Former FIghting Sioux hockey player Jonathan Toews is not know for his fighting ability, threw up in the penalty box after fighting David Backes. Seriously!

After Backes fought Toews, Toews threw up twice in the penalty box. I mentioned that to Blues enforcer Cam Janssen today and he said, "No way, did he really?" Derek Armstrong jumped in the conversation and said: "Oh yeah, if you're not used to it, you'll throw up. Cam, it would be like you playing 20 minutes in a game . . . you would puke!" "You had go there, eh?" Janssen said, laughing. [www.stltoday.com]

Here is what Jacob Cepis said about playing the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Honestly, I am not sure how he would know since he has never played against the Sioux in his college hockey career, and Cepis is a transfer from Bowling Green. I hope the Sioux give him a crash course on the rivalry.

"[The Sioux] are going to want to stick it to you right away," Cepis said, "and they are going to want to bully you around. We got to be ready to battle back." [Star Tribune]

There was some discussion about the RMU Colonials beating the Miami RedHawks this past weekend and how it was a fluke; however, RMU has played some top teams tough.

Close-but-no-cigar decisions against NCAA heavyweights Ferris State (5-4 in OT), Bemidji State (2-0 including an empty-net goal) and Colorado College (4-3), all of which are ranked in this week's Top 11 according to USCHO.com, tested that belief but didn't shake it. "It does frustrate you," senior defenseman and RMU captain Dave Cowan said. "Nobody likes to lose, especially the guys on our team as close as we are and as competitive as we are. "Losing games like that pushes you harder in practice to get better and put you over that hump and eventually win those games. We believe we're capable of great things and that showed this past weekend." The two wins over Miami upped Robert Morris' record when facing off against ranked teams to 3-6 (the Colonials are 3-7 against teams ranked in this week's Top 20). [www.rmucolonials.com]

 

The Western College Hockey Association took the names off the back of the ref's jerseys this season and it's hard telling who is officiating the games in the WCHA.

3 -- Derek Shepherd
4 -- Todd Anderson
5 -- Justin Brown*
7 -- Don Adam
8 -- Tom Sterns*
9 -- C.J. Beaurline
10 -- Peter Friesema
11 -- Tim Walsh
12 -- Butch Mousseaux
14 -- Brian Thul
15 -- Marco Hunt
17 -- Craig Welker
18 -- Max Battimo
20 -- Brad Albers
22 -- Bill Mason
23 -- Matt Ulwelling
24 -- Jon Campion
25 -- Mike McCreary*
27 -- Jonathan Morrison
29 -- Scott Bokal
31 -- Brett Klosowski
33 -- Brad Shepherd

37 -- Tom Lund
71 -- Brian Novlesky
76 -- Brandon Schmitt
77 -- Mike Eslinger
78 -- Nathan Freeman
79 -- Matt Ulwelling
83 -- Justin Hills
84 -- Phil Stodgell
92 -- Andy Carton

The Miami University RedHawks is a good hockey team went all the way to the Frozen Four last season. The RedHakws played in the final game before losing to the Boston University Terriers in the Championship game. Most teams including championshiop teams go through rough patches but the Miami University RedHawks 13-4-5 seem to fall off right after the Christmas holiday break. This year seems to be starting out the same way.

 A Look at the "Rico Swoon" (through the first ten games, post-holiday break)

1999-2000: 4-5-1
2000-2001: 6-4-0
2001-2002: 3-6-1
2002-2003: 3-6-1
2003-2004: 7-2-1 (NCAA Participant)
2004-2005: 5-4-1
2005-2006: 6-3-1 (CCHA Champions, NCAA Participant)
2006-2007: 3-4-3 (NCAA Participant)
2007-2008: 7-2-1 (NCAA Participant)
2008-2009: 4-5-1 (NCAA Championship Game)
2009-2010: 0-2 "?"
[The Brother Hood]

The RedHawks started the second half of this season getting swept by the CHA's RMU Colonials 5-12-3. I believe that the Miami RedHawks are going to be very happy to see the CHA get disbanded after this season because the RedHawks are 0-3 in nonconference games against the CHA this season. That being said the Miami RedHawks are still sitting pretty even after laying an egg this past weekend. Check out this blog post; talk abut blasting your favorite team.

BOTTOM LINE: Miami has had some embarrassing losses in previous seasons, but this weekend series may top them all. Robert Morris hadn't won a game since Nov. 13, and the RedHawks made this team look like the 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Miami's new offensive strategy of pass-and-redirect-pass-to-the-defense worked to perfection on Sunday, squelching every chance the RedHawks had to gain the attacking zone. I can't remember Miami completing consecutive passes on the transition, and a team this talented should never have to resort to playing dump-and-chase on the power play.

There's absolutely no excuse to lose one of two, much less two, against a team that has one or two semi-talented skaters at best and a goalie who regularly floats 20 feet out of the crease for no reason.

And who decided four weeks off would be a good thing for Miami, considering its history? I realize the Ohio Hockey Classic is defunct and the team had four off weeks in its CCHA schedule, which it couldn't help, but seriously, the RedHawks couldn't get another weekend series in?

First thing I would tell this guy is get off the ledge. Talk about disrepecting your opponent after they have beaten your team twice. Seriously! After reading this post you would have thought that the Miami RedHawks were a bunch of talentless hacks sitting at the bottom of the CCHA and in danger of missing the NCAA tourney. Not so fast, Miami (10-1-3 and 13-4-5) is sitting second in the Pairwise rankings (which mimic the NCAA tourney selection) and tied for the lead in the CCHA with the Ferris State Bulldogs (10-2-2 and 16-4-2) with 34 points. Miami has some mojo even with the loss and can probably miss their conference tourney and still be a number one seed or high second seed in the NCAA tourney.

I have seen Miami play twice in person this season and they are the real deal, they are big, fast and buy into a defensive system. The RedHawks are coached by former RedHawk Enrico Blais who had an impressive 223-154-37 record. They may have lost a couple of game to an opponent that they should have beaten, there is still a lot of season left and no reason to get excited just yet.

 

Continue to The Miami swoon...

Last night the Wild played and beat the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. The Wild victory was fueled a possessed Guillamume Latendresse who led the charge with (1g-3a-4pts). Latendresse is really on a roll, in the last four games he is (4g-5a-8pts)

The Wild's 15-6 with Latendresse in the lineup and 8-1 when he scores a point. Since Dec. 15, Latendresse's eight even-strength goals lead the NHL. Remember in the first month when the Wild didn't have a prayer to score at even-strength? [Russo's Rants]

Incidentally, the guy the Wild traded to the Montreal Canadians to get Latendresse, former Wild player Benoit Pouliot has only scored 4 goals in 9 games. Latendresse surpassed Pouliot's production with the Habs in three periods of hockey. Not hard to see who got the best of that deal?

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[January 11, 2010]

Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Denver (45) 14-5-3 994 2
2 Miami ( 3) 13-4-5 871 1
3 Wisconsin 12-5-3 867 4
4 North Dakota ( 2) 12-6-4 821 5
5 Yale 9-3-3 754 6
6 Ferris State 16-4-2 685 11
7 Michigan State 15-6-3 673 9
8 Colorado College 12-7-3 658 3
9 Cornell 8-4-2 603 8
10 Minnesota-Duluth 14-7-1 595 13
11 Bemidji State 14-4-2 545 10
12 Boston College 10-6-2 500 7
13 Union 12-4-5 350 17
14 St. Cloud State 12-7-3 330 15
15 Mass.-Lowell 12-7-2 325 14
16 Maine 11-7-2 238 18
17 Quinnipiac 13-7-1 172 12
18 Vermont 10-6-2 156 19
19 Massachusetts 12-8-0 137 16
20 New Hampshire 9-7-4 118 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Alaska 82, Lake Superior 9, Notre Dame 6, Michigan 3, Minnesota 3, Northern Michigan 2, Minnesota State 1, Rensselaer 1, RIT 1

------------------------------------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Jan. 11, 2010]
1 Denver (33) 14-5-3 509 2
2 Miami University (Ohio) (1) 13-4-5 436 1
3 Wisconsin 12-5-3 429 4
4 North Dakota 12-6-4 386 5
5 Yale 9-3-3 371 6
6 Michigan State 15-6-3 316 9
7 Ferris State 16-4-2 308 12
8 Cornell 8-4-2 253 7
9 Colorado College 12-7-3 248 3
10 Minnesota Duluth 14-7-1 223 13
11 Bemidji State 14-4-2 184 10
12 Boston College 10-6-2 150 8
13 Union College 12-4-5 78 NR
14 Massachusetts Lowell 12-7-2 75 14
15 St. Cloud State 12-7-3 59 15
Others receiving votes: University of New Hampshire, 21; University of Vermont, 14; University of Maine, 11; University of Alaska, 5; University of Massachusetts, 3; Rochester Institute of Technology, 1.

Former UND hockey beat writer Virg Foss has a nice article about former Fighting Sioux hockey coach Dean Blais and his win at the WJC. With his win in the WJC there has been a lot of speculation on the Internet that former Fighting Sioux hockey Dean Blais would be a slam dunk as the next coach of the Minnesota Gophers, while this is not the crux of the article it is a point worth looking at. 

Since the Gophers have struggled the last couple of seasons there has been this on going speculation that it's time for a coaching change in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There have been a lot of die hard Gopher fans ready to throw their former Spencer Penrose award winning coach under the bus. Some of these fans calling for a change had been ardent supporters of Lucia in the past.

FSN Hockey personality Kevin Gorg recently said on KFAN 1130AM that Don Lucia would basically go at the time of his choosing and that Lucia is probably safe for now. I think Gorg is right. Breaking it down further; why would a university just up and fire a hockey coach that has won five MacNaughton Cups, three Broadmoor Trophies and two back-to-back NCAA championships in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Add to this impressive resume a Hobey Baker Memorial award winner in Jordan Leopold 2002. Heck the University of Minnesota just re-upped a football coach Tim Brewster that was just begging to be fired. 

There's great fear in Grand Forks that if the University of Minnesota makes a coaching change with its struggling program, Blais will return to his alma mater to coach the Gophers.

I'm not convinced the freedom-loving Blais would jump into that pressure cooker at his age. Blais cherishes the time to hunt and fish whenever possible. The demands of the Minnesota program would cut into that.

Nor am I convinced that Gopher athletics director Joel Maturi would change hockey coaches in a program that at least wins, while offering an extension to football coach Tim Brewster. How does that make sense?

There's a saying in sports that a great coach can take his players and beat yours, or take your players and beat his.

I think of Blais in those terms. Many others do, too. That's why there's rampant speculation and fear that he'll end up coaching the Gophers, even though Blais once said "a big city isn't for me."

But if they cut a big enough check, maybe it might be. If that happens, so be it. I love Dean Blais and wish him nothing but success and good fortune. If that happens to be at the tail end of his coaching career with Minnesota, my heart will be with him. [Read the res of the article]

Cross posted @ Goon's World.

The first thing I would say is WTF? Check out these condescending comments by Minnesota Gophers coach/prima donna Donny Lucia. I don’t think he needs to wonder why some of the fans in the WCHA don’t like his pompous smart-alecky ass. Lucia also shouldn’t wonder why some fans are not endeared to him.

Seriously, what kind of a coach makes these types of comments. Was it really needed in the article as well? Maybe we should blame the Minnesota beat writer as well. So what fans are you referring to Donny? I haven’t seen the fans jawing at you on the bench like they were George Gwozdecky. Can you imagine if Dave Hakstol or Bob Motzko had said something classless like that? Also, don't flatter yourself Donny the Badger fans hate you and your team as well.

I like going to Wisconsin," Lucia said. "The fans are into it. They have a good band there and you don't have the vile language or anything like that. The fans are just into the game which is the way you like to see it. From that standpoint, it fires us up. We have always had pretty good luck at the Kohl Center over the years."

Last season the Gophers played a series there in late October. The first game was a 2-2 tie, the Gophers won the next night 5-2.

"We have played well there," Lucia said. "It is a good rivalry but again it is not the swearing, the hatred, the viciousness as in some other buildings we have to go in our league."

Wonder which ones he was referring to? I can guess one pretty easily.
[Goal Gophers]

From the quick facts twitter account:

After speaking with Greg Shepherd QuickFacts does not expect any further discipline against Alaska's Portwood on for his hit on Nick Leddy.

I think the Gophers coach Don Lucia is a hypocrite in this instance after what Brian Schack did to MSU-M Maverick defenseman Channing Boe last season with his Todd Bertuzzi style attack and now wants the league to look at the Portwood hit on Leddy and possibly level a game or two suspension for something that is about ten times less serious. The first question I have to ask is, “are you kidding me?” Why doen’t Lucia suggest that the league also suspend the league officials working that game as well?

In fact Lucia basically condoned the Brian Schack attack on Channing Boe and called it sticking up for a teammate when the refs wouldn’t protect the Gophers players. I think this set a horrible precedence and it isn't good. If Brian Schack wasn't suspended by the University of Minnesota, coach Lucia or the WCHA for that brutal attack, I don’t see how they can in this situation. I saw the hit in question and I watched it no less than ten times and I see no reason for Portwood to be suspended. Was the hit in question questionable? Maybe. However, I don’t’ think there was malicious intent, especially when Portwood didn't lead with his elbow; he kept his shoulder down and into his body and didn't leave his feet to check the Gopher defender. It's unfortunate that Leddy got hit and suffered an injury nobody wants to see anyone get hurt ever. In fact being a Wild draft choice I want him to develop into a top of the line player that will contribute to the Minnesota Wild, however, what happened last year and Lucia’s inaction in dealing with his own player and now wanting a suspension in this instance is troublesome and very hypocritical. What if a Maverick player had done that to one of his Gopher players? I bet Lucia would have asked for a suspension in that case as well. You can’t have it both ways Donny.

Lastly, I know the WCHA officials are God awful I have been railing on them for years but if they can’t make the proper calls on the ice maybe they should be on the ice in the first place. In this case I think they made the right decision

I watched the tape of the hit and I don't think it's an illegal hit, just my humble opinion, it's probably a questionable hit but it's basically the same thing as the hit from Mike Richards on David Booth. Portwood didn't lead with his elbow and he kept his shoulder in. I mean seriously, are we going to come up with a rule now that six feet plus players can't hit ones that are under six feet? Nick Leddy knows better, you have to be aware of who is on the ice at all times, you can not leave yourself exposed on the ice especially when player like Jade Portwood is on the ice. The kid is not known for scoring goals, he is on the ice to hit players.

It was a tough hit. I don't think it was anything intentional with the kid but it was still, in my view, after watching the videotape --- the paper had an unbelievable shot of it. [See Sunday's Star Tribune Sports section.] It was a shot to the head.

"As much as you want to say it was a good hit, there are rules put in. And that's why there is zero tolerance for shots to the head. Just as in football, you don't allow crackback blocks. You don't allow blows to the head. You have rules in there to protect the players for a reason. I don't think the kid tried to, but still it was a shot to the head."

Lucia said he has already talked to Greg Shepherd, the supervisor of officials, about the play. "I talked to our referee in chief and I forwarded it and I think those things have to be looked at because that is a dangerous play," Lucia said. "Even though you are in a vulnerable position, that doesn't mean you can make that hit like that. That is my opinion. That is why the rule is in there."

One reporter after the Gophers' 4-1 victory over Alaska Anchorage, asked Lucia how a player can avoid a hit like that? "You just can't hit him in the head, plain and simple," Lucia said. "That's why it is in the rulebook. Zero tolerance.

"Look at the concussions in the game today. [Leddy] gets out because of a fractured jaw. Those are the kind of hits you want to eliminate from the game."

Lucia said he does not think Leddy will have to have his jaw wired. "I am hoping that within a week or two he can come out and skate a little bit," Lucia said, "so he can stay in conditioning. We'll see how it goes from here."

Shepherd was at the Gophers vs. Alaska Anchorage game on Sunday. But the on-ice action was very tame compared to Friday's game when there were 35 penalties called for 78 minutes.

On Sunday, there were eight minorrs, four per side, for 16 minutes total .

After the league reviews Portwood's hit on Leddy near the end of the first period, I expect he will suspended for at least one or two games. And it should happen quickly, by Monday or Tuesday.

Portwood is a 6-3, 207-pound sophomore from Victoria, British Columbia.
[Star Tribune]

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
[November 2, 2009]
1 Miami (41) 6-1-1 931 1
2 Denver ( 4) 5-2-1 856 2
3 North Dakota 4-1-1 833 3
4 Michigan 4-2-0 711 5
5 Cornell 1-0-0 657 6
6 Yale ( 1) 1-0-0 634 7
7 Boston University 2-3-0 613 4
8 Mass.-Lowell 4-2-0 572 9
9 Notre Dame 4-3-1 552 8
10 Nebraska-Omaha 4-0-2 430 12
11 Bemidji State 5-0-1 385 14
12 Colorado College 4-1-1 372 15
13 Alaska 5-0-1 363 16
14 Princeton 1-1-0 314 11
15 Vermont 2-3-0 271 10
16 Boston College 2-2-0 233 13
17 Michigan State 6-2-0 231 20
18 Wisconsin 3-2-1 225 19
19 Massachusetts 4-1-0 205 17
20 Minnesota-Duluth 5-2-1 92 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Quinnipiac 53, Minnesota 36, Harvard 22, St. Cloud State 21, Providence 18, Northeastern 10, New Hampshire 7, Merrimack 6, Minnesota State 6, Ohio State 1USA Today poll
[November 2, 2009]
1. Miami (29)
2. North Dakota
3. Denver (4)
4. Michigan
5. Boston University
6. Cornell
7. Yale (1)
8. UMass-Lowell
9. Notre Dame
10. Nebraska-Omaha
11. Colorado College
12. Bemidji State
13. Princeton
14. Alaska
15. Vermont
Others receiving votes: Boston College, 46; University of Massachusetts, 42; University of Wisconsin, 42; Michigan State University, 24; University of Minnesota Duluth, 13; Quinnipiac University, 5; St. Cloud State University, 2; University of Minnesota, 1.
Analysis: Some one gave Yale a first place vote in both the USA and USCHO polls, it would be interesting to know who the homer was. Yeah, ah, ok.