Thoughts on the 2011 Frozen Four

Another Frozen Four is in the books and congratulations to the University of Minnesota Duluth; the 2011 Champions in College Hockey.

As my friend SiouxFanInBoston and I spent the last four days in St. Paul, we experienced some likes and dislikes about this year’s Frozen Four.

Here they are in no particular order.

LIKES

St Paul - Liked - Overall a great venue for College Hockey. This town knows how to put on a great tournament and make sure fans are having a great time. This should be the template for other future Frozen Fours.

Xcel Energy Center – Liked – this is a great place to watch a hockey game; I don’t think there was a bad seat in the house.

Hobey – Liked – Sioux Fans gave Andy Miele a standing ovation after he won the Hobey. Also the Sioux faithful gave the UND Team a standing ovation when they filed into their seats for the Hobey and when they were leaving the Hobey as well.

Hobey -- Liked #2 -- the fact that the Sioux team stayed in St. Paul to attend the Hobey ceremony to support Matt Frattin.

Fan Fest – Liked – Closed down the street and had a party for all – Just the best!

Meeting New & Old Friends – LIKED – As usual we met new and old friends at the Frozen Four; from the plane ride to the FF to last call Saturday night.

Listening to Al Pearson-Liked- It was fun sitting at Tim Reid’s listening to Al tell us different Sioux stories. He kept us in good spirits and had us laughing most of the time. True Sioux legend!

DISLIKED:

North Dakota Losing – Disliked – Enough Said.

Michigan Fight Song – Disliked - We stopped counting the number of times the Michigan Band played the fight song Saturday night – FYI we stopped counting at 14 times.

Sick – Big Disliked – I had not been sick all year until this week. I think I spent more money at Walgreens than I did at the Bar.

Booing TAMPA 2012 –Disliked – I did not like it when the fans booed the announcement of next year’s Frozen Four in Tampa. For me I will hold my judgment until next year.

Hotel – Disliked –We stayed at the same hotel as the Michigan team. Not fun after Thursday night... but a little better after Saturday :) This Hotel also booked another convention at the same time and it was crammed full of non hockey people all over the place and the elevators took forever, etc. I felt bad for the Michigan fans --not only did they have to deal with losing Saturday night they had to deal with this when they came back to the Hotel.

Food Xcel Energy Center – Disliked – Not much of a selection; rules of thumb eat beforehand.

Ticket scalpers - Disliked – If one more scalper came up to me and asked if I had tickets, I would have gone crazy – I should have hung a sign around my neck that said I have no tickets. They even were walking through the Hotels asking if anyone had tickets.

Brock Nelson getting hurt- Disliked – Get well and we will see you next season.

Matt Frattin not winning Hobey – Disliked – enough said.

Looking forward to the Ice Breaker in October at the Ralph! Love to hear about your experiences at this year's Frozen Four, feel free to comment. Let's Go Sioux!

Let The Games Begin

It seems longer than 6 months since North Dakota lost to Yale in Worcester. But a new season also brings new hope. I have to admit, I’m very excited to watch UND play this season, and why not. They will have a good team, with great leadership; including Captain Chay Genoway, the key ingredients for a championship team.

But when most teams have a purpose or rally call for a season, there is no better reason then to play literally for the sweater a team wears.

As most know this is the last season UND will be wearing the Fighting Sioux logo and what a better way to honor the pride and spirit of the Sioux logo but to win the National Championship.

Tonight I will be at BU’s exhibition game, as I always do, proudly wearing my Sioux jersey. As BU gets ready to play in the Ice Breaker Tournament in St Louis, I find some irony in this.

As I mention above UND is losing their logo this year. However, the “hostile and abusive” rule imposed by the NCAA does not seem to apply to sponsors. Warrior Sports Apparel is the sponsor of the Ice Breaker tournament this year. The Warrior name is based on a Michigan high school - Brothers Rice Warriors.

I know the NCAA would say this is not an NCAA sanctioned tournament; this is true. But if they feel strongly about this type of abuse then the NCAA could make a determination that teams which agree to play in these types of sponsored tournaments should realized that the outcome of the games played in the tournament may not be included in the NCAA determination of who makes the Frozen Four – which is an NCAA sponsored tournament.

I know this is not reality because of the NC$$.

Pics from UND vs. Cornell Weekend

Here is a link to pictures from the UND vs. Cornell weekend. LINK

I have posted a few of my favroite pictures below:

Cornell fans throw newspaper on the ice before the game. Pretty funny.

Zamboni driver dresses up.

Coaching staff walking to the bench.

Scrivens and Eidsness with a post game chat

BU vs. BC at Fenway

Watching the BU vs. BC game at Fenway last night was just unbelievable. What a great and fun night. Here is a link to some pictures I took of the game. LINK

My thoughts on Matt Frattin

I’m glad to see Matt Frattin back with the Sioux. A kid trying to go to college deserves a second chance. What Matt did was wrong and he was punished in many ways; including a suspension from the Team. It now appears that Frattin has worked hard to get an opportunity for a second chance.

Some are suggesting this may be a desperate move by Hakstol; I don’t see it that way. I truly believe that Hakstol feels based on Frattin’s actions during the time away from the team he deserves a second chance. I also see it as a very smart move with Frattin. With Genoway out indefinitely and other injuries to the team it opens up a spot with an opportunity to see if Frattin is truly ready to make the commitment to the team, on as well as off the ice.

My thoughts are it’s better to find out now, during the second half of this season, if Frattin is committed, than halfway into next year when your options to bring in new talent would be limited vs. the beginning of the season.

Don’t get me wrong, I hope Frattin makes the commitment to himself and it works out, but he must understand that he is “under a microscope” and the success or failure of his return is all up to him.

Let’s Go Sioux!!!!!

HOCKEY ON CAMPUS TONIGHT 7 P.M. EST

A message from HOCKEY ON CAMPUS

HOCKEY ON CAMPUS online radio returns to its regular weekly 3-hour edition this evening, Wednesday December 2nd, from 7 to 10 pm eastern time. The nation’s most comprehensive college hockey podcast program is co-hosted by Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara.

The show can be accessed live through the website at www.hockeyoncampus.com, and is archived on the site (following the live cybercast) so folks can listen at their convenience any time throughout the weekend.

Scheduled for this week’s program:

Norwich University Coach MIKE McSHANE & a preview of the
100th Anniversary Celebration of Norwich Hockey taking place this weekend

Minnesota-Duluth Coach SCOTT SANDELIN
on his team’s upcoming series with North Dakota

Boston College Women’s Coach KATIE KING
BU-BC Video “The Battle of Commonwealth Ave” Producer MATT FULTS
Inside Hockey Writer KEVIN EDELSON
College Hockey News’ ADAM WODIN
The “Hobey Watch’s” ELIOT OLSHANSKY
and more!!!


We’ll also take a look at this week’s national polls in Divisions 1 & 3 (both men and women)…and we’ll review the holiday weekend results and preview more of this weekend’s upcoming activity…

(Check the web site at www.hockeyoncampus.com around 5 pm this afternoon to confirm tonight’s Official Line Up.)

DU 3 UND 2

This was a very disappointing game. In my opinion you only can control what you can control. UND did not do a very good job controlling their emotions. We can blame the Refs or George W for his constant complaining during the game, but the bottom line is you have to adapt; DU adapted to the flow of the game and UND did not.

UND- What I liked about the Game:

• Brad Eidsness - He played great all weekend.
• The power play - UND scored two goals off the power play

UND-What I did not like about the Game:

• UND's Stupid, undisciplined penalties

Time to get over this weekend and focus on next week's series at the Subway Holiday Classic.

DU 1 UND 0

UND lost to Denver in a game that met the expectations of two highly ranked teams.

What I liked about the game:

• Brad Eidsness
• The fourth line of Cichy-Knight- Kristo

What I didn't like about the game:

• The "line change" that was a factor in DU's goal. UND did not get the puck deep enough into the offensive zone before they made their change and it cost them a goal.
• Missed opportunities - hit the goal post twice
• Power play - Six chances nothing to show for it

I hope tonight's game will be as good as last night's game except with a different result - A UND win.

Let's Go Sioux.

UND 4 St Cloud 2

What I liked about the game:

• The play of David Toews
• Joe Gleason's save
• Ben Blood's assist on Lamoureux's goal

What I did not like about the game:

The hit on Chay Genoway.

After reviewing the hit again, in my opinion, this was clearly intentional and could have been avoided. St. Cloud, WCHA and all of College Hockey need to put a stop to this. If they don't the individual Teams will.

Aaron Marvin should be suspended for multiple games. I would send a message to all of college hockey not only implement a suspension, but Marvin should not be able to return to St Cloud until Genoway is back playing with UND and then Marvin can sit out for his suspension.

This would send a message - hurt an opposing team player intentionally and you will be out for the same amount of time, if not more.

A link to the Hit.

Pics from Harvard vs. Cornell

Here are some pictures I took when I was in Ithaca last weekend at the Harvard vs. Cornell game. It's a great place and I look forward to going back in January when the Sioux make a visit.

Link to Pictures

Hockey On Campus - Drops the Puck Tonight!

Here is a note from Bernie and Paul on tonight's Show.

GREETINGS COLLEGE HOCKEY FANS!!!

Another college hockey season has begun and HOCKEY ON CAMPUS radio with Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara is back, starting this Wednesday (October 28) and set to run right through the Frozen Four in April.

We're streaming live each week at www.hockeyoncampus.com from 7 to 10PM (eastern) and throughout the season we will do our best to cover what is happening in all the Division 1 and Division 3 conferences across the country, including the women’s leagues as well.

Each week we'll try to post the planned Line Up for the week on our website on Tuesday evening. We hope you'll join us the following evening for great college hockey talk and the best guests anywhere in college hockey. This week's lineup:A packed house as we lead off with visits from, among others, Atlantic Hockey commissioner Bob DeGregorio, ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell, Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna, Union men's coach Nate Leaman, #1 Miami (Ohio) coach Enrico Blasi, and Merrimack College coach Mark Dennehy.

Also scheduled for this week: a chat with Eliot Olshansky as he monitors the “Hobey Watch” for another season; a check-in with Denver University coach George Gwozdecky; and some early season comments from both CCHA and WCHA commissioners Tom Anastos and Bruce McLeod. Are you tired yet?

Join us this week and every Wednesday this college hockey season for the best in college hockey talk…

HOCKEY ON CAMPUS, live online at www.hockeyoncampus.com!
Every Wednesday night from 7 to 10 PM

UND 5 - UAA 0

Another great Friday night effort by the Sioux:

What I liked about the game:

• Dell's shutout
• Dell's Assist
• The power play
• The penalty kill
• Trupp's Goal

What I didn't like about the game:

• Corban Knight's checking from behind late in the third period. Second time this season a freshman has received a game misconduct penalty late in the third period.

Other Item: Friday night - Lights Out:

Friday games are starting to look like UND's night. UND has not allowed a goal in eight periods of hockey on Friday night. They have scored at least four goals in each of the games on Friday night and have only allow two goals in total. I am sure there are more interesting stats on Fridays. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as the season progresses.

LET'S GO SIOUX!!!!!

Gwozdecky battled H1N1 - Some things are bigger than Hockey

Denver Post.com reported that "DU coach George Gwozdecky battled H1N1 this week but traveled with the team to Minnesota today. He said he might not go on the ice at practice today but will be behind the bench in Friday’s series opener." Are you kidding me. There are some things that are bigger than a hockey game and this is one of them.

This is a serious illness and it needs to be taken that way. Gwozdecky is not only impacting his players but potentially everyone he comes in contact with. While college campuses across the United States are trying to protect students and stop the illness from spreading, he appears to be saying it's ok to push the limits if you are playing sports.

Now, I hope his Doctor, DU, University of Minnesota, as well as the WCHA, cleared this by saying he is not contagious and he can no longer spread the illness. If there is a small chance that he could spread the illness he should have stayed home to protect all those around him. This doesn't even consider that some of the DU players may now be spreading the illness.

If any coach or player of any team - I don't care who he is - contracts this illness, the illness needs to become bigger than the game.

UND3 Minn3

From a college hockey perspective this was a much more entertaining UND vs. Minn. game


What I liked about the game:

• UND came away with three points for the weekend
• Jake Marto's save late in the third period
• Goals from the blue line( both games)

What I didn't like about the game:

• Gophers short handed goal
• Inconsistent play by UND
• Eidsness being away from the front of the net

UND 4 - Minn. 0

UND had a great team effort in last night’s game. They beat the Gophers 4-0.

What I liked about the game:

• 11 players on UND had at least one point.
• UND scored off the power play.
• UND played their game for the full 60 minutes.
• The whiteout by the fans at the REA.
• The UND “kill” of the five-minute checking from behind penalty.

What I didn’t like about the game:

• Gleason’s five-minute checking from behind penalty - If this was a closer game it could have been a huge issue.
• Watching the Gopher feed on Fox College Sports.

I’m sure tonight’s game will have a very different feel to it. I expect the Gophers will play very differently then the way they played last night.

Let’s Go Sioux!

Ok it's worth one more look....

Great Move - check it out here

Pictures from BU Banner Night - This is Impressive

Hockey on Campus - New website

Follow Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara via thier website Hockey on Campus.com .

See Hockey on Campus at media day for Hockey East. Co-host Bernie Corbett interviews all ten of Hockey East’s men’s coaches at Boston TD Garden.

Nickname - Sioux vs. 'Guns up'

As the Sioux are on the verge of losing their identity and proud tradition, was anyone else struck by the irony surrounding Texas Tech’s “Guns Up” symbol? I read about the symbol last night when I was listening to the football game, and it got me thinking.

From Texas Tech’s web site:

GUNS UP
- The hand sign of Texas Tech is the "Guns Up" which was created in 1972 by a Texas Tech Graduate who was attending law school. The sign is made by extending the index finger outward while extending the thumb upward and tucking in the middle, little and fourth fingers to form a gun. The idea is that the Red Raiders will shoot down their opponents. The Guns Up sign is the widely recognized greeting of one Red Raider to another. It is also the sign of victory displayed by the crowd at every athletic event.

Now, I am all for tradition and, as matter of fact, I think the TTU traditions are very cool, but I guess I don’t understand the NCAA. When it comes to logos that are “hostile and abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots, nicknames, or imagery,” then it’s an issue, but traditions that promote gun violence -- well, that’s ok.

This picture says it all.

Game On!!!

The BC vs. BU match up is on at Fenway. January 8, 2010 at 7:30. See this link for more info.