Goon's World

UND stops UMD 3-1

2012-02-11T00:16:00.006-07:00

This is the best that I have seen UND Fighting Sioux hockey team play all season long. True to form they're already seem to be in play off mode. They don't have a lot of room for error but they will be in the tourney if they keep winning games.

The Fighting Sioux didn't give the Bulldogs a lot of great looks and this is how they have to continue to play like, if they want to be successful. It's starts in the defensive zone and it's about grinding out wins, they don't have the fire power to just skate past people but they do have a great back end.

That being said, I think everyone seems to be buying into their roles and the Fighting Sioux are becoming very hard team to play hockey against. That is a trade mark of a Dave Hakstol team. I like the fact that this is one of the more disciplined Fighting Sioux hockey teams that I have seen in some time.

I don’t think anyone is going to want to draw the Fighting Sioux in the WCHA Playoffs and they would be a tough draw in the NCAA playoffs as well.

I thought that UND played good in all three zones of the ice tonight and didn't give the UMD forwards much time and space at all. The Fighting Sioux also didn’t allow the UMD forwards to get behind them very often and when they did the defense was able to recover.

UND was in the shooting lanes and took away the second and third opportunities in front of their net all night long.

One of the things that I thought was a positive was that junior goaltender Aaron Dell was unbelievable all night long and he looks like the goaltender that was an All-American last season.

How good has Dell been against UMD Bulldogs the last two games he has played against them? Dell has stoped 61/62 shots he has faced. Actually, Dell was a 1 minute, 6 seconds away from getting back to back shutouts when J.T. Brown scored the Bulldogs only goal.

So the patented Hakstol surge is upon us, the Fighting Sioux are 12-3-1 the past 16 games. UND is 2-0 against UMD in their new arena and has outscored them 8-1 through six periods of hockey. UND holds a 17-6-2 record their last 25 games against UMD.

Kyle Rau hit on Jason Zucker...

2012-02-10T23:24:00.001-07:00

Minnesota's Kyle Rau was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for his hit on Denver Pioneers forward Jason Zucker, it's a high hit and the kind we are trying to elliminate from all levels of hockey. Is this hit worthy of a suspension? I don't think so. The video replay isn't that good, so it's hard to tell if Rau hit Zucker with an elbow...

So who is bluffing?

2012-02-09T23:28:00.002-07:00

Image via WikipediaHere is a good break down on the latest from the Big Sky Conference and their concerns about UND and the school retaining the Fighting Sioux Nickname by Tom Miller of the Grand Forks Herald.

Faison also addressed the idea from some nickname supporters that the school’s administration has been misleading in the league affiliation process.

“The Big Sky is a legit concern,” he said. “Whether people want to believe it or not, I can’t help that. I know it. I’ve been in this business 35-plus years, and I’m telling you, we have a problem. And the answers to solve that problem if it goes down are not there. We can’t exist as a Division I independent.

“As far as conspiracy concerns, I leave that with the JFK folks. It’s reality that we are where we are. It’s reality that I’ve talked to Joel Maturi (Minnesota athletic director) and Sean Frazier (Wisconsin deputy athletic director) and we’ve been working on schedules for 2013-14, but that stops because of the nickname and logo. They can’t play us. That’s reality. That’s nothing I’ve made up. That’s been on the books for eight years. We lost a home and home with the University of Iowa in women’s basketball — the opportunity to host a Big Ten team here. This isn’t fiction. This is all real, and we have to deal with reality. That’s my job.”

Faison stressed the importance of competing against men’s hockey rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“I’ve heard from some fans that say it doesn’t matter if we can’t schedule Minnesota,” Faison said. “I look at them incredulously (and say), ‘Really?’ Of course it matters.” [Grand Forks Herald]

The question is who do you want to believe? Personally, call me crazy if you want, but I don't think the Big Sky Conference is bluffing this time, not like some of the pundits claim they are. My first question, how the hell do they know if the Big Sky is bluffing or not? Have they interviewed the presidents of the Big Sky Conference? I would be willing to bet that they haven't.

Time will tell I guess and I do not want to see the UND athletic department get hurt and suffer. I am alumnus of UND and I have two degrees from this University. I love the Fighting Sioux nickname but the time to fight the NCAA was 2-3 years ago. Where the heck were these people then? Where was Al Carlson back then? Carlson was sitting on his hands doing nothing.

The first team that is going to suffer the wrath of the NCAA is the Women's Hockey team if they end up in the top four. The first round of the NCAA tourney is held at the home arena of the higher seed. UND is close to being in the top four. They win a few more games and you never know where they could end up, they could be right there.

But who cares right?

How about the fans, players and family members that follow the UND Women's team.

I have to say that I don't want to watch UND play some non nondescript NAIA or Division II school like Sioux Falls College, Minnesota State University, Moorhead or Minnesota Crookston in football, those match-ups don't excite me, when I know we could be watching Eastern Washtington, the University of Montana and or Montana State in football.

Through These Doors Episode 14

2012-02-09T22:07:00.001-07:00

Another awesome job by the guys at UNDsports.com

Bruins Tim Thomas uses facebook to communicate views

2012-02-09T20:47:00.001-07:00

I think it's funny that some in the Boston sports media want to make a big story about a post that Tim Thomas posted on his personal Facebook page. Sure he's an athlete in the public eye, but he's also an American citizen whose freedom of speech is protected under the first amendment.

If Thomas doesn't want to answer the questions the media people ask him, so be it. I guess the Joe Haggerty's of the world don't like it, but tough.

Personally, I don't have a problem with him making these types of comments in his spare time on his personal Facebook page. Lets just say that there are way more comments in favor of Tim's comments than there are against.

I guess Joe Haggerty doesn't seem to think that Tim Thomas is giving him enough time to answer his questions.

Chris Donovan vs. Evan Trupp

2012-02-09T19:04:00.002-07:00

Former Fighting Sioux forward Evan Trupp got into a fight with Utah Grizzlies forward Chris Donovan... I didn't take long to figure out why Trupp got into a fight with Donovan, if you look closely you will see that Donovan slew foots Trupp.

Trupp's not know for his fisticuffs, did pretty well in the fight and his team the Bakersfield Condors beat the Utah Grizzlies 4-0 in the game as well.

In case anyone is wondering Donovan played his college hockey at North Eastern University.

Milan Lucic works Patrick Kaleta like a speed bag

2012-02-09T18:28:00.001-07:00

Nothing makes me happier than watching Boston Bruins tough Milan Lucic guy work over a rat like Patrick Kaleta.

Kaleta is one of those players that thinks he is pretty tough when he is out on the taking runs at other teams skilled players. I am actually surprised that Kaleta fought a guy like Milan Lucic.

At the end of the night Kaleta catches the ire of Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. McQuaid decided he had seen enough of Kaleta's on ice antics and absolutely clobbers the Sabres rat in the head with a monstrous right hand.

Goon's Weekly Picks 2/10 - 2/11

2012-02-09T17:52:00.006-07:00

Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech 7:07 p.m. ET (Winter Carnival)

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-CBSCS) DirecTV - 613

Colorado College at Bemidji State 7:37 p.m. CT (TV-LPT)

Minnesota at Denver 8:07 p.m. MT
Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Saturday 02/11/12

Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech 5:07 p.m. ET (Winter Carnival)

Colorado College at Bemidji State 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-LPT)

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-My9)

Minnesota at Denver 7:07 p.m. MT (TV-Root,FSn)

Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech – Split

Colorado College at Bemidji State – Split

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth – Split

Minnesota at Denver – UMN Sweep

Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage – UAA Sweep

Last Week 5-5 Record for the season 117-68

CBS Sports Network – UND @ UMD

2012-02-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

College hockey returns to CBS Sports Network on Friday, Feb. 10 (8:00 PM, ET) as No. 16-ranked North Dakota visits No. 3-ranked Minnesota Duluth. Ben Holden and Dave Starman handle the call, along with reporter Shireen Saski.

The Network provides live pre-game coverage from AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. to preview the night’s action and discuss college hockey news from around the country.

During the game, fans can join the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #CBSHockey. This week’s Twitter Question is: What changes would you make to hockey’s NCAA Tournament?

For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

2012-02-09T13:41:00.003-07:00

What a difference a week makes. The standing show that only 4 points separate 3rd through 8th places. That is a lot of teams in the fight for home ice in the first round, which is just a month away now.

WCHA STANDINGS

Team………………………W-L-T………Points
1. Minnesota………………15-5-0…..……30
2. Minnesota-Duluth……..12-5-3….…….27
3. Colorado College ……..12-7-3………..25
4. Denver…………..………10-6-4………..23
5. North Dakota……….…...11-9-0….…….22
5. Michigan Tech………….10-8-2………..22
5. Nebraska-Omaha…….…9-7-4………..22
8. St. Cloud St……………. 9-10-3……….21
9. Bemidji State….…………7-10-3…….…17
10. Wisconsin……………..7-13-2…..…….16
11. Minnesota State………6-15-1…………13
12. Alaska-Anchorage…...4-17-1…………9

WCHA Games

#10 Colorado College @ Bemidji State
Last weekend Tigers took 3-points from the Pioneers in a home-and-home series and the Beavers took 3-points from the UNO Mavericks in Omaha.

The Tigers vaulted over their rivals from Denver in the standings. CC might be riding high after taking care of business last weekend, but they better not be looking past the Beavers. BSU have been good at home in the Sanford Center, boasting a 9-4-1 record in Bemidji. SPLIT

Nebraska-Omaha @ Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Mavericks got a point at home against the Beavers and the Huskies split with the MSUM Mavericks in Mankato.

These games will be like a playoff series, since they are in a three way tie for the last home ice spots. A pair of losses now for either one can now mean the difference in playing in front of their fans in March or going on the road. The Mavericks are 5-6-2 away from Omaha and the Huskies are 8-4-1 in Houghton this season. The Huskies have been scoring at a 4.7gpg pace since January 1st. But when you get to this time of the season and teams are desperate for points, things happen. I’m going with the home team. HUSKIES SWEEP

Minnesota State @ Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend the Mavericks split with the MTU Huskies in Mankato and the Seawolves split with the Bulldogs in Anchorage.

If the Mavericks sweep this series they pretty much lock the Seawolves into last place. The flip side is if the Seawolves sweep they would be tied with MSUM for 11th place. The Seawolves should have the advantage, being at home last weekend, and MSUM having to travel, way up north. SEAWOLVES SWEEP

#2 Minnesota @ #14 Denver
Last weekend the Gophers were on a bye weekend and the Pioneers salvaged a point against their arch-rivals, the CC Tigers, in the home/away series.
Before last weekend the Pioneers still had sight of first place, now they need to fight to keep in the top half of the league, my how things can change in one weekend. The Pioneers can reel in the Gophers with a pair of wins this weekend. The Pioneers had been on a five game winning streak until last weekend. The Gophers come in winning their last 3 games and 4 out of their last 5. The Gophers offensive has not been putting up many goals as of late, so if the Pioneers can get some good goaltending and a few breaks they can get some points this weekend. SPLIT

#16 North Dakota @ #2 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend Bulldogs split with the Seawolves in Anchorage and North Dakota had bye weekend to rest.

The Bulldogs have struggle their last four games, and have slide out of first place in the WCHA. North Dakota has yet to go on their second half run that has been the norm for them the past seven years under Hakstol. UND needs points this weekend if they want to keep hold of the top half and try and secure home ice. The Bulldogs are pretty much assured of home ice at this point (barring a complete meltdown), but I’m sure they want the McNaughton Cup. SPLIT

BYE WEEK
St. Cloud State
Wisconsin

UND vs. UMD series notes

2012-02-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux travel to Duluth Minnesota to play the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at Amsoil Arena February 10-11, 2012.

Game Time: 7:07 pm both nights.

Records and Rankings: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (15-10-2 overall, 11-9-0 WCHA); The Fighting Sioux are ranked 16^th in the USCHO poll and 15^th in the USA Today Poll. North Dakota was off last weekend. Official Release.

The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (18-6-4, 12-5-3 WCHA) split their last series with the UAA Seawolves in Anchorage Alaska (4-1 W, 2-3 L). The Bulldogs are ranked 3^rd in the USCHO and 3^rd in the USA Today Polls. Official Release

Series History: The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux are 17-6-2 in the last 25 games against the Bulldogs. UND also leads the all-time series between the two teams with 134-74-8 (.639), The Fighting Sioux have a 54-38-5 (.582) record in Duluth.

Radio: UMD 94X (94.1/104.3 FM)UMD’s Bruce Ciskie with the play-by-play. UND 96.1 (KQHT-FM) – The Fox, UND’s Tim Hennesy with the play-by-play.

WEBCAST: www.b2tv.com

TV: CBS Sports Network (Friday only) 613 on DirecTV.

Players to Watch:

For UND: Forwards: Danny Kristo (14g-17a—31pts), Corbin Knight (8g-18a—24pts) and Brock Nelson (19g-12a—31pts), Carter Rowney (8g-8a—16pts). Defense: Nick Mattson (5g-10a—15pts), Dillion Simpson, (1g-12a—13pts), Ben Blood (2g-11a—13pts). Goaltenders: Aaron Dell .892 save percentage and a 2.81 goals against average. Brad Eidsness .917 save percentage and a 2.31 goals against average.

UND Injuries: Forward Rocco Grimaldi is out (season knee surgery), Brendan O’Donnell out (season ending surgery), defenseman Derek Forbort questionable; Derek Rodwell is out (season shoulder surgery).

For UMD: Forwards: Jack Connolly (15g-27a—42pts), J.T. Brown (16g-21a—37pts), Travis Olesuk (16g-21a—37), Caleb Herbert (10g-14a—24pts) Defense: Brady Lamb (5g-14a—19pts). Scott Kishel (3g-14a—17pts). Goaltender: Kenny Reiter .914 save percentage and a 2.30 goals against average.

Other games in the WCHA: Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage, Minnesota at Denver, Colorado College at Bemidji State, Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech. Saint Cloud, Wisconsin Idle

Make that 3 down for the count (RW77)

2012-02-08T19:32:00.002-07:00

UND beat writer Brad Schlossman reports that freshman forward Brendan O'Donnell is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Surgery is soon to come. This means that we've now lost three for the season: 2 freshmen (O'Donnell and Grimaldi) and 1 sophomore (Rodwell).

What it also means is that we have exactly ZERO depth as UND will dress EVERY healthy skater they have. They will only have one healthy scratch overall: Tate Maris. What does this mean?

For me, as a realist (ok cynic), it means that everything we do in the second half that is positive comes with added bonus. It also means that the chance of a "Fire Hakstol" thread appearing on SS.com and other message boards will increase exponentially. The haters will start appearing in force and demanding change. No, I don't think the masses will rise up, but the haters always become more vocal (and therefore more visible) when bad news rears its ugly head.

Which leads me to wonder:

1. Can they convince the Lamoreaux twins to get boy cuts and certain cosmetic alterations so as to boost our depth?

2. Is there a way that UND could go out and hold tryouts for depth players? If we get further injuries, things could get worse!

3. If we make the NCAAs this year with all the adversity behind the nickname distraction and all the injuries, would Hakstol be considered for coach of the year (haters need not answer this one. We already know what you'd say).

4. If we stop being able to dress 4 lines of forwards and 3 lines of D, how will expectations for this team be affected?

5. What about physical play? If we start dropping like flies, will our playing style have to change? I'd think it'd have to...

Dan Barreiro on the Fighting Sioux Nickname

2012-02-08T17:26:00.001-07:00

I had a few people pinged me about Ban Barreiro radio show this afternoon and if you haven't heard this or listened to this podcast you iTunes, here is an opportunity to do so. I thought I would include up on the blog so you can listen to it yourself.

Doug Fullerton on the Petition – UND can be voted out

2012-02-08T15:24:00.003-07:00

Image via WikipediaHere it is straight scoop, this straight from the horses mouth, Big Sky Commissioner Fullerton was on Mike McFeely's show this afternoon and you can listen to what he had to say.

You can hear Doug Fullerton, commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, words. LISTEN NOW

These are the comments by Fullerton that really caught my attention...

“I would remind them that the NCAA is a club, a voluntary association. If you don’t like the club’s rules, you can leave. But this isn’t a government agency. The NCAA is UND and NDSU. These are colleagues who have made these rules.”

Big Sky Conference not Bluffing.

2012-02-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaO.K. now the Big Sky Conference has weighed in... Sounds like they are not fooling around and they are concerned about the recent events in North Dakota. It also sounds like the notion that the BSC won't expel UND is not quite true.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- UND’s status within the Big Sky Conference won’t change immediately as a result of this week’s tentative restoration of the university’s Fighting Sioux nickname, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said today.

But he said “it’s absolutely not true” that UND could not be dropped from the league, as some nickname supporters have said in seeking to dismiss concerns about consequences if the fight over the name continues.

“Our concern, as before, is not that they are the Fighting Sioux,” Fullerton said, “but rather whether they can be an effective Division I program and a benefit to our conference.”

UND’s membership status is still probationary, he said. “But even a full-fledged member can be removed from the league at any time by a vote of the presidents.” Such a vote, he said, would have to be unanimous.

Fullerton said he’s concerned about another example of what he called “misrepresentation” by nickname supporters, a suggestion “that we need UND more than UND needs us,” which would seem to counter concerns expressed by university and other officials that keeping the nickname could cost UND conference membership and Division I status.

Fighting Sioux nickname supporters file petitions with 17,000 signatures

2012-02-08T11:16:00.004-07:00

Image via Wikipedia
Just when you think that the nickname is dead and gone, there is another event that resurrects it and brings back the Fighting Sioux nickname.

This is going to be interesting going forward, and maybe not in a good way. I am not sure anyone knows what will happen and there will be some anxiety as we wait to see what happens this week and in the future. Contrary to what some say about the Big Sky Conference, there is a very real possibility that UND’s membership could be in jeopardy.

That threat is very real and not something to be taken lightly, I don’t care what some have gleaned out of the letters that they received through the freedom of information act. Most of us know that the NCAA isn’t going to take this laying down and they are going to be behind the scenes pulling strings. You can count on it. The NCAA is an out of control organization. But we have to play by their rules if we want to be in Division I sports. Do I like it not one bit.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- After a last, celebratory campaign for signatures at a Bismarck Century-Bismarck High hockey game and from an RV parked outside the Capitol, Fighting Sioux nickname supporters delivered petitions to the secretary of state’s office Tuesday night to force a statewide vote on the long-running and controversial issue.

Members of the sponsoring committee, including members of the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, delivered 604 petitions they said contained about 17,000 signatures, well more than the 13,452 required to make the June 12 primary election ballot.

“It’s still a long way to go, but I’m really pleased today,” said Reed Soderstrom, the Minot attorney who has helped to lead the petition drive, as he was about to enter the Capitol about 10 p.m.

Like I said before, I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I think it’s "the best" logo in all of college sports and nothing will ever be able to replace it. I also find it interesting that the NCAA is telling UND that the Fighting Sioux nickname is hostile and abusive and then you see two Native Americans representatives from the two tribes handing in petitions last night at the dead line. What does that tell you?

UND President Robert O. Kelley has said that UND will again be called the Fighting Sioux.

Kelley said the action was taken “in keeping with state law” and direction from Shaft.

“I want to reaffirm our respect for the laws of the state and the processes guaranteed under the North Dakota Constitution,” Kelley said.

King on the CHL; Misguided anger from NCAA

2012-02-08T09:42:00.003-07:00

You had to know that the response would be coming... Here is the response/rebuttal to the UND head coach Dave Hakstol's comments that appeared in a Grand Forks Herald article this past week.

Patrick King, Sportsnet --- Their arguments make about as much sense as the analogy Hakstol presented. We've heard it all before; a player makes a verbal commitment and must then fulfill his obligations. Should he back out, he is then viewed as a liar and accused of using the NCAA as a bargaining chip to land in whichever CHL destination he desires most.

What's never mentioned is the timing the commitments are being made. To get a leg up on the CHL, players are being recruited and giving verbal commitments around the same time as they're attending a Grade 9 math class.

Kenny Ryan's father, K.C., once put it in perspective when his son was being wooed by college programs.

"Here's a kid who is still having sleepovers," he said.

And yet, when a young kid returns from said sleepover, he's supposed to have his college career sorted out well before high school graduation day. Should he change his mind, as teenagers are prone to do and hardly ever chastised for doing with any other decisions, he's suddenly a liar unwilling to see through a commitment.

From reading this article, it would appear that some parents of kids that are being recruited by Division I college hockey programs, also take issue with the age which kids are now recruited at. Personally, I do think it's asinine that college hockey programs are getting kids to commit so early to college hockey programs. But I think that this feigned outrage is a bit disingenuous, because the CHL is recruiting kids a very young age as well.

How come it's not an issue for some that the CHL is recruiting kids when they are 14, 15 and 16 years old as well?

That being said, college hockey programs have to recruit players at a young age to prevent losing the top end recruits to the CHL so it's really a double edged sword. your damned if you do and damned if you don't

The University of South Dakota

2012-02-08T08:41:00.003-07:00

Someone posted this on Sioux Sports today... Here is the link to the Fox News web page. Before we go and bag on Fox News, this is an Associated Press story. I am sure that the same mistake could happen at the Huffington Post or MSNBC as well.

Joey Crabb vs Johnny Oduya

2012-02-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

If you watch the video closely it looks like Johnny Oduya slew footed Joey Crabb, hence the reason you hear Joey Crabb tell Oduya ef you. Then, there is fight, albeit not a very good one. I've got give Crabb credit for at least taking a poke at Oduya who is one tough S.O.B.

Worst fight of the year... Subban vs. Wheeler

2012-02-07T21:49:00.002-07:00

&amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;Subban vs. Wheeler&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;gt;

Far be it from me, to stick up for Blake Wheeler because I think he is a big bodied player that plays like he is 5'9" but P.K. Subban was trying to elbow Wheeler in the head. I am surprised that the Canadian's fraud Subban didn't turtle from this fight as well. I guess he saw Wheeler as not being much of a threat.

Now compare and contrast, former Gopher and current New York Rangers defenseman Stu Bickel is making quite a name for himself with the Rangers.

Apparently, the other night the former Gopher defenseman got in two fights in a game against Philadelphia Flyers. One of his fellow combatants Flyers cement head Tom Sestito got into three fights. I got to give Bickel credit, and he is a much better fighter than former fellow Gopher team Blake Wheeler. Unlike some of the fighters around the league and Bickel respects the hockey code and doesn't hit an opponent once he hits the ice. I have to respect that.

Here is the other fight. - Bickel vs. Wayne Simmonds

A Miami Redhawks goal or not?

2012-02-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching the Miami and Michigan game on my DVR and wow what a game. Also, if you think WCHA officials are bad, you should go back and watch game if you have it at your disposal, the officials Keith Sergott and Brian Hill were brutal in this game, but they did appear to get this call right. Check out the video at the 02:00 minute mark. That was close.

Redskin Warriors --- There are two things you’ll notice after the 2:00 minute mark of the highlight video posted above. First of all, take a look at the goal/no-goal that Rico was rather furious about. From just about every vantage point I’ve seen – on the replays in the arena (I’m amazed the arena staff kept replaying it on the video boards) and afterwards on the DVR – the puck doesn’t appear to cross the line.

That being said, when the NCHC starts it's league play they have to decide if they want to use WCHA and CCHA officials. There are so many poor officials in both of those leagues that I would caution the NCHC leadership to think long and hard before they decide to use these officials. There needs to be some transparency, the refs need to ref the game the way its meant to be officiated.

Jets Evander Kane played with concussion for 14 games.

2012-02-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaThis is today's shocking revelation in the NHL. During the present time, when the NHL is concerned about players with concussions, we have a player that is suffering form a concussion for 14 games and doesn't take himself out of the line up.

Tim Campbell, WINNIPEG Free Press - Evander Kane is ready to try to help the Winnipeg Jets out of their offensive funk.

The 20-year-old left-winger will return to the lineup tonight when the Jets meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at the MTS Centre (7:30 p.m., TSN Jets, TSN 1290).

Kane has missed the last seven games because of a concussion and admitted this morning he may have played with concussion-like symptoms since taking a hit against the New York Islanders on Dec. 20. He played the rest of that game and 14 more before the symptoms became more acute.

Luca Sbisa hit on Tim Jackman

2012-02-07T12:58:00.001-07:00

Check out this hit by Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa on Calgary Flames forward Tim Jackman. While Sbisa does hit Jackman in the head, I definitely think the hit in question looks accidental and not malicious.

For the hit in question, Sbisa was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for headbutting Jackman. After the hit, Jackman left the game and didn't return. I don't think the league will give Sbisa any more supplemental discipline.

So is the Fighting Sioux nickname on the way back

2012-02-06T23:01:00.006-07:00

Looks like the Fighting Sioux nickname issue isn't over just yet. I actually think this is going to be a huge mess and who know who this is going to play out.

Effective January 1st, 2012, the University is in the process of transitioning away from the nickname.

I guess UND will get to find out if the Big Sky Conference is bluffing or not? I have been told by people in the know that say that the Big Sky is not blowing hot air and that they are serious.

I predict that we will see a constitutional challenge in the future.

Grant Shaft, president of North Dakota’s State Board of Higher Education, is on record of saying, "that if an effort to refer a bill repealing the state’s “Fighting Sioux” law is successful his board may have to assert its constitutional authority."

Valley News Live --- It appears UND's Fighting Sioux nickname will be restored tomorrow, reversing legislative action to drop it last fall.

Nickname supporter, Frank Black Cloud tells Valley News Live they have over 15,000 signatures on petitions in support of restoring the Fighting Sioux Nickname. They needed at least 13,500 signatures to overturn existing legislation.

North Dakota Secretary of State, Al Jaeger says if nickname supporters file the required 13,500 signatures, it will instantly restore the original legislation that requires North Dakota and UND to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname. Then, Jaeger says their office will verify the signatures within 35 days. If they wind up with fewer than 13,500 "good" signatures, the law will return to drop the nickname.

Al Jaeger, ND Sec. Of State: "We will randomly select at least 2,000 names that we will be contacting with post cards or other means to verify certain information. We go through a very thorough process."

In the meantime the Fighting Sioux nickname will once again become law, unless voters throw it out during a statewide election in June.

UND officials aren't commenting about this latest development. They're in the process of retiring the nickname.

Like I have said in the past; I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I am not happy that the University of North Dakota has to kowtow to political correctness.

As I have said in the past, I am proud supporter of UND athletics, I think the Fighting Sioux nickname is a honor. My question is; how long do we continue to fight the NCAA? They aren't fooling around either... The only chance we have of winning is the Spirit Lake Law Suit. If anything I suggest donating money to their cause so they can fight the NCAA.

UND lost the Fighting Sioux nickname the minute the North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem signed the surrender agreement with the NCAA. Because of Stenehjem signing that surrender agreement I will no longer vote for him as long as he runs for public office, he is useless to me and far as I am concerned not worthy of receiving my vote anymore.

Changes coming to NCAA Hockey Recruiting?

2012-02-06T12:35:00.005-07:00

Image via WikipediaRWD favorite beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman has a very good article about the letter of intent and the college hockey recruits being poached by the CHL teams until after they have played their freshman year.

I honestly don’t know how they are going to get the CHL to honor those agreements? I don’t think the NCAA is going to get the CHL to agree to that. Why should they? I can’ t see the London Knight’s caring about a blue chip recruit signing a letter of intent to play for a division I college hockey team. It didn't seem to stop the Plymouth Whalers, because J.T. Miller had signed an LOI to play for UND. How did that end up working out for us? Obviously, they didn't care one bit. The thing I would want to know is how much money changed hands on that deal.

Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald --- College Hockey Inc., is working to enact legislation — either with the oversight of the NHL or through the transfer agreement between USA Hockey and Hockey Canada — to bar Canadian major junior teams from stealing a player who has signed a letter of intent until after the player’s freshman year.

And while this is happening, there is a behind-the-scenes movement by some coaches to try to ditch the longstanding gentleman’s agreement between coaches that they won’t recruit players that have made verbal commitments.

If either happens, letters of intent will become big deals to the college hockey world.

The Canadian Hockey League, which routinely tries to poach college players and recruits, is driving these developments to an extent.

I am going to get some flak for this because there are a lot of fans college hockey fans that are against CHL players playing in NCAA Division I hockey once they have played in the CHL.

I am all for it. Why not let them play in the NCAA? I think the NCAA should reevaluate this stance, I think that this policy is out dated and wrong.

I would have no problem with allowing a player that has played hockey in the CHL play in the NCAA if they haven't reached their 19th birthday. The CIS teams don't seem to have a problem with these players playing for their teams and NCAA teams play them in the exhibition games at the beginning of the season.

Maybe that kid was recruited to go to the CHL when he is 16 and he has a change of heart and decides that he would like to play in the college ranks and get his college education. Why not allow him to play for an NCAA Division I team?

Personally, I would have no problem with an NCAA college team going up to Canada or to a CHL team in the USA and recruiting one of their players to play in Division I hockey. The CHL is actively recruiting our players right now as we speak.They don't seem to care what our players have signed.

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