by ericburton on November 14, 2009
This is the article that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.
Last night during the SCSU and UND game I witnessed one of the dirtiest checking from behind plays [ video included] that I have seen since the Geoff Paukovich hit on Robbie Bina during the 2005 WCHA Final Five. WCHA official Don Adam incorrectly awarded Paukovich with a 2 minutes boarding penalty when a five minute major and a game misconduct would have been warranted. Bina was carted off the ice on a stretcher and wouldn’t play the next season (2005-2006) because of his injuries he substaned during the checking from behind penalty. Paukovich got an extra game suspension for his thuggery and we moved on, Bina went on to play in the 2006-2007 season for the Fighting Sioux and now plays in the ECHL.
History repeats itself
Fast forward to last night Donn Adam is again one of the on ice officials for the UND and SCSU hockey game. Genoway takes the puck up ice in an end to end rush. Genoway has the puck checked off his stick by number 3 Sam Zabkowicz and number 17 Aaron Marvin comes in and pounds Chay’s head into the end boards an high elbow to the back of the head.
Of course neither on ice referees Tim Walsh and Don Adam saw the play. Head official Don Adam conferred with the lines men and at first the officiating crew incorrectly penalized SCSU player Chris Hepp who given a five minute major and a game misconduct; later the Hepp had to put his equipment back on and rejoin the game after the officials realized between periods that they had penalized the wrong player. Now tell me that doesn’t lend to the officiating crews credibility.
The NCAA wants to focus on head shots and this was text book head shots and this was a text book definition of a head shot.
Contact to the Head
SECTION 8. A player shall not make contact with an opposing player’s
head or neck area in any manner.
PENALTY—Minor or major or disqualification at the discretion of the
referee. Contact to the head shall be assessed in front of the
infraction (i.e., contact to the head – elbow).
Note: The rules committee instructs officials to use a zero tolerance policy in
this area.
This was a dirty, blatant inexcusable hit that has no place in college or any form of professional hockey. If Aaron Marvin is not suspended by the WCHA and gets to play tonight the WCHA office will no longer have any stitch of credibility and will in essence be condoning this brutal act. The NCAA like the NHL needs to have a review system that reviews questionable penalties and plays and awards the proper disciplinary action. The NHL League office for the most part has done a decent job, however, the WCHA has not.
Lastly, there needs to be more accountability for on ice officials in the NCAA, Don Adam is a horrible official and should be removed from officiating before someone gets killed on the ice as a result of his incompetence.
There is some justice in the world as Marvin has been suspended for his hit and will not be playing in tonight’s game against the Sioux.
Edit: Marvin suspended for series finale —-I just got word that St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin has been suspended for tonight’s series finale against UND.
Marvin illegally checked UND’s Chay Genoway into the boards from behind in last night’s contest. Genoway didn’t return.
by ericburton on November 4, 2009
To watch the video [click on this]
Welcome back to the NHL. Check out this monster hit by Mattias Ohlund on Phil Kessel. All I can say is “OUCH.” You have to keep your head up when you come across the Blue line. The part I don’t like is someone lays out a player with a legal hit and then someone comes after Ohlund and wants to fight. That’s ridiculous.
by ericburton on November 4, 2009
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]
by ericburton on November 4, 2009
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
by ericburton on November 3, 2009
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]
by ericburton on November 3, 2009
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.
by ericburton on October 23, 2009
I have been a little under the weather this week and I kind of feel that blah, you know, that late fall yuck that I get every year before winter comes. I don’t know if it’s the changing of the seasons or what. Actually, that’s how I feel with this season’s matchup with the UAA Seawolves. This year like last season we are blessed with the opportunity to be able to see both away games on channel 23 on FSSN in Grand Forks, ND.
One of the biggest teams in College Hockey
A lot have been made about the Seawolves being the biggest team in college hockey. I say so what and big deal. I have referred to the Seawolves ‘as being a perennial WCHA doormat team, a big, slow, lumbering team, with little recognizable talent.’ The last four seasons UAA has finished a consistent 10th, 10th, 10th and 9th , looking at those finishes I think perennial WCHA doormat team would be an accurate assessment. I also predicted that Michigan would run UAA out of the building during their own tourney and I was correct.
On the flip side of the equation I have seen a lot of wide eyed pontifications from the UAA back bencher on how his mediocre team that lost to RMU is going to sweep UND. This is the same team that is missing two of its defensive cogs senior defensemen Nils Backstrom and Trevor Hunt who would probably be on most teams top six defensive parings.
UND is 6-1-1 in it’s last 8 games against UAA. In Anchorage last season UND also beat UAA 2-1 in overtime in a very close game the first night then ran them out of their building 6-1 the second night.
Prediction
I predict a series Split; Anchorage is a tough place to play, while I think UND should and could sweep, I am going to say the lose Friday and win on Saturday. Please prove me wrong.
by ericburton on October 23, 2009
This is an article that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.
My dad sent me an account of a Gopher fan’s experience at Ralph Engelstad Arena this past weekend. Was I sitting in a different arena this past weekend?
Sioux Gophers and idiots on both sides.
I was at the Sioux/Gopher hockey games this weekend. The games were in Grand Forks and I was wearing Gopher gear on Friday night. Our tickets were also in the student section. We sat on the very far side of the student section. There were some Gopher fans in front of us who were clearly from the U. They were receiving a bit of heckling, and for the most part it was all in good fun, but there were a few weekend warriors” that went over the line from the UND side of things. They were invading some personal space and getting face to face with the kids from the U. Lots of you are a bitch. and you suck balls. Luckily for everybody involved where I was at, the Gopher kids stayed very chill about these 2 or 3 idiots getting too close to them.
The UND kids clearly had had way too much to drink. The problem was they kept coming back trying to instigate more and more each time. It could have turned bad pretty easy. Check out the story below. On Saturday night we also had student section tickets. I was not looking forward to the abuse again.
The night before there was a very drunk kid behind us who fell into our seats a few times. We were standing each time, but my wife got kicked once. He’s lucky he did not catch the 4 year old girl with a foot. So we got lucky Saturday nights, while we were waiting in line to get into the game some kids from the U said they had normal tickets but wanted to sit in student section. I overheard this and we traded our 4 student tickets for their 4 normal tickets. It was a much better game Saturday and we did not have to get kicked by drunk 19 year olds. All around a better experience.
While this weekend I didn’t see a lot of this stuff going on, I have witnessed this type of behavior first hand in the past at venues like the Final Five at the Xcel Energy Center. Who uses this type of language when talking to another fan from a different team in front of young children? These people should have their mouths washed out with soap. That does cross the line of what is considered acceptable behavior at a sporting event. If I brought my two year old daughter to the game I don’t want her to have to listen to this kind of vile stuff. Just because you’re a college student doesn’t give you the right to act like an ass. There is no birthright to sit in that seat at the arena; if you can’t behave, I am sure the REA management can sell that prime seat to someone will be able to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner.
Not to pick on the college students there are many examples of adult fans, both Sioux and Gopher fans, getting out of hand and acting like imbeciles as well. I heard from a friend that a female Gopher fan who happened to be pregnant was heckled and jostled at the arena this past weekend. Who the heck does that kind of a thing? Imagine your girlfriend, wife or mother having this happen to them.
In yesterday’s Grand Forks Herald there was a letter to the editor in which a person described an experience where someone dumped a beer on a Gopher fan’s head from the upper deck. That kind of behavior is unacceptable and only a moron would defend behavior like this. People like this are going to ruin it for the rest of us that like to enjoy a beer without having the game ruined by drunk, belligerent idiots. I can foresee a time where the REA might ban beer sales to college students and or everyone. These types of incidents do not paint a positive picture of Grand Forks, ND, the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota or the WCHA. As fans collectively we must behave better, we don’t want to look like a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.
I know, call me old-fashioned, but some of the stuff that happened this past weekend seems to be borderline criminal or at least anti-social behavior and should be deemed as inappropriate and unacceptable. None of us should have to be a witness to this type of crap. To top off the weekend, we had an incident between two fans that could be classified as felonious with one person ending up in the ICU wing of Altru Hospital. There is nothing about this series that should lead any of us to start throwing punches at each other.
I am as pro-Fighting Sioux hockey as they come: I am all for a loud arena and an intimidating atmosphere, but some of this stuff is atrocious behavior and unfit for television. My boss who is new to the area went to a Sioux hockey game for the first time and I am sure she was impressed with the F’ the Gophers cheer, way to go UND. Remember there is friendly acceptable back and forth banter and then there is crossing the line. I also have friends that are Gopher fans, and some of them won’t even come up to Grand Forks anymore based on the type of treatment they have received from our fans.
I have to wonder if it is time for college hockey to institute a fan code of conduct for its fans like some NFL teams have. Eventually the University of North Dakota is going to have to address the behaviors of its fans at the REA.
Fan code of conduct
“The National Football League and its teams are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all fans, both in the stadium and in the parking lot. We want all fans attending our games to enjoy the experience in a responsible fashion. When attending a game, you are required to refrain from the following behaviors:
» Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature.
» Intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behavior.
» Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
» Interference with the progress of the game (including throwing objects onto the field).
» Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.
» Verbal or physical harassment of opposing team fans.
“Event patrons are responsible for their conduct as well as the conduct of their guests and/or persons occupying their seats. Stadium staff will promptly intervene to support an environment where event patrons, their guests, and other fans can enjoy the event free from the above behavior. Event patrons and guests who violate these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and loss of ticket privileges for future games.”
Like another hockey fan suggested from DU, I like the NFL fan code of conduct policy and I am all for this if being enacted at REA. If you’re an unruly fan and you can’t act in an acceptable manner, your ticket should be taken from you and you will no longer be allowed to be able to attend events in the arena. Attending college hockey is a privilege, not a right. If you can’t act like a member of the human race, do not bother coming to the arena. Someone else will gladly pay a handsome fee for that ticket and act in a respectful manner in your place.
by ericburton on October 12, 2009
True to form; SCSU lost again to the Miami RedHawks last night. Miami has now won six games in a row against WCHA teams. Just for the record the last WCHA team to beat Miami University RedHawks was the Fighting Sioux 3-0 in Lefty McFadden Invitational on October 8th 2005 when Jordan Parise held of a Miami surge and got a shutout against the RedHawks. When Miami plays UND on November 28, 2009 in the Subway Holiday Classic UND has a chance to end the RedHawks streak against Miami. This could prove to be an exciting game with huge PWR implications.
Here is the last 7 games that Miami has played against WCHA teams.
October 8th 2005 UND 3 Miami 0
October 6th 2006 Miami 5 DU 2
December 27, 2007 Miami 2 SCSU 1 O.T.
March 27, 2009 Miami 4 DU 2
March 28, 2009 Miami 2 UMD 1
October 10, 2009 Miami 3 SCSU 2 O.T.
October 11, 2009 Miami 2 SCSU 0.
Cross Posted at [Goon's World]
by ericburton on October 12, 2009
This is an article that has cause a stir in the college hockey world for WCHA fans. We all know the CCHA was mad after UNO decided to join the best college hockey conference in College Hockey the WCHA. According to an article written by Badgers hockey beat writer Andy Baggot apparently some in the athletic department leadership at Wisconsin actually entertained the idea of moving to the CCHA. Luckily Eaves a smart man and doesn’t want to switch leagues. Duh!
Seriously, why would anyone move from a league like the WCHA to the CCHA? First: the move to the CCHA would make them a whole lot less money than the WCHA? Do you think CCHA schools get 90,000.00 per team after the Final Four at the Joe? Second; After Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame who would fill the Kohl center like UND, Wisconsin and DU? 15,000 fans aren’t going to come to the Kohl center to watch a team like LSSU or BGSU. I would bet any of my friend in Madison a case of Bud Light on that one. Also, Alvarez should stick to something he knows football.
I think one thing that is driving some of this is nonsense is the Big Ten Network. While I receive BTN on my digital cable package a lot of house holds do not. You have to have an expanded cable package or some kind of satellite television package to receive it. If the Big Ten Network wants to get serious and make money off of the hockey first show more hockey teams and match ups, how about more games of Wisconsin Vs UND, Minnesota Vs UND, Minnesota Vs Denver, Minnesota Vs UND ecetera. Also, if OSH is concerned about not getting any exposure have the BTN come up to Grand Forks, ND during the Thanksgiving Weekend and broadcast a few of the Subway Classic Holiday Tourney games. I am sure UND pasting OSU in a few games would be good for the ratings.
Multiple college hockey sources said UW officials responded to the slowing of the talks by making it known they would consider moving to the CCHA. That league will go from 12 members to 11 in 2010-11 when Nebraska-Omaha defects to the WCHA. Omaha will join Bemidji (Minn.) State to make the WCHA a 12-school conference.
Frazier acknowledged that UW would be a “jewel” for the CCHA, but he denied such rhetoric, saying, “We’re loyal to the WCHA.”
In an e-mail, CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said he’s had no contact with UW officials about such an idea, but said he’d be interested in the Badgers coming to his league.
Yet the option of moving to the CCHA was certainly broached by UW officials at some point. Asked about the notion, Alvarez said men’s coach Mike Eaves wasn’t interested in changing leagues.
“If Mike’s not interested, I’m not interested,” Alvarez said. “I’d be interested in other things. As I’ve said before, regionalizing hockey makes sense.” [Madison.com]
I believe this is the crux of the arguement right here, it would be harder to qualify for the NCAA tourney if Minnesota or Wisconsin played MSU, Michigan and or Ohio State for 6 games and went 2-4 in non conference play. Taking that line of thinking further: this could also be another reason to kill the Big Ten Hockey Conference, if you put a bunch of top teams like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State in a league not everyone is going to have a winning record or a strong PWR number. The almight NCAA dollar = NC$$. You don’t want to bite the hand that feeds you.
Minnesota and UW currently have annual matchups with Michigan and Michigan State in the College Hockey Showcase, but Ohio State has no consistent access to the two WCHA schools.
“It’s something I think we’d like to see accomplished,” Schneider said of the Big Ten men’s hockey league, “but I think we can achieve some of the same goals through a scheduling alliance.”
According to a source, it was proposed that UW and Minnesota devote their six non-conference games to series with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. The idea was rejected in part because those games would make difficult schedules even more so and make it harder to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
“I think (a new conference) would be nice, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary,” Schneider said. “It’s something we definitely want to continue exploring.”
Talks about a Big Ten men’s hockey league have been going on for years, with varying degrees of intensity.
“Where it stands now is that it’s still a discussion point,” Maturi said. “There’s nothing imminent.”
