Thursday, September 24, 2015

UND Heading to the big Apple in 2016

Yes, it's true. UND will play the Boston College Eagles on December 3, 2016, at Madison Square Garden, in New York City at the College Hockey Showdown.


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

NCHC Preseason Media Poll

NCHC Preseason Poll
1.       Minnesota Duluth – 208 points (17 first-place votes)
2.       Denver – 187 (7)
3.       North Dakota – 183 (4)
4.       Omaha – 148
5.       Miami – 142 (2)
6.       St. Cloud State – 117
7.       Western Michigan – 60
8.       Colorado College – 35


The University of Minnesota-Duluth has been picked to finish first in the third annual preseason media poll. As we found out last year, there wasn't a lot of difference between 1-6. I expect the same this season.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Snap Shot: StarTribune's online poll, UND Nickname (Updated)


Updated numbers: While not very scientific at all. It does show that Fighting Hawks and Roughriders (Rough Riders) are the most popular. (Link to Poll)  Thoughts? None of the above isn't a choice.

ECAC Hockey Preseason Media Poll

1. Yale University
2. QuinnipiacUniversity 
3. Harvard University
4 Saint Lawrence University  
5. Colgate University
6. Union College
7 Dartmouth College
8 Clarkson University
9 Cornell University
10 Rensselaer
11 Brown University
12 Princeton University

The ECAC Media has spoken.

Drake Caggiula Picked for NCHC 2015 Preseason All-Conference Team


 

NCHC 2015 Preseason All-Conference Team
F – Trevor Moore, Denver, Jr. – 21 votes
F – Danton Heinen, Denver, So. – 20 votes
F – Drake Caggiula, North Dakota, Sr. – 17 votes
D – Andy Welinski, Minnesota Duluth, Sr. – 22 votes
D – Matthew Caito, Miami, Sr. – 10 votes
G – Kasimir Kaskisuo, Minnesota Duluth, So. – 14 votes

 

University of North Dakota forward Drake Caggiula has earned preseason all-conference honors. Caggiula who scored (18g-18a-36pts) last season, is the top returning forward from last season's team. Last season, UND goalie Zane McIntyre was named to the preseason all-conference team.

Breaking News: UND announces nickname voting dates

The timetable for the new nickname voting has been announced.

According to the UND website, The voting process, which will be conducted completely online, will begin at 8 a.m. Central Time Monday, Oct. 19, and will close at midnight Central Time on Friday, Oct. 23. Voting will be open to the following groups:

Current UND Students
Current UND Faculty
Current UND Staff
UND Retirees
UND Alumni
UND Donors
Current Season Ticket Holders to UND Athletic Events

During the voting process, eligible voters will cast one vote for a single option on the ballot. Eligible voters will choose one of five nickname options:

The Nickname choices:

Fighting Hawks
Nodaks
North Stars
Roughriders
Sundogs

For instructions, check your email during the week of October 12, 2015.

WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll

2015-16 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team (1st Place Votes)Pts.
1.Minnesota State (8)89
2.Bowling Green (1)79
3.Michigan Tech (1)78
4.Bemidji State61
5.Alaska55
6.Ferris State51
7.Northern Michigan49
8.Alabama-Huntsville29
9.Alaska Anchorage27
10.Lake Superior State22
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could not vote for their own teams
(Link)
The Minnesota State Mavericks have been picked to win the 2015-16 regular season title. 

Monday, September 21, 2015

Forum of Fargo-Moorhead Gives Marlan “Hawk” Haakenson Some Leafy Spurge

Ha, not that many UND fans care what the Forum has to say on the matter. This time, they might have a point. Haakenson's stunt isn't going to slow down UND picking a new nickname. Whether we like it or not, that ship has sailed.


Per the Forum:
Leafy spurge to Former Bismarck Mayor Marlan “Hawk” Haakenson for attempting to derail the University of North Dakota’s search for a new nickname by registering trade names that are on UND’s list of possible nicknames.

It’s a going-nowhere stunt that speaks more to foolish desperation than advancing the reputation of a great university.

“Hawk,” who counts among his claims to fame embarrassing his city routinely when he was mayor, registered several trade names last week – Fighting Hawks, Nodaks and North Stars. His purpose was to keep them from UND, and thus make the difficult transition from the school’s old name to a new one all the more difficult.
In other stories. someone sent President Robert O. Kelley a bunch of nasty emails. Good Lord people.

Per the Grand Forks Herald:
In July, UND President Robert Kelley received an email from someone who wrote he or she hoped Kelley would “(expletive) die.”

It was one of several UND police think is from the same Fargo man: William Ragan. He started emailing Kelley in January about his displeasure with the school’s nickname process and retirement of the Fighting Sioux logo, officials said.

An August email thought to be from Ragan called Kelley a traitor and “waste of human tissue,” while another one in April described him as a liar.

T.J. Oshie set to make Captials Debut

Former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie is set to make his Washing Capitals preseason debut tonight when the Washington Capitals take on the Carolina Hurricanes. Oshie played sevens season with the St. Louis Blues scoring (110g-200a—310pts) in 443 games.

Per Chuck Gormley, Capitals Insider :
Oshie debut: T.J. Oshie will make his Capitals preseason debut tonight and is expected to play alongside former St. Louis Blues teammate Derek Roy, who is trying to make the Caps’ lineup on a professional tryout contract. The Capitals acquired Oshie from the Blues in exchange for right wing Troy Brouwer, goaltender Pheonix Copley and a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft on July 2, 2015. Oshie registered 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) and 51 penalty minutes in 72 games with St. Louis last season. He finished the season ranked tied for third among Blues skaters in assists, fourth in plus/minus (plus-17), tied for fourth in game-winning goals (4) and fifth in points and goals. Roy could center that line with Andre Burakovsky on the leftr, or Burakovsky could center the line with Roy on the left.

UND Women 6th in Preseason USCHO.com Poll


September 21, 2015

Team
(First Place Votes)
Record
Points
Last Poll
1
Minnesota
(15)
34- 3-4
150
1
2
Boston College
34- 3-2
128
3
3
Wisconsin
29- 7-4
124
4
4
Harvard
27- 6-3
101
2
5
Clarkson
24-11-3
84
7
6
North Dakota
22-12-3
64
8
7
Quinnipiac
26- 9-3
56
6
8
Boston University
25- 9-3
49
5
9
Bemidji State
21-17-1
25
10
10
Cornell
19-11-3
18
9
Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Year Others receiving votes: Northeastern 11, Mercyhurst 6, Minnesota-Duluth 5, St. Lawrence 4.

 

The UND women start the 2015-16 season ranked sixth in the preseason USCHO.COM poll.

Hockey East Preseason Media Poll


Rank
Team (First Place Votes)
Points
2014-15 Record
1
Boston College (20)
397
21-14-3 (12-7-3 HE)
2
Boston University (7)
374
28-8-5 (14-5-3 HE)
3
UMass Lowell (5)
344
21-12-6 (11-7-4 HE)
4
Providence (2)
328
26-13-2 (13-8-1 HE)
5
Notre Dame (1)
250
18-19-5 (10-7-5 HE)
6
Vermont
237
22-15-4 (10-9-3 HE)
7
Northeastern
217
16-16-4 (11-9-2 HE)
8
New Hampshire
187
19-19-2 (10-11-1 HE)
9
Connecticut
142
10-19-7 (7-11-4 HE)
10
Merrimack
119
16-18-4 (5-14-3 HE)
11
Maine
87
14-22-3 (8-12-2 HE)
12
Massachusetts
48
11-23-2 (5-16-1 HE)

 

Hockey East has released its preseason Media Poll.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Update on Darryl Sydor

Looks like Darryl Sydor is making some progress and has extended his stay in treatment. Here's hoping Sydor's treatment is successful and that he will be back with the Wild soon.

Per Michael Russo:
Assistant coach Darryl Sydor, who entered a treatment facility for alcoholism on Aug. 23, has voluntarily extended his stay in California beyond 30 days, his attorney, Ryan Pacyga, told me today.

“I speak with him several times per week,” Pacyga said. “He is making great progress and is doing exactly what he should be doing right now (trying to get better).”

The Wild continues to support Sydor and the hope from his end is that he can return to the team when deemed appropriate.

Sydor was arrested Aug. 20 for drunken driving. He will be arraigned Oct. 12 on two counts of second-degree driving while impaired with two aggravating factors – the endangerment of his child who was in the car and having a blood alcohol content of .16 or more.

Herald Letter: Here's hoping Haakenson blocks UND nickname change

When I read this letter, I have to giggle. If I am betting man and I am. I am pretty sure if UND fans vote in favor of Fighting Hawks, North Stars or Nodaks. I don't see Haakenson's little stunt stopping UND from using any of the three nicknames that he says that he registered. I predict there will be a vote in October and UND will probably end up being either the Fighting Hawks or the Rough Riders.

Granted, the three nicknames in question aren't great, but the Fighting Sioux nickname isn't coming back.

If UND was still the Fighting Sioux, they would have never hosted the NCAA West Regional Championship last spring. And I love the Fighting Sioux nickname.

  Per the Grand Forks Herald:
It's a terrific, creative step to register the proposed nicknames Fighting Hawks, Nodaks and the North Stars with the North Dakota Secretary of State.

As an attorney and UND grad, I can especially appreciate (Marlan "Hawk") Haakenson's innovative approach to impeding the university's endless quest to install a spineless nickname. By the way, I'm planning to go to the UND/North Dakota State University game in Fargo and proudly wear one of my Fighting Sioux shirts. And let's all plan to chant Fighting Sioux while we're in the Fargodome!

William Brotherton
Highland Village, Texas

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Three UND Men's Preseason Story Lines

With the first exhibition only 16 days away for the North Dakota Men's Hockey Team, it is time to take a look at three major story lines going into the 2015-2016 season.

Brad Berry's First Season as Head Coach
As summer was just starting to go into full force, the UND hockey world was given a surprise that many, myself included, were never thinking that we were going to hear, well at least this soon. Head Coach Dave Hakstol would resign as head coach and take a head job in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, ending his successful tenure as one of the top coaches in program history.

Who would be his replacement? Assistant coach Brad Berry was almost immediately announced as the new bench boss for UND, He was won over by the locker room right away as the appropriate choice to take over as head coach and the same can be said by the incoming freshman class as well.

The Alberta native has had a lot of experience surrounding the game, whether it be playing, coaching, or even as a scout for the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks. Berry, who is a University of North Dakota alum and played for UND as a defenseman from 1983-1986 where he would collect 74 points in 112 games played.

The coach would then have two stints as an assistant coach at UND, first under Dean Blais, and then under Coach Hakstol. However, His time with Coach Hakstol would be split in to two parts as he would take job opportunities in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, and then in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets as assistant coach.

Coach Berry has a lot to prove to carry on the tradition of winning and NCAA tournament appearances as the 16th head coach in UND history, however, taking what he learned at the NHL level and from Coach Hakstol, he should be able to find success in a timely manor as the UND bench boss.

Who Starts in Goal?
With the early departure of Zane McIntyre to the NHL at the end of last season, it is now time to figure out who is going to be the new call to the net for UND. Right now the logical choice seems to be Cam Johnson, however he still has limited experience as McIntyre saw most of the playing time last season

Incoming freshman Matej Tomek could give Johnson a run for his money. The 2015 third round draft pick (90th overall) to the Philadelphia Flyers was named NAHL goaltender of the year last year posting a 24-7-2 record with a 1.83 GAA and .928 save percentage. If Tomek is able to avoid those freshman jitters, he very well could be the guy to call to the blue paint this season.

Finally, there is junior Matt Hrynkiw. Taking off where former third string Tate Maris left off, Hrynkiw has yet to see any action in regular season play and has only seen 3:32 of total ice time in UND's 7-2 exhibition victory over the USA under 18 team last January. He does not seem to be a huge factor in who will be the starting goaltender.

For now, you have to start the veteran Cam Johnson on opening night, but maybe a few weeks into the season, try a goalie by committee to see who you will ride down the stretch and into the conference and NCAA tournaments.

Drake Caggiula
After his best season at the collegiate level, senior Drake Caggiula is looking to lead the offensive charge once again this season and dazzle the crowd with his highlight reel goals and big hits when fighting for puck possession.

Caggiula enters this season as an assistant captain for UND and the NCAA active player games leader at 123 games played. He has earned 76 points in his three seasons with UND and including a career high 36 last season.

The three time letter winner has much to improve on this season after his career best season last year, but his niche to find the net, and leadership qualities will have him possibly pushing the 45 point and 20 goal mark by seasons end in April.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Developing: Islanders Sign Brock Nelson





The New York Islanders have signed Brock Nelson to a three-year contract.

UND can use Sundogs nickname

Marvelous. I am so happy.

Per the Grand Forks Herald:
FARGO -- If UND wants to be the Sundogs, that would be just dandy with Sundog Interactive, an advertising agency in Fargo.

"We wish them nothing but the best in whichever name they go with," Heidi Haaven, the firm's communications director, said in an email. "Obviously choosing a name that represents the University and the state of North Dakota is not an easy task and we would support whatever decision they make."

Sundog is among the top choices for a new nickname for UND's athletic teams after the university stopped using Fighting Sioux as a nickname under pressure from the NCAA, which considers Indian nicknames abusive.

Marlan "Hawk" Haakenson, the former mayor of Bismarck and a fan of the Fighting Sioux nickname, recently registered several potential UND nicknames as trademarks under the belief that this would prevent the university from using them and transitioning to a new nickname. He said he was unable to register "sundog" because another firm already has that trademark.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Grand Forks Herald: Former Bismarck mayor registers trademarks with state

You can't make this stuff up.  This gets sillier by the day. And of course, he's an NDSU Alumni.
Per the Grand Forks Herald:
(Marlan "Hawk") Haakenson, who attended North Dakota State University but says he's a supporter of the Fighting Sioux nickname, said he registered the trade names Fighting Hawks, Nodaks and North Stars with the North Dakota Secretary of State in order to prevent UND from using them.

"As far as I'm concerned, Kelley will never get permission from me," Haakenson said. "I'll use every legal means I have to stop him from using the names."

Haakenson said he registered the trade names on Sept. 4, though they were not officially registered until Monday. He was prevented from registering a fourth name, Roughriders, because Secretary of State Al Jaeger said it was too similar to an existing registered trade name in the state.

Haakenson said he was unable to register Sundogs for that same reason, though Jaeger said it was unclear whether an existing trade name would prevent Sundogs from being registered.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Mike Parks signs with the Flyers

This is about 10 days late, but Former UND forward Michael Parks has signed with the Philadelphia Flyers organization. I imagine that he will play in the AHL or ECHL.

Will Kane Make it to Training Camp?

Right now it appears that won't happen. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. Will Jonathan Toews' wing man play with the Chicago Blackhawks this season? Stay tuned.
Per Mike Harrington, Buffalo News:
Losing endorsements like being on the cover of a video game is one thing. Getting held off the ice is something else entirely. And that’s where the Blackhawks and the NHL are going to be left with no choice.

The case of the sexual assault allegations against Kane looks like it could be going to a grand jury, although chatter about settlement talks surfaced some last week. Justice is on one schedule and it has to be followed. But hockey has its own schedule and that has to be followed, too.

The Hawks are slated to train for three days at the University of Notre Dame beginning Friday. Their annual Training Camp Festival is Sept. 21 in the United Center, featuring a scrimmage. The crowd is easily expected to be more than 10,000.

Kane can’t be there.

The NHL is already smartly distancing itself from one of its most prominent players. Kane wasn’t part of Tuesday’s kickoff media tour in Toronto, held annually by the league with national outlets and rights holders. The official word, of course, was that players are rotated and this year’s Chicago representatives were Toews and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Duncan Keith. Riiiiight.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Claude Giroux Talks About Coach Hakstol

Some have questioned whether Dave Hakstol would be able to connect with his players coming straight from the college coaching ranks to the NHL. This article might clear up those perceptions. Per Tim Wharnsby, NHL.com:
Giroux spoke with NHL.com about the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the Flyers, Briere and more in the following Q&A:

When the Flyers announced Dave Hakstol as their new coach, was there name recognition right away?

"I had no idea who he was. So right away I had to do some searching on the Internet. I talked with [general manager] Ron Hextall about him. Then [Hakstol] came to Ottawa to meet with me. "After I met him I was really excited and pumped to get the season started because of the way he sees the game and how humble he is. Most coaches would come into the NHL and say they know it all. But he told me that, "I’m going to learn, too, and that we going to be in this together." He wants this to be a team with everybody working together and on the same page. That's what you want."

As captain, what's the next step in the process with the new coach?

"After this I'm going to back to Philadelphia and we're going to have a series of meetings about what kind of team we want, what are we going to do to win a lot of games."