One step forward, two losses back

Let's just face it. For a moment late in the first half of this season we started to believe that the Sioux were not an average hockey team, just misunderstood. All that came painfully crashing down this past weekend. After what I like to call bloody Sunday (more on that later), the Sioux season was definitely put into perspective. It's confirmed - the Sioux might just be an average hockey team. Back-to-back losses to Michigan State (a team which had not won in 12 games) and WCHA bottom dweller Michigan Tech, while only scoring two goals all weekend, means the Sioux are just average. The Sioux have left no room for error for the rest of the season-- translation, the only hope for post-season play will be to win the Broadmoor Trophy.

As for "bloody Sunday," this is what I had to deal with this weekend -- the Sioux GLI disaster, a Patriots win but still no playoff berth, and the Dallas fiasco (I have also been a Cowboys fan since I was 10). Thankfully, there were two bright spots - the 1st place Bruins winning #8 in a row, and Team USA beating the Czech Republic (not as convincingly as we'd like, but a win is a win). Speaking of hockey and football, I'll leave you with one last funny thought: what do the Sioux and the Detroit Lions have in common? Neither of them can win in Detroit.

Will the Blackhawks be cursed by Wrigley

We all know the Winter Classic on New Year's day will be Chicago vs. Detroit at Wrigley Field. This video is proof that Wrigley Field is cursed.  Watch the unloading of the Zamboni at Wrigley Field. 

Video of Zamboni.

 

Hockey on Campus Hosted by Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara

HOCKEY ON CAMPUS radio will broadcast LIVE from Bickford’s Grille in Burlington this evening, from 7 to 9 PM (Eastern Time) on AM-890 ESPN Boston, and 1400-AM in Lowell, and will also be streamed live online at http://www.890espn.com/.

Tonight’s line up for our 2nd Annual “College Hockey Christmas Party” from Bickford’s includes:

Coach Jeff Jackson from the #1 ranked nationally Notre Dame Fighting Irish out of the CCHA

Coach Guy Gadowsky from the Princeton Tigers, currently ranked 8th in the country and tied atop the ECAC Division 1 standings

Early season commentary from players from Holy Cross in Atlantic Hockey and Boston University from Hockey East, and Manhattanville and Trinity College in Division 3

Elliot Olshansky and the early-season Hobey Baker Watch

Mike Klein, PR Director from the Eastern Junior Hockey League

Your phone calls at our new phone-in number - 617-242-3776 (E-S-P-N)

The Sioux sweep St Cloud..but I still have concerns

After this weekend’s sweep of St. Cloud, UND’s record has improved to above .500 (9-8-1) for the first time this season.  The Sioux still have a long road ahead of them but they are on the right track. In a post I wrote back on November 23, I mentioned my concerns with their scoring, especially the power play.  At that time, the Sioux were 37^th in the country in scoring and 34^th in the power play.  As of today, they are tied for 9^th in the country in scoring and most importantly, they are tied for 10^th on the power play.  This is a vey impressive and key turnaround.   

However, I still have concerns over the next four games (five if you count the exhibition). My concern is based on the old sports cliché: one game at a time.  The Sioux team and fans have begun to talk about the Gopher series on the January 9 & 10 weekend.  We still have a tough road ahead before the Gopher series, with the GLI Tournament and a home and home with Bemidji.  

Let’s stay focused on the exhibition next weekend, rest players that need a rest, work on key areas that need improvement, and hope the Sioux come out of this exhibition with no injuries. 

Friday Night’s Game Summary – UND Web Site 

Saturday Night’s Game Summary – UND Web Site   

Hockey on Campus is back!

Hockey on Campus is back! The following is a message from Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara.

Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara are BACK ON THE AIR for another season (3rd Big Year!) of the 2-hour weekly radio program HOCKEY ON CAMPUS starting tonight, December 10, 2008, at 7 pm eastern time.

We are excited to announce a new home for the show this winter, as we have re-located to 890AM and 1400AM, ESPN Radio Boston, and will also be carried live online at www.890ESPN.com Wednesdays
from 7 to 9 pm eastern time.

Our new phone-in number is 617-242-3776 (E-S-P-N) and we hope to welcome more phone calls this year from the many fans of college hockey throughout the greater Boston area, New England and the entire country!

Our Opening Night line up for “Commissioner’s Night” tonight features Joe Bertagna from Hockey East, Bob DeGregorio from Atlantic Hockey, and Steve Hagwell from ECAC Division 1, as well as Northeastern University Men’s Coach Greg Cronin, and Mike Klein from the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

We will also speak with new HOCKEY ON CAMPUS sponsor Mike Boyle during the show this evening.

RECAP: Sioux 4 Harvard 3 - Is it another Dartmouth turnaround?

Key to the Weekend

For me the key to this past weekend was the Sioux power play.  They were outstanding - 7 for 14 over the weekend series with Harvard.  This was an area the Sioux needed much improvement.  The best example of the use of the power play was Saturday night.  The Sioux were behind and it was a power play goal that tied the game in the third period.

I think we need to give Hak some credit.  In the third period he began to roll the lines with short shifts.  Harvard could not keep up with the change in lines and the speed of UND.  It turned the game around. 

Game Summary – UND Web site 

Is it another Dartmouth turnaround? 

As I sat in Bright Arena, watching the games this past weekend, I kept thinking about this series having a similar feel to the 2006-2007 Dartmouth Tournament.   

Overall record -- Like today, two years ago the Sioux were struggling and they were 7-10-1 going into Dartmouth.  Like this past weekend series with Harvard, the same could be said - the Sioux began the weekend struggling with a 5-8-1 record. 

Season struggles -- Like today, the Sioux two years ago were struggling with a key component of their game. Back then it was defense, specifically the goaltending of Lamoureux.  This year, it’s offense.  As in the case at Dartmouth, JP turned it around with some spectacular goaltending, and this weekend the offense was clearly working.   

The teams and the barns - two years ago the tournament was played at Dartmouth. Their arena is a traditional old time barn, small, cold and close to the action.  This could be said of Harvard’s arena, even with the addition of the new score board (although I found parking at Dartmouth easier).  And of course, both Dartmouth and Harvard are Ivy League schools playing in the ECAC.    

The Sioux fans - like in Dartmouth, there seemed to be an abundance of Sioux Fans. If it were not for the Harvard band (which doubles as the student section) it would have been a complete overwhelming dominance of Sioux fans.  This was exactly the way I felt in Dartmouth two years ago.  It was great!

Apology – There was no apology from the home team on the Sioux logo like two years ago.  But maybe there will an apology from the ECAC officiating over this past weekend (e.g. the mystery interference call on Hextall last night or the inconsistency of calls between the two teams).  Yeah that is not going happen!

The Results – After the Dartmouth Tournament, the Sioux went on a run, only to lose two more games during the regular season and go on to make the Frozen Four.  I hope this year's results will be the same as after the Dartmouth Tournament - for the Sioux to go on their infamous second-half run.   

RECAP: Sioux 10 Harvard 1 (Includes Pictures from Game)

This was a great effort from the Sioux.  Tonight the power play looked great.  The best moment of the night was when the bench erupted after Zach Jones scored his first goal of his Sioux career. The worst part of the night: when Harvard began to "goon it up".  Truthfully I was surprised, Ted Donato the coach of Harvard, typically does not have his teams play this way. With all that said, I am sure Harvard will come to play tomorrow and the Sioux  will need to be ready.

I have posted some pictures from the game below. The best picture is of Harvard's penalty box. It's basically part of the Harvard bench. See the picture of Harvard's back up goalie: the player sitting behind the goalie, is actually sitting in the Harvard penalty box.

Game Summary - UND Web site

Two BU players on the 2009 US World Junior Team

USA Hockey announced the 2009 US National Junior Hockey Team today. The team includes two players from BU, Colin Wilson and Kevin Shattenkirk along with a future UND player Danny Kristo.

Here is the link to the 2009 team

The Sioux will be in Boston this weekend…..Ok, really Cambridge

I have come to peace with the current results of this year’s Sioux season. For me, it’s time to just enjoy the rest of the games and appreciate the young talent we have on the team. I will always continue to hope and cheer for the best. For those who read my blog, you know that I live in Boston and also follow BU. This weekend is the BU vs. BC home and home series. Even though the BU/BC rivalry is legendary, there is no question where I will be -- at Harvard cheering for the Sioux.

LET’S GO SIOUX!