https://t.co/67LDPTflAB #hockey #THW pic.twitter.com/6MJt8WxA2y

— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) February 5, 2016

PSU's Andrew Sturtz Suspended one Game

The Big Ten has suspended PSU's Andrew Sturtz one-game for this nasty hit this on Michigan Wolverine forward Tyler Motte (video above).

For his efforts, Sturtz was given a five-minute major penalty for interference and a two-minute minor for roughing.  Sturtz hit Motte long after the puck was gone. (box score).

First, I believe the Big Ten blew it by not giving Sturtz a longer suspension. This hit eems worthy of a two-game suspension. In my opinion, this is a predatory hit and the kind of hit that hockey is trying eliminate from the game hockey.

If you watch the video, You will notice that Sturtz leaves his feet to make contact with Motte, you can't do that. The pucks is long gone when Sturtz makes contact with Motte. Obviously, if you're from PSU, you might see the hit differently.

You may also disagree with what PSU's head coach Guy Gadowsky has to say about the hit.

Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky addressed the suspension during his weekly media interviews but noted that while the suspension was the correct application of the rules that the severity of the hit was unintentional.(Ben Jones, State College)

I am not sure how you can say that the severity of the hit was unintentional. This is the end of a game when the score is out of reach. You have a player taking a run at a star player, maybe to send a message. I think I can see the intent.  Right call or not? Should the suspension be longer?

SME Inc. it Is

The University of North Dakota has picked SME Inc. to design the Fighting Hawks Logo. SME Inc. is a company out of New York City. According to SEM's web page, they've worked with the Minnesota Wild.

Personally, I don't care who designs the Fighting Hawks logo. That being said, this very crucial time in the nickname transition. I am concerned about the Fighting Hawks logo and what it will look like.

The university’s Graphic Identity RFP Evaluation and Recommendation Team chose New York-based SME Inc. Tuesday after three firms made their pitch to design the logo. Pending final approval from UND interim President Ed Schafer, the company is expected to design the logo by this summer so the school can implement it in the fall.

“It’s an important next step, and it’s been a short but very engaged process,” said UND Athletic Director Brian Faison, who served as a co-chairman for the committee. “It’s nice to get to this point, absolutely.”

NHL Throws Book at Dennis Wideman

The NHL has thrown the book at Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman. Seriously, Wideman was given a 20-game suspension for running over NHL linesman Don Henderson. Wideman said this of the hit on Henderson.

"At the last second, I looked up and saw [Henderson] and couldn't avoid it, Wideman said. "I went up to Donnie and apologized to him on the ice," he said after the game. "I didn't see him. I didn't know where to go and how to get out of the way."
I still wonder if Wideman wasn't dazed from the hit he took before the incident with Henderson. I am fine with the length of the suspension, I think it sends a clear message. However, the next player that abuses an NHL official also need to have the book thrown at them.

Beanpot 2016: BU no Goal (Video)

The on-ice official's call was a good goal. After further video review, the play was reversed. No goal! I think the Hockey East officials should be applauded for their efforts today. They got the calls right. Of course, some of the teams fans might not agree.

O'Regan tried to push the puck over the line with his hand twice. Would have been tipped in by an NU stick, but never crossed. #Beanpot

— Joshua Kummins (@JoshuaKummins) February 2, 2016

Beanpot 2016: Harvard's Adam Baughman Scores (Long Review)

In the opening game of the 2016 Beanpot, the Harvard Crimson scored their second goal of the game on their second shot of the game.

Cue the nice story alert: scoring for the Crimson, Freshman defenseman, Adam Baughman who scored his first collegiate goal in his second career game. Baughman's goal would give the Crimson a 2-1 lead.

Once again, there was a long review, but it appears that the on-ice officials made the right call. Of course, B.C. fans will disagree. Your thoughts?

Thatcher Demko lost his stick after Jimmy Vesey slid into him. Would be goalie interference (I'd assume) if overturned. #Beanpot

— Joshua Kummins (@JoshuaKummins) February 1, 2016

Call on the ice stands good goal -- Harvard 2 goals on 2 shots #Beanpot

— Rhonda R. McClure (@HockeyMaven1917) February 1, 2016

College Hockey in MSG

As reported by USCHO in December, the Big Ten Hockey conference will be playing games at Madison Square Garden.

I know, I know, a funny comment popped in my head, but I will save it for later. Last Saturday, Penn State and Michigan played in front of 13,479 fans.


Next December during the 2016-17 season, North Dakota and Boston College will play at Madison Square Garden. I've talked to a few people that have already made their travel plans. It will be interesting to see how many UND fans show up for that one.

With all of these games being scheduled for the garden. My question is, why have a Frozen Four at  Madison Square Garden?

USCHO.COM -- The Big Ten has rounded out its college hockey games at New York’s Madison Square Garden through 2018 as part of its Super Saturday series.

Wisconsin will play Ohio State on Jan. 28, 2017, while Minnesota will play Michigan State on Jan. 20, 2018.

Michigan and Penn State are set to start the Super Saturday — College Hoops & Hockey series this Saturday. (USCHO.COM)

I am kind of warming to the idea.

UND Remains 2nd in USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

February 01, 2016

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Quinnipiac	(35)	20- 1-5	983	1
2	North Dakota	( 9)	22- 3-3	944	2
3	St. Cloud State	( 5)	22- 5-1	895	3
4	Boston College	( 1)	17- 4-4	844	5
5	Michigan		16- 3-4	796	6
6	Providence		17- 5-4	738	4
7	Harvard		12- 4-3	703	7
8	Massachusetts-Lowell		17- 5-4	652	8
9	Boston University		14- 7-4	609	9
10	Notre Dame		14- 5-7	522	10
11	Yale		12- 5-4	502	11
12	Nebraska-Omaha		16- 9-1	432	12
13	Denver		13- 8-5	413	13
14	Rensselaer		14- 8-6	291	16
15	Michigan Tech		14- 7-5	279	17
16	Penn State		16- 7-3	226	15
17	Cornell		11- 7-3	215	14
18	Minnesota State		14- 9-5	176	19
19	Bowling Green		15- 8-6	115	18
20	Dartmouth		11- 9-1	71	NR
Others receiving votes: Robert Morris 46, St. Lawrence 23, Minnesota 7, Northeastern 6, Union 4, Miami 3, Minnesota-Duluth 3, Clarkson 1, Ferris State 1.

Frankly, there aren't any surprises in this week’s USCHO Poll. As I have said in the past, the USCHO Poll is fun to discuss. Also, the only poll that really matters is the one that is announced on Sunday in March after the Conference Championships are over. For the most part, the top six of the USCHO Poll breaks down much like the Pairwise Rankings. There are a few differences.

Taking a look at the USCHO Poll, Quinnipiac remains in first place. No major shock there. The F’NHawks remained in second place this week. The Sterns Community College Huskies are ranked third. Rounding out the top five, the Boston College Eagles are again fourth. Apparently, the voters think that the Michigan Wolverines are worthy of the fifth place position. I think it would be hard to gauge how good Michigan actually is because their conference has been very, very weak this season.

Defending champ Providence College has dropped from fourth to sixth place.