UMD sophomore defenseman Chris Casto has decided to take his talents to the professional ranks.
The 6-3 Stillwater native will be or has signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Bruins. The undrafted Casto spent two seasons at UMD, playing 77 games and logging some big minutes over that time. Casto scored five goals and totaled 22 points as a Bulldog.
Monday night, Casto announced his departure on Twitter, saying "I would like to thank my teammates, the Bulldogs organization, and Duluth for my time here. It has truly been an honor to be a Bulldog."
Casto had obvious value when he arrived at UMD, almost immediately showing himself as a guy who could play in all situations. There were some struggles in his sophomore season, but he also showed the offensive bend to his game on a few occasions. There were a couple games where he was as aggressive at going to the net as some of UMD's forwards were. That's not necessarily a good thing when it happens a lot, but it was nice to see Casto jumping up in the play.
In the end, I'm not sure five goals in 77 games was the offensive output he was hoping for, but he never really got a chance to run UMD's top power play unit, what with Brady Lamb last year and Andy Welinski this year.
I don't know that it's been announced, but one would expect Casto to be assigned to the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence. Dunkin Donuts for everyone!
As for UMD, it's not a shocking departure, but it's an early one. The recruiting class currently has two defensemen, Canadian Carson Soucy and Eden Prairie native Dan Molenaar. UMD likely will pursue one more defenseman for the 2013-14 recruiting class, giving the Bulldogs eight on the roster.
Options include recruiting a currently uncommitted player from the junior ranks, or bringing in a committed player from a future class early. If the latter is the choice, the best bet is that Shattuck-St. Mary's defenseman Willie Raskob would come in this year. Another choice would be Blake Heinrich, who made a name for himself at Hill-Murray and played last season with Sioux City (USHL).
Either way, we wish Casto the best of luck as he moves on in his career. Remember, the better he does, the more it makes UMD look good, as a place guys can come, get better, and get a chance to get paid to play hockey.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Brewers Paying Players Twins Didn't Want
We're a week from Opening Day.
Actually, it's less than that.
So I'm going to throw a few baseball thoughts out there.
First off, over the course of spring training, the Brewers have now guaranteed $61 million to two former Twins. Carlos Gomez signed a three-year extension worth $24 million on top of a $4 million deal he already got for this season. Go-Go struggled to hit consistently in Minnesota. Well, he also did in Milwaukee, but he seemed to pick things up last season, hitting .260 and showing flashes of 30/30 type ability. But $28 million for four years?
Before I felt I had that deal totally figured out, here comes Kyle Lohse. The former Twins starter got $33 million over three years on Monday.
That's how bad the Brewers rotation looks. They signed their No. 2 or No. 3 -- depending on how you feel about Marco Estrada -- with a week left in spring training. And guaranteed him $11 million per season.
Oh, and the Brewers also surrendered their first-round pick in the June draft to sign Lohse.
As a Brewer fan, I really hope this works out. But the Twins haven't exactly been known for dumping loads of good players in the past. Gomez and Lohse are both guys the Twins decided they didn't need around anymore.
Gomez is a lot of fun to watch, especially in center field. He doesn't always take the best angles on the ball, but he's so fast that his recovery can be as entertaining as anyone else.
Lohse had a bad clubhouse rep in Minnesota. Never heard "boo" about him in St. Louis, but that is a different culture there. It'll be interesting to see if that "surrender No. 1 pick" issue is the biggest reason Lohse couldn't get a gig all winter, or if there is more to it than just that and money. If Lohse is on, as evidenced by his 16 wins and sub-3.00 ERA last season, he is certainly a very effective arm at the top of a rotation.
Of course, the last time the Brewers plucked a pitcher straight out of the Cardinals' rotation, it was Braden Looper. He gave up 39 home runs for the Brewers in 2009, and the team wasn't very good because he and Jeff Suppan drug the whole pitching staff down.
(In fact, Looper and Suppan, BOTH FORMER CARDINALS, combined to throw around 355 innings in 2009 for Milwaukee. 426 hits, 138 walks, and 64 home runs later, the Brewers had sufficiently wasted amazing seasons from both Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. 80-82. Thanks, management.)
Anyway, that's $61 million the Twins didn't want to spend. Given Minnesota's issues at positions not occupied by Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Josh Willingham, it's up to you whether the Twins got the better end of losing Gomez and Lohse.
Actually, it's less than that.
So I'm going to throw a few baseball thoughts out there.
First off, over the course of spring training, the Brewers have now guaranteed $61 million to two former Twins. Carlos Gomez signed a three-year extension worth $24 million on top of a $4 million deal he already got for this season. Go-Go struggled to hit consistently in Minnesota. Well, he also did in Milwaukee, but he seemed to pick things up last season, hitting .260 and showing flashes of 30/30 type ability. But $28 million for four years?
Before I felt I had that deal totally figured out, here comes Kyle Lohse. The former Twins starter got $33 million over three years on Monday.
That's how bad the Brewers rotation looks. They signed their No. 2 or No. 3 -- depending on how you feel about Marco Estrada -- with a week left in spring training. And guaranteed him $11 million per season.
Oh, and the Brewers also surrendered their first-round pick in the June draft to sign Lohse.
As a Brewer fan, I really hope this works out. But the Twins haven't exactly been known for dumping loads of good players in the past. Gomez and Lohse are both guys the Twins decided they didn't need around anymore.
Gomez is a lot of fun to watch, especially in center field. He doesn't always take the best angles on the ball, but he's so fast that his recovery can be as entertaining as anyone else.
Lohse had a bad clubhouse rep in Minnesota. Never heard "boo" about him in St. Louis, but that is a different culture there. It'll be interesting to see if that "surrender No. 1 pick" issue is the biggest reason Lohse couldn't get a gig all winter, or if there is more to it than just that and money. If Lohse is on, as evidenced by his 16 wins and sub-3.00 ERA last season, he is certainly a very effective arm at the top of a rotation.
Of course, the last time the Brewers plucked a pitcher straight out of the Cardinals' rotation, it was Braden Looper. He gave up 39 home runs for the Brewers in 2009, and the team wasn't very good because he and Jeff Suppan drug the whole pitching staff down.
(In fact, Looper and Suppan, BOTH FORMER CARDINALS, combined to throw around 355 innings in 2009 for Milwaukee. 426 hits, 138 walks, and 64 home runs later, the Brewers had sufficiently wasted amazing seasons from both Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. 80-82. Thanks, management.)
Anyway, that's $61 million the Twins didn't want to spend. Given Minnesota's issues at positions not occupied by Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Josh Willingham, it's up to you whether the Twins got the better end of losing Gomez and Lohse.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Game 38: UMD at Wisconsin (WCHA Rd1 Gm2)
MADISON, Wisc. -- And away we go from Madison, where the UMD men try to keep the proverbial -- and actual -- dream alive against Wisconsin.
Junior forward Joe Basaraba has shaken a virus and will play in this game, while senior captain Cody Danberg was injured Friday on a hit by Sean Little of Wisconsin (it was a boarding call in the third period) and will not be in the lineup. For Danberg and six other seniors, it will be the final game at UMD barring a win.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Sampair - Hendrickson - Flaherty
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Bergman - Johnson
Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely
UW
Kerdiles - Zengerle - Barnes
LaBate - Woods - Mersch
Little (Ryan) - Dahl - Little (Sean)
Navin - Meuer - Paape
McCabe - Simonelli
Schulze - Ramage
Wittchow - Faust
Rumpel - Peterson - Miller
Junior forward Joe Basaraba has shaken a virus and will play in this game, while senior captain Cody Danberg was injured Friday on a hit by Sean Little of Wisconsin (it was a boarding call in the third period) and will not be in the lineup. For Danberg and six other seniors, it will be the final game at UMD barring a win.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Sampair - Hendrickson - Flaherty
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Bergman - Johnson
Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely
UW
Kerdiles - Zengerle - Barnes
LaBate - Woods - Mersch
Little (Ryan) - Dahl - Little (Sean)
Navin - Meuer - Paape
McCabe - Simonelli
Schulze - Ramage
Wittchow - Faust
Rumpel - Peterson - Miller
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Everything on the Line for UMD
MADISON, Wisc. -- It has been a long time since this has happened, which means we're probably a little spoiled at this point.
Saturday night, UMD will play to preserve its season.
It's been five years, since the "Goals Somewhat At A Premium" 2007-08 season, that UMD has faced elimination this early.
Friday night, the Bulldogs couldn't generate any real consistent attack, couldn't slow down Mark Zengerle and Nic Kerdiles, and took a 3-1 loss across the street from my current location.
Zengerle had three points, including the game-icing empty-net goal. On that play, he shot the puck from 150 or so feet away, and it hit the net dead-center. I mean, it would have scored on one of those big wooden goalies with the small slot at the bottom that arenas use in between-periods competitions.
Wisconsin can clinch the series with one more win, while UMD needs to win to keep the dream alive, so to speak.
Junior forward Joe Basaraba (virus) skated Friday morning, but the decision was made to leave him out of the lineup. Without UMD's most physical forward on the ice, the Badgers pushed the Bulldogs around virtually all night. His presence helps a lot, but it isn't the cure-all for what went wrong here.
The Bulldogs, basically, have two choices heading into this game. Either they can figure out a way to make Wisconsin play at UMD's preferred pace, or they can figure out how to play more effectively and efficiently at Wisconsin's pace, which is slower than what UMD prefers.
Basaraba does help UMD in the "pushed around" aspect of things. He should be back with Tony Cameranesi and Austin Farley, who were non-factors five-on-five Friday. He also takes his spot, I'd assume, on the second power play unit, which had its worst game in weeks Friday.
But Basaraba doesn't help UMD's pace issue. That's a mindset.
Most bothersome? The guys who are usually most effective against slower-place teams -- Jake Hendrickson, Keegan Flaherty, and Cody Danberg -- were not so on Friday. Only two combined shots (both by Flaherty) and a lot of time spent chasing the puck in the defensive zone.
Now, on the bright side, that all-senior line usually doesn't have two bad games in a row. And Basaraba back with the kids should help make them more of a factor.
Oh, and Aaron Crandall played very well in goal. If he can do that again, and UMD can better handle the slower pace, there's still a chance we're back here on Sunday night.
I'm still irritated at the major penalty on North Dakota captain Andrew MacWilliam from Friday. Probably more irritated at that than I am at anything that happened here in our game.
This is a clean hit. Clean. There isn't a single argument for any violation of the rules that exist.
The penalty that was called was contact to the head. At no point in the video does any part of MacWilliam's body touch David Johnstone's head. There isn't even indirect or unintentional contact to the head on the follow through. Even though that kind of contact to the head is supposed to result in a minor penalty, one could easily defend the officials mistakenly calling a major had it happened. In this case, there was no such contact.
I'll prove it. Let's go to the videotape.
It's MacWilliam's third CTH major of the season. One more, and he's automatically suspended.
Here was the first one, also called by the crew Derek Shepherd and Marco Hunt, which worked Friday's game in Grand Forks:
No matter what you think of MacWilliam as a player, it's bunk that he is on the verge of a suspension because of overzealous officials. From the sounds of it, no one in the WCHA has the power to rescind those major penalty calls after the fact, even though they were both incorrect. And no official has the power to review a major penalty call to make sure he was correct in ejecting a player from a game.
Because we're in a two-year rules cycle in this sport, there will be no changes to this stuff until the spring of 2014. That gives us plenty of time to figure out what is best.
At this point, I'd argue that what is best includes the automatic video review of any major penalty before play resumes after the call. Is it going to slow the game down? Sure, but there are ways to mitigate that, even if only a little bit. Make sure that if it's a league that takes TV timeouts, there are rules to allow for a timeout to be taken a little earlier than scheduled if it's going to coincide with a video review. Remember, TV timeouts aren't meant for players to get rest. They exist to benefit television and only television (well, radio, too). If leagues are more flexible with their timing, it could help with the issues that come along with adding to the list of plays that can be reviewed.
And let's be honest. No matter what you think of Derek Shepherd and Marco Hunt, they aren't bumbling idiots. A video review of this hit by MacWilliam would have lasted about 15 seconds. The call would have been changed, and the game would have resumed.
(Yeah, the officials still would have had to find a minor penalty to assess. Roughing would be the most likely option. But if you're UND, would you rather have MacWilliam sit for two minutes, or for 52:30?)
North Dakota won 5-3, by the way. In fact, all six home teams won on Friday, two of them -- Minnesota and Minnesota State -- in overtime. Only St. Cloud State's 6-1 win over Alaska-Anchorage would qualify as a blowout. Everything else was close.
Last year, we only had one Sunday game. Same for the year before. We'll find out tonight how many teams have to lace them up again on Sunday this time around.
Saturday night, UMD will play to preserve its season.
It's been five years, since the "Goals Somewhat At A Premium" 2007-08 season, that UMD has faced elimination this early.
Friday night, the Bulldogs couldn't generate any real consistent attack, couldn't slow down Mark Zengerle and Nic Kerdiles, and took a 3-1 loss across the street from my current location.
Zengerle had three points, including the game-icing empty-net goal. On that play, he shot the puck from 150 or so feet away, and it hit the net dead-center. I mean, it would have scored on one of those big wooden goalies with the small slot at the bottom that arenas use in between-periods competitions.
Wisconsin can clinch the series with one more win, while UMD needs to win to keep the dream alive, so to speak.
Junior forward Joe Basaraba (virus) skated Friday morning, but the decision was made to leave him out of the lineup. Without UMD's most physical forward on the ice, the Badgers pushed the Bulldogs around virtually all night. His presence helps a lot, but it isn't the cure-all for what went wrong here.
The Bulldogs, basically, have two choices heading into this game. Either they can figure out a way to make Wisconsin play at UMD's preferred pace, or they can figure out how to play more effectively and efficiently at Wisconsin's pace, which is slower than what UMD prefers.
Basaraba does help UMD in the "pushed around" aspect of things. He should be back with Tony Cameranesi and Austin Farley, who were non-factors five-on-five Friday. He also takes his spot, I'd assume, on the second power play unit, which had its worst game in weeks Friday.
But Basaraba doesn't help UMD's pace issue. That's a mindset.
Most bothersome? The guys who are usually most effective against slower-place teams -- Jake Hendrickson, Keegan Flaherty, and Cody Danberg -- were not so on Friday. Only two combined shots (both by Flaherty) and a lot of time spent chasing the puck in the defensive zone.
Now, on the bright side, that all-senior line usually doesn't have two bad games in a row. And Basaraba back with the kids should help make them more of a factor.
Oh, and Aaron Crandall played very well in goal. If he can do that again, and UMD can better handle the slower pace, there's still a chance we're back here on Sunday night.
******
I'm still irritated at the major penalty on North Dakota captain Andrew MacWilliam from Friday. Probably more irritated at that than I am at anything that happened here in our game.
This is a clean hit. Clean. There isn't a single argument for any violation of the rules that exist.
The penalty that was called was contact to the head. At no point in the video does any part of MacWilliam's body touch David Johnstone's head. There isn't even indirect or unintentional contact to the head on the follow through. Even though that kind of contact to the head is supposed to result in a minor penalty, one could easily defend the officials mistakenly calling a major had it happened. In this case, there was no such contact.
I'll prove it. Let's go to the videotape.
It's MacWilliam's third CTH major of the season. One more, and he's automatically suspended.
Here was the first one, also called by the crew Derek Shepherd and Marco Hunt, which worked Friday's game in Grand Forks:
No matter what you think of MacWilliam as a player, it's bunk that he is on the verge of a suspension because of overzealous officials. From the sounds of it, no one in the WCHA has the power to rescind those major penalty calls after the fact, even though they were both incorrect. And no official has the power to review a major penalty call to make sure he was correct in ejecting a player from a game.
Because we're in a two-year rules cycle in this sport, there will be no changes to this stuff until the spring of 2014. That gives us plenty of time to figure out what is best.
At this point, I'd argue that what is best includes the automatic video review of any major penalty before play resumes after the call. Is it going to slow the game down? Sure, but there are ways to mitigate that, even if only a little bit. Make sure that if it's a league that takes TV timeouts, there are rules to allow for a timeout to be taken a little earlier than scheduled if it's going to coincide with a video review. Remember, TV timeouts aren't meant for players to get rest. They exist to benefit television and only television (well, radio, too). If leagues are more flexible with their timing, it could help with the issues that come along with adding to the list of plays that can be reviewed.
And let's be honest. No matter what you think of Derek Shepherd and Marco Hunt, they aren't bumbling idiots. A video review of this hit by MacWilliam would have lasted about 15 seconds. The call would have been changed, and the game would have resumed.
(Yeah, the officials still would have had to find a minor penalty to assess. Roughing would be the most likely option. But if you're UND, would you rather have MacWilliam sit for two minutes, or for 52:30?)
North Dakota won 5-3, by the way. In fact, all six home teams won on Friday, two of them -- Minnesota and Minnesota State -- in overtime. Only St. Cloud State's 6-1 win over Alaska-Anchorage would qualify as a blowout. Everything else was close.
Last year, we only had one Sunday game. Same for the year before. We'll find out tonight how many teams have to lace them up again on Sunday this time around.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Adventures in Bad WCHA Officiating, Part 843
I don't have the strength to opine about UMD-Wisconsin at the moment. So please watch this video.
This was a five-minute major for contact to the head and a game misconduct for UND's Andrew MacWilliam.
Seriously.
This was a five-minute major for contact to the head and a game misconduct for UND's Andrew MacWilliam.
Seriously.
Game 37: UMD at Wisconsin (WCHA Rd 1 Gm 1)
MADISON, Wisc. -- UMD takes a four-game winning streak into Friday's game here to open a best-of-three against fourth-seeded Wisconsin.
Usually, such circumstances would keep a coach from doing any lineup tinkering. Unfortunately, UMD doesn't have that luxury.
Junior forward Joe Basaraba (virus) has missed a good chunk of the practice week and will not play in the opener. He did make the trip, so theoretically he will be available if his health improves.
Aaron Crandall vs. Joel Rumpel to kick this thing off.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
DeLisle - Herbert - Seidel
Farley - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Danberg - Hendrickson - FlahertySampair - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely
UW
Kerdiles - Zengerle - Barnes
LaBate - Woods - Mersch
Little (Ryan) - Dahl - Little (Sean)
Navin - Meuer - Paape
McCabe - Simonelli
Schulze - Ramage
Wittchow - Faust
Rumpel - Peterson - Miller
Usually, such circumstances would keep a coach from doing any lineup tinkering. Unfortunately, UMD doesn't have that luxury.
Junior forward Joe Basaraba (virus) has missed a good chunk of the practice week and will not play in the opener. He did make the trip, so theoretically he will be available if his health improves.
Aaron Crandall vs. Joel Rumpel to kick this thing off.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
DeLisle - Herbert - Seidel
Farley - Cameranesi - Crandall (Justin)
Danberg - Hendrickson - FlahertySampair - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely
UW
Kerdiles - Zengerle - Barnes
LaBate - Woods - Mersch
Little (Ryan) - Dahl - Little (Sean)
Navin - Meuer - Paape
McCabe - Simonelli
Schulze - Ramage
Wittchow - Faust
Rumpel - Peterson - Miller
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Bulldogs, Badgers Finish Rivalry (For Now) With Playoff Series
Greetings from the mansion. Travel day tomorrow, and then it's time to hit the Kohl Center for playoff hockey.
UMD and Wisconsin haven't met in the postseason since 1993, when the Bulldogs bested UW 7-5 in the third-place game of the first-ever Final Five (at least the first year it was branded as such). They haven't met in a first-round series since 1991, and UMD has never beaten Wisconsin in a first-round series.
The Bulldogs got hot down the stretch, winning four in a row to close the season on a 4-1-2 run that included an impressive two-game performance against Minnesota that netted the Bulldogs a single lousy point in the standings.
Wisconsin, however, is also going pretty nicely. After a 1-7-3 start, the Badgers have dropped just five games. UW earned home ice with a great run down the stretch, including a 3-1 finish after the Badgers had to shake off a Monday night overtime loss to Penn State a couple weeks ago.
It should be an entertaining series, one where each team will try to cool off hot players. UMD's freshman tandem of Tony Cameranesi and Austin Farley each have 34 points. Farley has a six-game point streak in which he has 13 points on six goals and seven assists. Cameranesi has improved greatly on faceoffs in the second half of the season, and UMD's overall improvement in that area is a big part of the team's uptick in play lately. It's also helped the power play immensely. UMD's special teams are a key this weekend. The Bulldogs are 14 for their last 32 on the power play, including seven of 12 last week as they opened a can on Omaha.
The penalty kill? Also going very well. UMD has killed 25 of the last 27 opponent power plays, and that includes the series at Minnesota, where the nation's top power play got one all weekend.
Wisconsin's special teams were basically a dumpster fire early in the season, but head coach Mike Eaves told me this week he's liking what he is seeing lately. The Badgers have been bolstered offensively by the continued improvement of freshman Nic Kerdiles, who was a late arrival to the team because of a stupid NCAA suspension. It also helps having Mark Zengerle healthy. They comprise two-thirds of the UW top line, with Tyler Barnes skating with them. Michael Mersch (22 goals) is on the second line right now, and his continued strong play there has given the Badgers a little bit of offensive balance on their top two lines.
Special teams could play a huge role this weekend, as always in the playoffs. Paper gives UMD an edge in both areas, but the Bulldogs know full well from their title run two years ago that paper doesn't decide anything when it comes to these things. Nothing.
Both teams are playing for their seasons, and both teams are playing for a shot at what will be the last Final Five of its kind. UMD and UW move on next season, and the leagues they're moving to can only dream to have conference tournaments as magical and entertaining as the Final Five has been over the years.
I have to figure these teams will lay it all on the line, both to preserve their NCAA hopes and also get one more shot at college hockey's greatest conference tournament.
And while UMD is the road team and lower seed, it's hard not to like the Bulldogs' chances. This team has come together nicely, and as long as the back end stays solid, UMD has as good a shot as anyone in the league of pulling a road upset.
UMD and Wisconsin haven't met in the postseason since 1993, when the Bulldogs bested UW 7-5 in the third-place game of the first-ever Final Five (at least the first year it was branded as such). They haven't met in a first-round series since 1991, and UMD has never beaten Wisconsin in a first-round series.
The Bulldogs got hot down the stretch, winning four in a row to close the season on a 4-1-2 run that included an impressive two-game performance against Minnesota that netted the Bulldogs a single lousy point in the standings.
Wisconsin, however, is also going pretty nicely. After a 1-7-3 start, the Badgers have dropped just five games. UW earned home ice with a great run down the stretch, including a 3-1 finish after the Badgers had to shake off a Monday night overtime loss to Penn State a couple weeks ago.
It should be an entertaining series, one where each team will try to cool off hot players. UMD's freshman tandem of Tony Cameranesi and Austin Farley each have 34 points. Farley has a six-game point streak in which he has 13 points on six goals and seven assists. Cameranesi has improved greatly on faceoffs in the second half of the season, and UMD's overall improvement in that area is a big part of the team's uptick in play lately. It's also helped the power play immensely. UMD's special teams are a key this weekend. The Bulldogs are 14 for their last 32 on the power play, including seven of 12 last week as they opened a can on Omaha.
The penalty kill? Also going very well. UMD has killed 25 of the last 27 opponent power plays, and that includes the series at Minnesota, where the nation's top power play got one all weekend.
Wisconsin's special teams were basically a dumpster fire early in the season, but head coach Mike Eaves told me this week he's liking what he is seeing lately. The Badgers have been bolstered offensively by the continued improvement of freshman Nic Kerdiles, who was a late arrival to the team because of a stupid NCAA suspension. It also helps having Mark Zengerle healthy. They comprise two-thirds of the UW top line, with Tyler Barnes skating with them. Michael Mersch (22 goals) is on the second line right now, and his continued strong play there has given the Badgers a little bit of offensive balance on their top two lines.
Special teams could play a huge role this weekend, as always in the playoffs. Paper gives UMD an edge in both areas, but the Bulldogs know full well from their title run two years ago that paper doesn't decide anything when it comes to these things. Nothing.
Both teams are playing for their seasons, and both teams are playing for a shot at what will be the last Final Five of its kind. UMD and UW move on next season, and the leagues they're moving to can only dream to have conference tournaments as magical and entertaining as the Final Five has been over the years.
I have to figure these teams will lay it all on the line, both to preserve their NCAA hopes and also get one more shot at college hockey's greatest conference tournament.
And while UMD is the road team and lower seed, it's hard not to like the Bulldogs' chances. This team has come together nicely, and as long as the back end stays solid, UMD has as good a shot as anyone in the league of pulling a road upset.
2013 WCHA Awards Announced
Here is the WCHA's annual awards release, which came out earlier Thursday.
St. Cloud State University forward Drew LeBlanc, a driving force behind the Huskies’ success in earning a share of the program’s first-ever conference regular season championship and MacNaughton Cup, has been honored as both the WCHA Player of the Year and the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year to highlight the league’s individual men’s awards for 2012-13 as announced by the conference today (March 14).
A senior from Hermantown, Minn., LeBlanc becomes the first league player to earn both of these prestigious awards. He is also a member of the All-WCHA First Team. The offensive catalyst behind the Huskies’ drive to first place in the 2012-13 WCHA regular season standings, LeBlanc led the league with 25 assists and also had 10 goals for 35 points in conference play while charting 10 multiple-point games in WCHA action. Overall, he leads all Division 1 players this winter with 34 assists and ranks fourth in the nation with 46 points scored. A four- time recipient of the WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award and a four-time All-WCHA Academic Team honoree, LeBlanc has served as a team captain for the past two seasons at SCSU. He has helped the Huskies post a league-leading 3.36 goals per game in conference action and overall, SCSU ranks fourth in the nation with 119 goals scored. The Huskies enter the WCHA playoffs ranked eighth in the latest Division 1 national polls and own a 21-14-1 overall and 18-9-1 league record. A math education major, LeBlanc is currently completing his student teaching at nearby St. Cloud Apollo High School. He carries a cumulative grade-point average of 3.64, was a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree in both 2010 and 2011, and has participated in numerous community service activities during his collegiate years, including programs such as Skate With the Huskies and Husky Haulers, helping first-year students move into their dormitories. Over his four-year St. Cloud State career, LeBlanc owns the program record for games played at 165, ranks sixth in career points with 143 and is third with 102 assists.
The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Award is determined from nominations made by the member institutions and each institution then has one final vote. The criteria is as follows: 1) must be a senior student-athlete, i.e. one who is finishing his competition as an eligible player in the WCHA; 2) consistently displays outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice; 3) is a good student making satisfactory progress toward a degree; and 4) is a good hockey player who has performed consistently as a regular member of the team.
The league’s five other major individual awards for 2012-13 went to St. Cloud State University defenseman Nick Jensen as WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Minnesota State University goaltender Stephon Williams as WCHA Rookie of the Year, University of Nebraska Omaha forward Ryan Walters as WCHA Scoring Champion, Williams as WCHA Goaltending Champion, and Minnesota State University first-year mentor Mike Hastings as WCHA Coach of the Year.
The league’s 12 head coaches voted St. Cloud State defenseman Nick Jensen as the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. A junior from Rogers, Minn., and an All-WCHA First Team choice, Jensen has been a leader on the Huskies’ blueline throughout the 2012-13 campaign. In WCHA play this winter, he has scored four goals and added 19 assists along with a substantial +15 rating on the plus/minus. A leader in minutes played on defense for the Huskies, Jensen consistently faces the opposition’s top lines and has helped SCSU’s defense limit league opponents to just 2.36 goals per game. Among WCHA defenders, Jensen led the league with 19 assists and was second with 23 points. He has also posted 27 blocked shots in league play this season. In overall games played, Jensen ranks eighth among Division 1 defensemen with 28 points and second with 24 assists this season. He is +17 on the plus/minus for all games and has 36 blocked shots A two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and All-WCHA Academic Team selection, Jensen was named to the All-WCHA Second Team in 2011-12. An ironman for the Huskies, Jensen has started in 113 consecutive games and has notched 15 goals and 68 assists during his first three seasons in St. Cloud.
Honored by voters as the WCHA Rookie of the Year for 2012-13 is Minnesota State freshman goaltender Stephon Williams, who also earned All-WCHA First Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team accolades and was the WCHA Goaltending Champion. From Fairbanks, Alaska, Williams, stands 19-9-2 overall (tied for 11th in the country in winning percentage at .667), with a 1.83 goals-against average (sixth in the country) and a .929 save percentage (14 in the country). The two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week finished the WCHA regular season leading the league in goals-against average (1.93), ranking second in save percentage (.927) and third in wins (15). Williams also has four shutouts this season, which stands tied for third on MSU’s single-season list, and he has started the last 27 games in a row for the Mavericks and has started 29 of MSU’s 36 games in 2012-13.
The WCHA Scoring Champion for 2012-13 is University of Nebraska Omaha forward Ryan Walters, who also earned All-WCHA First Team accolades while having one of the finest seasons in UNO history. A junior from Rosemount, Minn., Walters topped all league skaters with 40 points in 28 conference games, scoring 16 goals and adding 24 assists while also averaging a league-best 1.43 points per game. He had 50 points overall during the regular season, a total that ties for third best in school history, and he is just the third Maverick to score 50 or more points in a season. He ranks second in the NCAA in overall points (21-29=50) and has scored points in 26 of the last 29 games (21-26=47). Walters was named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association national player of the month for November, posting six goals and nine assists for 15 points and a +8 rating in seven games to help the Mavericks to a perfect 7-0-0 record. During that stretch, he scored goals in five straight games. Walters’ 21 goals are tied fifth best in UNO history, he is just two points from becoming the 13th Maverick to score 100 career points, and he has played in 111 consecutive games.
The WCHA Coach of the Year for 2012-13 is Mike Hastings of Minnesota State University. In his first year as head coach of the Mavericks, Hastings has guided MSU to its first top-half league finish since 2007-08 with a 16-11-1 mark (22-11-3 overall), with his club in contention for the regular season title heading into the final weekend. The Mavericks, who achieved an all-time program best national ranking of No. 7 in the country on Feb. 25, had a seven-game unbeaten streak from Nov. 23-Dec. 14 and during the course of the season the Mavericks have claimed wins over No. 2-ranked Minnesota, No. 4 North Dakota and No. 15 Wisconsin. Minnesota State is positioned to make its second-ever NCAA postseason tournament appearance and under Hastings’ guidance, the Mavericks claimed an all-time program-best 16 wins in WCHA games. Since Nov. 23rd MSU has gone 19-6-1.
Five conference-member teams – Minnesota, Minnesota State, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota and St. Cloud State – are represented on the All-WCHA First Team for 2012-13, with the Huskies landing two players. Named to the All-WCHA First Team, with statistics for league games only, are: F - Ryan Walters, Jr., Nebraska Omaha (28 gp, 16-24=40); F - Drew LeBlanc, Sr., St. Cloud State (28 gp, 10-25=35); F - Danny Kristo, Sr., North Dakota (28 gp, 17-20=37); D - Nate Schmidt, Jr., Minnesota (28 gp, 7-19=26); D - Nick Jensen, Jr., St. Cloud State (28 gp, 4-19=23); G - Stephon Williams, Fr., Minnesota State (15-9-1, 1.93 GAA, .927 Sv%). LeBlanc was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 30 and Feb. 5, Kristo was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 20 and Feb. 27, and Williams was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
Members of the All-WCHA Second Team for 2012-13 are: F - Corban Knight, Sr., North Dakota (28 gp, 12-23=35); F - Erik Haula, Jr., Minnesota (26 gp, 13-24=37); F - Rylan Schwartz, Sr., Colorado College (27 gp, 12-23=35); D - Joey LaLeggia, So., Denver (28 gp, 10-13=23); D - Mike Boivin, Sr., Colorado College (28 gp, 13-10=23); G - Juho Olkinuora, So., Denver (9-3-5, 2.44 GAA, .924 Sv%). Knight was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on both Dec. 8 and Jan. 8, Schwartz earned the same honor on both Nov. 13 and Feb. 27, LaLeggia was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 20, Boivin was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 16, and Olkinuora was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 8 and Feb. 5.
Voted to the All-WCHA Third Team for 2012-13 are: F - Matt Leitner, So., Minnesota State (28 gp, 13-19=32); F - Nick Bjugstad, Jr., Minnesota (28 gp, 15-8=23); F - Eriah Hayes, Sr., Minnesota State (28 gp, 15-13=28); D - Andrej Sustr, Jr., Nebraska Omaha (28 gp, 7-11=18); D - Jake McCabe, So., Wisconsin (24 gp, 3-12=15); G - Adam Wilcox, Fr., Minnesota (16-6-5, 2.13 GAA, .914 Sv%). Leitner was the WCHA Offensive Player of the week on Nov. 27, Bjugstad earned the honor on both Oct. 16 and Jan. 3, Hayes was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 12, and Wilcox was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on March 5 and the league’s rookie of the week on Nov. 13 and Jan. 3.
Members of the All-WCHA Rookie Team for 2012-13 as selected by the voters are: F - Tony Cameranesi, Fr., Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 11-17=28); F - Alex Petan, Fr., Michigan Tech (28 gp, 11-18=29); F - Rocco Grimaldi, So., North Dakota (28 gp, 10-16=26); D - Nolan Zajac, Fr., Denver (26 gp, 4-10=14); D - Andy Welinski, Fr., Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 3-12=15); G - Stephon Williams, Fr., Minnesota State (15-9-1, 1.93 GAA, .927 Sv%. Petan was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on March 5, Grimaldi was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Dec. 11, and Williams was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on both Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
Repeat members of all-league teams from 2011-12 were: Nick Bjugstad, F, Minnesota (All-WCHA First Team), Joey LaLeggia, D, Denver (All-WCHA Second Team, All-WCHA Rookie Team), Nate Schmidt, D, Minnesota (All-WCHA Second Team), Nick Jensen, D, St. Cloud State (All-WCHA Third Team), and Juho Olkinuora, G, Denver (All-WCHA Rookie Team).
Four players who were named as major award winners and/or to this season’s all-league teams were previously honored on Feb. 13 as WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2012-13. They were: Ryan Walters, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scoring Champion); Andrej Sustr, Jr., D, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA Third Team), Drew LeBlanc, Sr., F, St. Cloud State (WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); and Nick Jensen, Jr., D, St. Cloud State (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team). To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution.
Major award winners and members of the various all-league teams who were also recognized today as members of the 2012-13 All-WCHA Men’s Academic Team were: Rylan Schwartz, Sr. F, Colorado College (All-WCHA Second Team); Juho Olkinuora, So., G, Denver (All-WCHA Second Team); Nick Bjugstad, Jr., F, Minnesota (All-WCHA Third Team); Erik Haula, Jr., F, Minnesota (All-WCHA Second Team); Nate Schmidt, Jr., D, Minnesota (All-WCHA First Team); Eriah Hayes, Sr., F, Minnesota State (All-WCHA Third Team); Andrej Sustr, Jr., D, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA Third Team); Ryan Walters, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scoring Champion); Rocco Grimaldi, Fr., F, North Dakota (All-WCHA Rookie Team); Nick Jensen, Jr., D, St. Cloud State (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); Drew LeBlanc, Sr., F, St. Cloud State (WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); and Jake McCabe, So., D, Wisconsin (All-WCHA Third Team).
Voting for the WCHA awards is done by conference member team coaches, players, sports information directors and local media. Each team receives eight ballots for a total of 96 voters. Points for awards and all-league teams are awarded on a 5-point (for a 1st team vote), 3-point (for a 2nd team vote), and 1-point (for a 3rd team vote) basis. The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year award is selected by member team Faculty Athletic Representatives while the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league’s 12 head coaches.
2012-13 WCHA Men’s Major Award Winners
WCHA Player of the Year
Drew LeBlanc • Senior, Forward, St. Cloud State University (Hermantown, MN)
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
Drew LeBlanc • Senior, Forward, St. Cloud State University (Hermantown, MN)
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Jensen • Junior, Defenseman, St. Cloud State University (Rogers, MN)
WCHA Rookie of the Year
Stephon Williams • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Fairbanks, AK)
WCHA Scoring Champion
Ryan Walters • Junior, Forward, University of Nebraska Omaha (Rosemount, MN)
WCHA Goaltending Champion
Stephon Williams • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Fairbanks, AK)
WCHA Coach of the Year
Mike Hastings • Minnesota State University
2012-13 All-WCHA First Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Ryan Walters Nebraska Omaha 6-0 188 Jr Rosemount, MN 28 gp, 16-24=40
F Drew LeBlanc St. Cloud State 6-0 195 Sr Hermantown, MN 28 gp, 10-25=35
F Danny Kristo North Dakota 5-11 185 Sr Eden Prairie, MN 28 gp, 17-20=37
D Nate Schmidt Minnesota 6-0 195 Jr St. Cloud, MN 28 gp, 7-19=26
D Nick Jensen St. Cloud State 6-1 193 Jr Rogers, MN 28 gp, 4-19=23
G Stephon Williams Minnesota State 6-2 190 Fr Fairbanks, AK 15-9-1, 1.93, .927
2012-13 All-WCHA Second Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Corban Knight North Dakota 6-2 200 Sr High River, AB 28 gp, 12-23=35
F Erik Haula Minnesota 5-11 190 Jr Pori, Finland 26 gp, 13-24=37
F Rylan Schwartz Colorado College 5-10 196 Sr Wilcox, SK 27 gp, 12-23=35
D Joey LaLeggia Denver 5-9 180 So Burnaby, BC 28 gp, 10-13=23
D Mike Boivin Colorado College 6-1 190 Sr Delta, BC 28 gp, 13-10=23
G Juho Olkinuora Denver 6-2 200 So Helsinki, Finland 9-3-5, 2.44, .924
2012-13 All-WCHA Third Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Matt Leitner Minnesota State 5-9 170 So Los Alamitos, CA 28 gp, 13-19=32
F Nick Bjugstad Minnesota 6-6 220 Jr Blaine, MN 28 gp, 15-8=23
F Eriah Hayes Minnesota State 6-4 210 Sr La Crescent, MN 28 gp, 15-13=28
D Andrej Sustr Nebraska Omaha 6-8 225 Jr Plzen, Czech Republic 28 gp, 7-11=18
D Jake McCabe Wisconsin 6-1 205 So Eau Claire, WI 24 gp, 3-12=15
G Adam Wilcox Minnesota 6-0 186 Fr South St. Paul, MN 16-6-5, 2.13, .914
2012-13 All-WCHA Rookie Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Tony Cameranesi Minnesota Duluth 5-10 180 Fr Maple Grove, MN 28 gp, 11-17=28
F Alex Petan Michigan Tech 5-8 155 Fr Delta, BC 28 gp, 11-18=29
F Rocco Grimaldi North Dakota 5-6 170 Fr Rossmoor, CA 28 gp, 10-16=26
D Nolan Zajac Denver 5-11 180 Fr Winnipeg, MB 26 gp, 4-10=14
D Andy Welinski Minnesota Duluth 6-1 200 Fr Duluth, MN 28 gp, 3-12=15
G Stephon Williams Minnesota State 6-2 190 Fr Fairbanks, AK 15-9-1, 1.93, .927
St. Cloud State University forward Drew LeBlanc, a driving force behind the Huskies’ success in earning a share of the program’s first-ever conference regular season championship and MacNaughton Cup, has been honored as both the WCHA Player of the Year and the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year to highlight the league’s individual men’s awards for 2012-13 as announced by the conference today (March 14).
A senior from Hermantown, Minn., LeBlanc becomes the first league player to earn both of these prestigious awards. He is also a member of the All-WCHA First Team. The offensive catalyst behind the Huskies’ drive to first place in the 2012-13 WCHA regular season standings, LeBlanc led the league with 25 assists and also had 10 goals for 35 points in conference play while charting 10 multiple-point games in WCHA action. Overall, he leads all Division 1 players this winter with 34 assists and ranks fourth in the nation with 46 points scored. A four- time recipient of the WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award and a four-time All-WCHA Academic Team honoree, LeBlanc has served as a team captain for the past two seasons at SCSU. He has helped the Huskies post a league-leading 3.36 goals per game in conference action and overall, SCSU ranks fourth in the nation with 119 goals scored. The Huskies enter the WCHA playoffs ranked eighth in the latest Division 1 national polls and own a 21-14-1 overall and 18-9-1 league record. A math education major, LeBlanc is currently completing his student teaching at nearby St. Cloud Apollo High School. He carries a cumulative grade-point average of 3.64, was a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree in both 2010 and 2011, and has participated in numerous community service activities during his collegiate years, including programs such as Skate With the Huskies and Husky Haulers, helping first-year students move into their dormitories. Over his four-year St. Cloud State career, LeBlanc owns the program record for games played at 165, ranks sixth in career points with 143 and is third with 102 assists.
The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Award is determined from nominations made by the member institutions and each institution then has one final vote. The criteria is as follows: 1) must be a senior student-athlete, i.e. one who is finishing his competition as an eligible player in the WCHA; 2) consistently displays outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice; 3) is a good student making satisfactory progress toward a degree; and 4) is a good hockey player who has performed consistently as a regular member of the team.
The league’s five other major individual awards for 2012-13 went to St. Cloud State University defenseman Nick Jensen as WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Minnesota State University goaltender Stephon Williams as WCHA Rookie of the Year, University of Nebraska Omaha forward Ryan Walters as WCHA Scoring Champion, Williams as WCHA Goaltending Champion, and Minnesota State University first-year mentor Mike Hastings as WCHA Coach of the Year.
The league’s 12 head coaches voted St. Cloud State defenseman Nick Jensen as the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. A junior from Rogers, Minn., and an All-WCHA First Team choice, Jensen has been a leader on the Huskies’ blueline throughout the 2012-13 campaign. In WCHA play this winter, he has scored four goals and added 19 assists along with a substantial +15 rating on the plus/minus. A leader in minutes played on defense for the Huskies, Jensen consistently faces the opposition’s top lines and has helped SCSU’s defense limit league opponents to just 2.36 goals per game. Among WCHA defenders, Jensen led the league with 19 assists and was second with 23 points. He has also posted 27 blocked shots in league play this season. In overall games played, Jensen ranks eighth among Division 1 defensemen with 28 points and second with 24 assists this season. He is +17 on the plus/minus for all games and has 36 blocked shots A two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and All-WCHA Academic Team selection, Jensen was named to the All-WCHA Second Team in 2011-12. An ironman for the Huskies, Jensen has started in 113 consecutive games and has notched 15 goals and 68 assists during his first three seasons in St. Cloud.
Honored by voters as the WCHA Rookie of the Year for 2012-13 is Minnesota State freshman goaltender Stephon Williams, who also earned All-WCHA First Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team accolades and was the WCHA Goaltending Champion. From Fairbanks, Alaska, Williams, stands 19-9-2 overall (tied for 11th in the country in winning percentage at .667), with a 1.83 goals-against average (sixth in the country) and a .929 save percentage (14 in the country). The two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week finished the WCHA regular season leading the league in goals-against average (1.93), ranking second in save percentage (.927) and third in wins (15). Williams also has four shutouts this season, which stands tied for third on MSU’s single-season list, and he has started the last 27 games in a row for the Mavericks and has started 29 of MSU’s 36 games in 2012-13.
The WCHA Scoring Champion for 2012-13 is University of Nebraska Omaha forward Ryan Walters, who also earned All-WCHA First Team accolades while having one of the finest seasons in UNO history. A junior from Rosemount, Minn., Walters topped all league skaters with 40 points in 28 conference games, scoring 16 goals and adding 24 assists while also averaging a league-best 1.43 points per game. He had 50 points overall during the regular season, a total that ties for third best in school history, and he is just the third Maverick to score 50 or more points in a season. He ranks second in the NCAA in overall points (21-29=50) and has scored points in 26 of the last 29 games (21-26=47). Walters was named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association national player of the month for November, posting six goals and nine assists for 15 points and a +8 rating in seven games to help the Mavericks to a perfect 7-0-0 record. During that stretch, he scored goals in five straight games. Walters’ 21 goals are tied fifth best in UNO history, he is just two points from becoming the 13th Maverick to score 100 career points, and he has played in 111 consecutive games.
The WCHA Coach of the Year for 2012-13 is Mike Hastings of Minnesota State University. In his first year as head coach of the Mavericks, Hastings has guided MSU to its first top-half league finish since 2007-08 with a 16-11-1 mark (22-11-3 overall), with his club in contention for the regular season title heading into the final weekend. The Mavericks, who achieved an all-time program best national ranking of No. 7 in the country on Feb. 25, had a seven-game unbeaten streak from Nov. 23-Dec. 14 and during the course of the season the Mavericks have claimed wins over No. 2-ranked Minnesota, No. 4 North Dakota and No. 15 Wisconsin. Minnesota State is positioned to make its second-ever NCAA postseason tournament appearance and under Hastings’ guidance, the Mavericks claimed an all-time program-best 16 wins in WCHA games. Since Nov. 23rd MSU has gone 19-6-1.
Five conference-member teams – Minnesota, Minnesota State, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota and St. Cloud State – are represented on the All-WCHA First Team for 2012-13, with the Huskies landing two players. Named to the All-WCHA First Team, with statistics for league games only, are: F - Ryan Walters, Jr., Nebraska Omaha (28 gp, 16-24=40); F - Drew LeBlanc, Sr., St. Cloud State (28 gp, 10-25=35); F - Danny Kristo, Sr., North Dakota (28 gp, 17-20=37); D - Nate Schmidt, Jr., Minnesota (28 gp, 7-19=26); D - Nick Jensen, Jr., St. Cloud State (28 gp, 4-19=23); G - Stephon Williams, Fr., Minnesota State (15-9-1, 1.93 GAA, .927 Sv%). LeBlanc was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 30 and Feb. 5, Kristo was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 20 and Feb. 27, and Williams was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
Members of the All-WCHA Second Team for 2012-13 are: F - Corban Knight, Sr., North Dakota (28 gp, 12-23=35); F - Erik Haula, Jr., Minnesota (26 gp, 13-24=37); F - Rylan Schwartz, Sr., Colorado College (27 gp, 12-23=35); D - Joey LaLeggia, So., Denver (28 gp, 10-13=23); D - Mike Boivin, Sr., Colorado College (28 gp, 13-10=23); G - Juho Olkinuora, So., Denver (9-3-5, 2.44 GAA, .924 Sv%). Knight was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on both Dec. 8 and Jan. 8, Schwartz earned the same honor on both Nov. 13 and Feb. 27, LaLeggia was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 20, Boivin was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 16, and Olkinuora was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 8 and Feb. 5.
Voted to the All-WCHA Third Team for 2012-13 are: F - Matt Leitner, So., Minnesota State (28 gp, 13-19=32); F - Nick Bjugstad, Jr., Minnesota (28 gp, 15-8=23); F - Eriah Hayes, Sr., Minnesota State (28 gp, 15-13=28); D - Andrej Sustr, Jr., Nebraska Omaha (28 gp, 7-11=18); D - Jake McCabe, So., Wisconsin (24 gp, 3-12=15); G - Adam Wilcox, Fr., Minnesota (16-6-5, 2.13 GAA, .914 Sv%). Leitner was the WCHA Offensive Player of the week on Nov. 27, Bjugstad earned the honor on both Oct. 16 and Jan. 3, Hayes was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 12, and Wilcox was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on March 5 and the league’s rookie of the week on Nov. 13 and Jan. 3.
Members of the All-WCHA Rookie Team for 2012-13 as selected by the voters are: F - Tony Cameranesi, Fr., Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 11-17=28); F - Alex Petan, Fr., Michigan Tech (28 gp, 11-18=29); F - Rocco Grimaldi, So., North Dakota (28 gp, 10-16=26); D - Nolan Zajac, Fr., Denver (26 gp, 4-10=14); D - Andy Welinski, Fr., Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 3-12=15); G - Stephon Williams, Fr., Minnesota State (15-9-1, 1.93 GAA, .927 Sv%. Petan was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on March 5, Grimaldi was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Dec. 11, and Williams was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on both Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
Repeat members of all-league teams from 2011-12 were: Nick Bjugstad, F, Minnesota (All-WCHA First Team), Joey LaLeggia, D, Denver (All-WCHA Second Team, All-WCHA Rookie Team), Nate Schmidt, D, Minnesota (All-WCHA Second Team), Nick Jensen, D, St. Cloud State (All-WCHA Third Team), and Juho Olkinuora, G, Denver (All-WCHA Rookie Team).
Four players who were named as major award winners and/or to this season’s all-league teams were previously honored on Feb. 13 as WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2012-13. They were: Ryan Walters, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scoring Champion); Andrej Sustr, Jr., D, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA Third Team), Drew LeBlanc, Sr., F, St. Cloud State (WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); and Nick Jensen, Jr., D, St. Cloud State (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team). To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution.
Major award winners and members of the various all-league teams who were also recognized today as members of the 2012-13 All-WCHA Men’s Academic Team were: Rylan Schwartz, Sr. F, Colorado College (All-WCHA Second Team); Juho Olkinuora, So., G, Denver (All-WCHA Second Team); Nick Bjugstad, Jr., F, Minnesota (All-WCHA Third Team); Erik Haula, Jr., F, Minnesota (All-WCHA Second Team); Nate Schmidt, Jr., D, Minnesota (All-WCHA First Team); Eriah Hayes, Sr., F, Minnesota State (All-WCHA Third Team); Andrej Sustr, Jr., D, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA Third Team); Ryan Walters, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scoring Champion); Rocco Grimaldi, Fr., F, North Dakota (All-WCHA Rookie Team); Nick Jensen, Jr., D, St. Cloud State (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); Drew LeBlanc, Sr., F, St. Cloud State (WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); and Jake McCabe, So., D, Wisconsin (All-WCHA Third Team).
Voting for the WCHA awards is done by conference member team coaches, players, sports information directors and local media. Each team receives eight ballots for a total of 96 voters. Points for awards and all-league teams are awarded on a 5-point (for a 1st team vote), 3-point (for a 2nd team vote), and 1-point (for a 3rd team vote) basis. The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year award is selected by member team Faculty Athletic Representatives while the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league’s 12 head coaches.
2012-13 WCHA Men’s Major Award Winners
WCHA Player of the Year
Drew LeBlanc • Senior, Forward, St. Cloud State University (Hermantown, MN)
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
Drew LeBlanc • Senior, Forward, St. Cloud State University (Hermantown, MN)
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Jensen • Junior, Defenseman, St. Cloud State University (Rogers, MN)
WCHA Rookie of the Year
Stephon Williams • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Fairbanks, AK)
WCHA Scoring Champion
Ryan Walters • Junior, Forward, University of Nebraska Omaha (Rosemount, MN)
WCHA Goaltending Champion
Stephon Williams • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Fairbanks, AK)
WCHA Coach of the Year
Mike Hastings • Minnesota State University
2012-13 All-WCHA First Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Ryan Walters Nebraska Omaha 6-0 188 Jr Rosemount, MN 28 gp, 16-24=40
F Drew LeBlanc St. Cloud State 6-0 195 Sr Hermantown, MN 28 gp, 10-25=35
F Danny Kristo North Dakota 5-11 185 Sr Eden Prairie, MN 28 gp, 17-20=37
D Nate Schmidt Minnesota 6-0 195 Jr St. Cloud, MN 28 gp, 7-19=26
D Nick Jensen St. Cloud State 6-1 193 Jr Rogers, MN 28 gp, 4-19=23
G Stephon Williams Minnesota State 6-2 190 Fr Fairbanks, AK 15-9-1, 1.93, .927
2012-13 All-WCHA Second Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Corban Knight North Dakota 6-2 200 Sr High River, AB 28 gp, 12-23=35
F Erik Haula Minnesota 5-11 190 Jr Pori, Finland 26 gp, 13-24=37
F Rylan Schwartz Colorado College 5-10 196 Sr Wilcox, SK 27 gp, 12-23=35
D Joey LaLeggia Denver 5-9 180 So Burnaby, BC 28 gp, 10-13=23
D Mike Boivin Colorado College 6-1 190 Sr Delta, BC 28 gp, 13-10=23
G Juho Olkinuora Denver 6-2 200 So Helsinki, Finland 9-3-5, 2.44, .924
2012-13 All-WCHA Third Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Matt Leitner Minnesota State 5-9 170 So Los Alamitos, CA 28 gp, 13-19=32
F Nick Bjugstad Minnesota 6-6 220 Jr Blaine, MN 28 gp, 15-8=23
F Eriah Hayes Minnesota State 6-4 210 Sr La Crescent, MN 28 gp, 15-13=28
D Andrej Sustr Nebraska Omaha 6-8 225 Jr Plzen, Czech Republic 28 gp, 7-11=18
D Jake McCabe Wisconsin 6-1 205 So Eau Claire, WI 24 gp, 3-12=15
G Adam Wilcox Minnesota 6-0 186 Fr South St. Paul, MN 16-6-5, 2.13, .914
2012-13 All-WCHA Rookie Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Tony Cameranesi Minnesota Duluth 5-10 180 Fr Maple Grove, MN 28 gp, 11-17=28
F Alex Petan Michigan Tech 5-8 155 Fr Delta, BC 28 gp, 11-18=29
F Rocco Grimaldi North Dakota 5-6 170 Fr Rossmoor, CA 28 gp, 10-16=26
D Nolan Zajac Denver 5-11 180 Fr Winnipeg, MB 26 gp, 4-10=14
D Andy Welinski Minnesota Duluth 6-1 200 Fr Duluth, MN 28 gp, 3-12=15
G Stephon Williams Minnesota State 6-2 190 Fr Fairbanks, AK 15-9-1, 1.93, .927
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Game 36: Omaha at UMD
Alex Stalock is playing for the Sharks right now (NHL Network). So pardon the brevity. I need to go watch TV.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Danberg - Hendrickson - Flaherty
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely - Fons
UNO
Walters - Montpetit - White
Searfoss - Zombo - Archibald
Gwidt - Lane - Raubenheimer
Polk - O'Rourke - Simonson
Young - Sustr
Cooper - Aneloski
Seeler - Megna
Massa - Faulkner
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Danberg - Hendrickson - Flaherty
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
Crandall (Aaron) - McNeely - Fons
UNO
Walters - Montpetit - White
Searfoss - Zombo - Archibald
Gwidt - Lane - Raubenheimer
Polk - O'Rourke - Simonson
Young - Sustr
Cooper - Aneloski
Seeler - Megna
Massa - Faulkner
One Man's All-WCHA Ballot
As is typical, I was handed a ballot for the All-WCHA team on Friday night, before UMD's game with Omaha.
And also typical is my general rule to post my ballot for the masses. I think it's fun for discussion, as everyone voting is going to have a different perspective.
The same rules apply. These selections are based on what I've seen, and discussions I've had with folks around the league. I don't use the ballot as a way to personally attack anyone or any team, and I don't use it to cast a bunch of non-sensical votes for UMD guys because I call their games.
In the seven years I've done this ballot, this is easily the toughest set of decisions I've ever had to make, especially at the forward position.
Here goes nothing.
ALL-WCHA TEAMS
First team
Forwards
Eriah Hayes, Minnesota State
Drew LeBlanc, St. Cloud State
Ryan Walters, Omaha
Defensemen
Mike Boivin, Colorado College
Nick Jensen, St. Cloud State
Goalie
Stephon Williams, Minnesota State
Second team
Forwards
Danny Kristo, North Dakota
Matt Leitner, Minnesota State
Rylan Schwartz, Colorado College
Defensemen
Joey LaLeggia, Denver
Nate Schmidt, Minnesota
Goalie
Juho Olkinuora, Denver
Third team
Forwards
Erik Haula, Minnesota
Corban Knight, North Dakota
Michael Mersch, Wisconsin
Defensemen
Derek Forbort, North Dakota
Andrej Sustr, Omaha
Goalie
Joel Rumpel, Wisconsin
Apologies to ...
Forwards
Josh Archibald, Omaha
Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota
Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
Tony Cameranesi, UMD
Alexander Krushelnyski, Colorado College
Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
Mike Seidel, UMD
Defensemen
Jake McCabe, Wisconsin
Zach Palmquist, Minnesota State
Goalie
Landon Peterson, Wisconsin
Thoughts
Incredibly difficult decisions at forward, especially leaving Archibald off. Mersch's season, especially as his team's clear No. 1 scoring threat, has been great. And I couldn't ignore the goal production of Kristo, who has scored some big goals for his team this year.
ALL ROOKIE TEAM
Forwards
Tony Cameranesi, UMD
Austin Farley, UMD
Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
Defensemen
Mike Reilly, Minnesota
Andy Welinski, UMD
Goalie
Stephon Williams, Minnesota State
Apologies to ...
Forwards
Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
Rocco Grimaldi, North Dakota
Kalle Kossila, St. Cloud State
Defensemen
Nolan Zajac, Denver
Goalie
Adam Wilcox, Minnesota
Thoughts
More tough decisions at forward, but Cameranesi and Farley have carried a ton of weight for UMD all season, and as the Bulldogs have surged a bit lately, the two have continued to be big-time players. Brodzinski was easily the hardest player to leave off the ballot, but Petan has been wonderful for Tech, averaging a point per game in league games. That isn't easy to do under any circumstances.
WCHA PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ryan Walters, forward, Omaha
WCHA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tony Cameranesi, forward, UMD
WCHA COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Hastings, Minnesota State
Thoughts
I'm surprised the coach portion of the ballot was even open. This should be unanimous for Hastings, frankly. No one else comes close to the job he did, outside of maybe Bob Motzko, but that's a bit of a stretch, I think.
Walters was a pretty easy choice in the player category, and while Cameranesi was a tough choice, I think the work he has done -- spending much of the season as UMD's de facto No. 1 center -- speaks volumes for his talent level.
I encourage other media members to make their ballots public, but certainly never hold it against those who do not. Your comments and critiques are welcome, but I do not take kindly to personal attacks because you don't agree with my choices.
And also typical is my general rule to post my ballot for the masses. I think it's fun for discussion, as everyone voting is going to have a different perspective.
The same rules apply. These selections are based on what I've seen, and discussions I've had with folks around the league. I don't use the ballot as a way to personally attack anyone or any team, and I don't use it to cast a bunch of non-sensical votes for UMD guys because I call their games.
In the seven years I've done this ballot, this is easily the toughest set of decisions I've ever had to make, especially at the forward position.
Here goes nothing.
ALL-WCHA TEAMS
First team
Forwards
Eriah Hayes, Minnesota State
Drew LeBlanc, St. Cloud State
Ryan Walters, Omaha
Defensemen
Mike Boivin, Colorado College
Nick Jensen, St. Cloud State
Goalie
Stephon Williams, Minnesota State
Second team
Forwards
Danny Kristo, North Dakota
Matt Leitner, Minnesota State
Rylan Schwartz, Colorado College
Defensemen
Joey LaLeggia, Denver
Nate Schmidt, Minnesota
Goalie
Juho Olkinuora, Denver
Third team
Forwards
Erik Haula, Minnesota
Corban Knight, North Dakota
Michael Mersch, Wisconsin
Defensemen
Derek Forbort, North Dakota
Andrej Sustr, Omaha
Goalie
Joel Rumpel, Wisconsin
Apologies to ...
Forwards
Josh Archibald, Omaha
Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota
Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
Tony Cameranesi, UMD
Alexander Krushelnyski, Colorado College
Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
Mike Seidel, UMD
Defensemen
Jake McCabe, Wisconsin
Zach Palmquist, Minnesota State
Goalie
Landon Peterson, Wisconsin
Thoughts
Incredibly difficult decisions at forward, especially leaving Archibald off. Mersch's season, especially as his team's clear No. 1 scoring threat, has been great. And I couldn't ignore the goal production of Kristo, who has scored some big goals for his team this year.
ALL ROOKIE TEAM
Forwards
Tony Cameranesi, UMD
Austin Farley, UMD
Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
Defensemen
Mike Reilly, Minnesota
Andy Welinski, UMD
Goalie
Stephon Williams, Minnesota State
Apologies to ...
Forwards
Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
Rocco Grimaldi, North Dakota
Kalle Kossila, St. Cloud State
Defensemen
Nolan Zajac, Denver
Goalie
Adam Wilcox, Minnesota
Thoughts
More tough decisions at forward, but Cameranesi and Farley have carried a ton of weight for UMD all season, and as the Bulldogs have surged a bit lately, the two have continued to be big-time players. Brodzinski was easily the hardest player to leave off the ballot, but Petan has been wonderful for Tech, averaging a point per game in league games. That isn't easy to do under any circumstances.
WCHA PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ryan Walters, forward, Omaha
WCHA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tony Cameranesi, forward, UMD
WCHA COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Hastings, Minnesota State
Thoughts
I'm surprised the coach portion of the ballot was even open. This should be unanimous for Hastings, frankly. No one else comes close to the job he did, outside of maybe Bob Motzko, but that's a bit of a stretch, I think.
Walters was a pretty easy choice in the player category, and while Cameranesi was a tough choice, I think the work he has done -- spending much of the season as UMD's de facto No. 1 center -- speaks volumes for his talent level.
I encourage other media members to make their ballots public, but certainly never hold it against those who do not. Your comments and critiques are welcome, but I do not take kindly to personal attacks because you don't agree with my choices.
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Great Comeback Win Before Attention Turns to Seniors
Friday night was the kind of game UMD fans have been waiting for all season. In fact, it marked just the second time all year the Bulldogs won a home game after trailing at any point. Omaha started well, scoring twice in 40 seconds to take a 2-0 lead, then scoring a power-play goal less than a minute after UMD closed to within 2-1. A less-than-capacity crowd at Amsoil Arena was left to do a lot of hand-wringing and neck stretching (trying to find TVs around the building showing the Duluth East game).
In the second period, UMD brought the building to life with one of its most captivating 20 minutes of the season.
It didn't start all that great, as sophomore Justin Crandall -- a minus-2 after being on the ice for both UNO even-strength goals in the first period -- got the boot 32 seconds into the frame for a hit from behind on Maverick Josh Archibald. Without one of its best penalty killers, UMD did a magnificent job for five minutes, holding UNO to just two shots on goal and without a grade-A scoring chance during the entire power play.
Just 19 seconds after Austin Farley (served the major) got out of the box, UMD started to chip away. A Caleb Herbert right-wing shot was stopped by UNO goalie Ryan Massa, but big senior Dan DeLisle got to the net and banged home the rebound to make it 3-2. 90 seconds later, Tony Cameranesi found Joe Basaraba streaking down the slot and hit him with a perfect pass for what basically amounted to a tap-in goal to tie it up.
UMD's first power play came up empty, but its second and third did not. On the second, Herbert's blast from the center point was deflected in by Mike Seidel to give UMD the lead. Shortly after, UMD got another power play and converted just seven seconds into it on a Seidel backhander that beat John Faulkner, who relieved Massa after the fourth goal.
Omaha got one back in the third, but the Bulldogs ended up winning 5-4 after playing a very strong all-zone third period. The Mavericks struggled with zone entry down the stretch, and never seriously threatened to get a puck past UMD goalie Matt McNeely, who got his tenth win of the season.
UMD improved to 3-1-2 over the last six, and the Bulldogs continue to hold the appearance of a team that no one in the top six will want to play next weekend.
I think I've mentioned this on the air before, but the shot at home ice is long gone for UMD. Ship left sail, train left the station, so on and so forth. The best thing UMD fans can hope for now is that next weekend, we go somewhere and at least scare the (expletive) out of someone, if not beat someone and get this train back to St. Paul.
On Friday, UMD showed the kind of fire that had been lacking at times in January and early February. The Bulldogs showed they can climb out of a hole, even if the hole is dug with bad mistakes or bad shifts and not the great play of the opponent. They showed they can fill the net and make plays in the offensive zone. They showed they can get to the net, create traffic, and make the goalie's life difficult.
These are all the things necessary for playoff success, and the things Scott Sandelin has to hope his team builds on heading into Saturday's home finale.
Saturday's first intermission will be the formal farewell for seven UMD seniors. Wade Bergman, Cody Danberg, DeLisle, Keegan Flaherty, Jake Hendrickson, Drew Olson, and Mike Seidel will all pull on the white home jersey one last time. As of this writing, all seven are expected to play.
Amid all the chatter about this being a disappointing (or worse, depending on the terminology you prefer) season, it's really easy to forget that these seven players have all been a part of multiple NCAA Tournament teams, multiple Final Five runs, and the kind of winning this program hasn't typically experienced.
Oh, and that whole national championship thing, too.
This might not be the insanely successful senior class UMD waved goodbye to last year, but it's still been a good one.
At the risk of preaching, I'll say the same thing I've said in the past. The concession stands are nice, and the bathrooms are clean, but they aren't going anywhere. Plant your butt in your seat for the first intermission ceremony, and stand and cheer for this group when they are introduced. The popcorn can wait, and the players will appreciate the show of respect for them and the program.
Where is UMD headed next weekend? I have no earthly idea. And we won't know until Denver's game with Anchorage concludes Sunday afternoon.
A UMD win and Colorado College loss will move UMD to eighth. Most other scenarios involve UMD finishing in ninth. The Bulldogs will not move down from ninth.
But there are too many potential scenarios to count for seeds four through seven. Just hang out and watch what happens Saturday and Sunday, and we'll figure things out from there, I guess.
In the second period, UMD brought the building to life with one of its most captivating 20 minutes of the season.
It didn't start all that great, as sophomore Justin Crandall -- a minus-2 after being on the ice for both UNO even-strength goals in the first period -- got the boot 32 seconds into the frame for a hit from behind on Maverick Josh Archibald. Without one of its best penalty killers, UMD did a magnificent job for five minutes, holding UNO to just two shots on goal and without a grade-A scoring chance during the entire power play.
Just 19 seconds after Austin Farley (served the major) got out of the box, UMD started to chip away. A Caleb Herbert right-wing shot was stopped by UNO goalie Ryan Massa, but big senior Dan DeLisle got to the net and banged home the rebound to make it 3-2. 90 seconds later, Tony Cameranesi found Joe Basaraba streaking down the slot and hit him with a perfect pass for what basically amounted to a tap-in goal to tie it up.
UMD's first power play came up empty, but its second and third did not. On the second, Herbert's blast from the center point was deflected in by Mike Seidel to give UMD the lead. Shortly after, UMD got another power play and converted just seven seconds into it on a Seidel backhander that beat John Faulkner, who relieved Massa after the fourth goal.
Omaha got one back in the third, but the Bulldogs ended up winning 5-4 after playing a very strong all-zone third period. The Mavericks struggled with zone entry down the stretch, and never seriously threatened to get a puck past UMD goalie Matt McNeely, who got his tenth win of the season.
UMD improved to 3-1-2 over the last six, and the Bulldogs continue to hold the appearance of a team that no one in the top six will want to play next weekend.
I think I've mentioned this on the air before, but the shot at home ice is long gone for UMD. Ship left sail, train left the station, so on and so forth. The best thing UMD fans can hope for now is that next weekend, we go somewhere and at least scare the (expletive) out of someone, if not beat someone and get this train back to St. Paul.
On Friday, UMD showed the kind of fire that had been lacking at times in January and early February. The Bulldogs showed they can climb out of a hole, even if the hole is dug with bad mistakes or bad shifts and not the great play of the opponent. They showed they can fill the net and make plays in the offensive zone. They showed they can get to the net, create traffic, and make the goalie's life difficult.
These are all the things necessary for playoff success, and the things Scott Sandelin has to hope his team builds on heading into Saturday's home finale.
******
Saturday's first intermission will be the formal farewell for seven UMD seniors. Wade Bergman, Cody Danberg, DeLisle, Keegan Flaherty, Jake Hendrickson, Drew Olson, and Mike Seidel will all pull on the white home jersey one last time. As of this writing, all seven are expected to play.
Amid all the chatter about this being a disappointing (or worse, depending on the terminology you prefer) season, it's really easy to forget that these seven players have all been a part of multiple NCAA Tournament teams, multiple Final Five runs, and the kind of winning this program hasn't typically experienced.
Oh, and that whole national championship thing, too.
This might not be the insanely successful senior class UMD waved goodbye to last year, but it's still been a good one.
At the risk of preaching, I'll say the same thing I've said in the past. The concession stands are nice, and the bathrooms are clean, but they aren't going anywhere. Plant your butt in your seat for the first intermission ceremony, and stand and cheer for this group when they are introduced. The popcorn can wait, and the players will appreciate the show of respect for them and the program.
******
Where is UMD headed next weekend? I have no earthly idea. And we won't know until Denver's game with Anchorage concludes Sunday afternoon.
A UMD win and Colorado College loss will move UMD to eighth. Most other scenarios involve UMD finishing in ninth. The Bulldogs will not move down from ninth.
But there are too many potential scenarios to count for seeds four through seven. Just hang out and watch what happens Saturday and Sunday, and we'll figure things out from there, I guess.
Friday, March 08, 2013
Game 35: Omaha at UMD
There's a lot going on. State tournament. Winter weather coming. I now have my All-WCHA ballot. Maybe I'll let Hunter help me.
Oh, and it's late in the season, so it must be time for Dean Blais to dress eight defensemen.
(Looks like four full forward lines, but Tony Turgeon and Brian O'Rourke are defensemen by trade.)
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Sampair - Hendrickson - Danberg
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
McNeely - Crandall (Aaron) - Fons
UNO
Turgeon - White - Searfoss
Walters - Zombo - Archibald
Gwidt - Montpetit - Raubenheimer
Krause - O'Rourke - Simonson
Young - Sustr
Cooper - Aneloski
Seeler - Megna
Massa - Faulkner
Oh, and it's late in the season, so it must be time for Dean Blais to dress eight defensemen.
(Looks like four full forward lines, but Tony Turgeon and Brian O'Rourke are defensemen by trade.)
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Sampair - Hendrickson - Danberg
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
McNeely - Crandall (Aaron) - Fons
UNO
Turgeon - White - Searfoss
Walters - Zombo - Archibald
Gwidt - Montpetit - Raubenheimer
Krause - O'Rourke - Simonson
Young - Sustr
Cooper - Aneloski
Seeler - Megna
Massa - Faulkner
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Private School Problem Has Few Solutions for MSHSL
The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament is one of the state's great traditions. For nearly 70 years, fans have gathered to watch the best of the best in the state, and it's always a tournament that just about anyone can win.
People screamed bloody murder when the Minnesota State High School League elected to go to a two-class system for hockey. The tournament was being watered down, after all.
With two classes in place, there were more opportunities for great stories of small towns making it big. As Twin Cities schools became more and more involved in hockey, the metro area started to control the big-school class.
And as it turns out, the Twin Cities have developed a stranglehold on the smaller-school Class A.
How?
Because private schools like Breck and St. Thomas Academy have dominated Class A, which they're eligible to play in because of smaller enrollments. Their practically-blatant acquisition of top hockey talent notwithstanding, these schools come in well under the cutoff for a team to be required to play in Class AA for hockey.
STA is moving up to Class AA next season, which alleviates some of the problem. However, Breck is sticking around in Class A, and there's no reason to think the Mustangs will stop being one of the state's top programs.
Because of the private schools' dominance of the Class A tournament, a new tradition has started for hockey fans in the state, and that's the annual festival of whining about private schools during the state hockey tournament.
Most of it is justified. Class A wasn't created so private schools in the metro area could dominate it, while their hockey peers like Edina and Eden Prairie play in Class AA.
No, Class A was created so schools like St. Cloud Apollo could have a moment in the sun. The Eagles hadn't been to state in the lifetimes of the players on this squad, and earning a spot in the tournament invigorated everyone involved.
Their reward? Outshot 50-3 and outscored 12-0 by a classless St. Thomas Academy team. Not classless because they kept chasing Class A hardware when they had long since proven they had no business in Class A. Classless because of the unnecessary two-man forecheck they were employing in a 12-0 game.
Marshall had never been. The Tigers -- from southwestern Minnesota -- are probably better known for football or wrestling, but the 3A champions earned their way to state, serving as the only of 16 teams in the two classes to make a first state tourney appearance this season.
What was the prize? They got schooled 6-1 by Breck in a game that was only that close because Breck didn't lay everything on the line once it became clear the Tigers were outclassed on the ice. The Mustangs chose to respect their opponent, unlike the top seed in the tournament did a few hours later.
It's the sad reality of what Class A has become. We spend more time talking about how Hermantown or -- in most years -- Warroad should move up, or whining about the presence of dominant Twin Cities private schools in the tournament, than we do enjoying the tournament.
STA and Breck have inherent advantages. They are elite schools where kids get the best of both worlds. They get a top-notch education, along with the chance to play high-level hockey with great players and often against great teams. They are up against community-based programs, where the seeds for greatness are sown in Squirts, PeeWees, and Bantams.
Marshall didn't make a state tournament by taking the best bantam players from Luverne. St. Cloud Apollo's first trip to state since 1984 didn't happen because all the really good players from Sartell decided to transfer for a better opportunity.
(For that matter, Hermantown didn't build a program capable of making three straight state title games by poaching half the roster from Proctor, and the kids that did transfer there did so at such a young age they didn't come close to running afoul of MSHSL rules.)
Yeah, I get it. Breck and STA don't have district boundaries to draw kids from. They have to get kids for the school to make it. This is one vehicle to do that, and I'm not here to deny them the opportunity to play hockey.
But when you clearly have an advantage over everyone, not just Class A schools, and you decide to play in Class A, that's wrong.
What is the solution?
It isn't simple. Requiring all private schools to move up one class in all sports isn't fair. There are plenty of examples of private school programs that can't compete in the level they're playing at based on enrollment. Instead of punishing the majority for the actions of the minority, let's find a different way.
STA doesn't attract kids by offering Class A trophies and tourney appearances, and they also don't use the free publicity they get from the private-public debate. The Cadets get kids by playing elite competition, as evidenced by about half their schedule coming against Class AA opponents. That's how it gets done.
First step toward fixing the problem: A new rule that works for every sport and every class. Any team that plays more than, say, 30-35 percent of their games against teams in a higher class over a rolling five-year period must move up one class for a minimum of four years. Suddenly, any school playing -- as an example -- Class A hockey loses one of its potential advantages over other Class A teams.
You can't balance the schedule so everyone plays everyone, but you can level the playing field a bit. That should be the goal, not screwing schools that are abiding by the rules and trying to do the right thing by the kids they enroll.
People screamed bloody murder when the Minnesota State High School League elected to go to a two-class system for hockey. The tournament was being watered down, after all.
With two classes in place, there were more opportunities for great stories of small towns making it big. As Twin Cities schools became more and more involved in hockey, the metro area started to control the big-school class.
And as it turns out, the Twin Cities have developed a stranglehold on the smaller-school Class A.
How?
Because private schools like Breck and St. Thomas Academy have dominated Class A, which they're eligible to play in because of smaller enrollments. Their practically-blatant acquisition of top hockey talent notwithstanding, these schools come in well under the cutoff for a team to be required to play in Class AA for hockey.
STA is moving up to Class AA next season, which alleviates some of the problem. However, Breck is sticking around in Class A, and there's no reason to think the Mustangs will stop being one of the state's top programs.
Because of the private schools' dominance of the Class A tournament, a new tradition has started for hockey fans in the state, and that's the annual festival of whining about private schools during the state hockey tournament.
Most of it is justified. Class A wasn't created so private schools in the metro area could dominate it, while their hockey peers like Edina and Eden Prairie play in Class AA.
No, Class A was created so schools like St. Cloud Apollo could have a moment in the sun. The Eagles hadn't been to state in the lifetimes of the players on this squad, and earning a spot in the tournament invigorated everyone involved.
Their reward? Outshot 50-3 and outscored 12-0 by a classless St. Thomas Academy team. Not classless because they kept chasing Class A hardware when they had long since proven they had no business in Class A. Classless because of the unnecessary two-man forecheck they were employing in a 12-0 game.
Marshall had never been. The Tigers -- from southwestern Minnesota -- are probably better known for football or wrestling, but the 3A champions earned their way to state, serving as the only of 16 teams in the two classes to make a first state tourney appearance this season.
What was the prize? They got schooled 6-1 by Breck in a game that was only that close because Breck didn't lay everything on the line once it became clear the Tigers were outclassed on the ice. The Mustangs chose to respect their opponent, unlike the top seed in the tournament did a few hours later.
It's the sad reality of what Class A has become. We spend more time talking about how Hermantown or -- in most years -- Warroad should move up, or whining about the presence of dominant Twin Cities private schools in the tournament, than we do enjoying the tournament.
STA and Breck have inherent advantages. They are elite schools where kids get the best of both worlds. They get a top-notch education, along with the chance to play high-level hockey with great players and often against great teams. They are up against community-based programs, where the seeds for greatness are sown in Squirts, PeeWees, and Bantams.
Marshall didn't make a state tournament by taking the best bantam players from Luverne. St. Cloud Apollo's first trip to state since 1984 didn't happen because all the really good players from Sartell decided to transfer for a better opportunity.
(For that matter, Hermantown didn't build a program capable of making three straight state title games by poaching half the roster from Proctor, and the kids that did transfer there did so at such a young age they didn't come close to running afoul of MSHSL rules.)
Yeah, I get it. Breck and STA don't have district boundaries to draw kids from. They have to get kids for the school to make it. This is one vehicle to do that, and I'm not here to deny them the opportunity to play hockey.
But when you clearly have an advantage over everyone, not just Class A schools, and you decide to play in Class A, that's wrong.
What is the solution?
It isn't simple. Requiring all private schools to move up one class in all sports isn't fair. There are plenty of examples of private school programs that can't compete in the level they're playing at based on enrollment. Instead of punishing the majority for the actions of the minority, let's find a different way.
STA doesn't attract kids by offering Class A trophies and tourney appearances, and they also don't use the free publicity they get from the private-public debate. The Cadets get kids by playing elite competition, as evidenced by about half their schedule coming against Class AA opponents. That's how it gets done.
First step toward fixing the problem: A new rule that works for every sport and every class. Any team that plays more than, say, 30-35 percent of their games against teams in a higher class over a rolling five-year period must move up one class for a minimum of four years. Suddenly, any school playing -- as an example -- Class A hockey loses one of its potential advantages over other Class A teams.
You can't balance the schedule so everyone plays everyone, but you can level the playing field a bit. That should be the goal, not screwing schools that are abiding by the rules and trying to do the right thing by the kids they enroll.
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Game 34: Alabama-Huntsville at UMD
Here we go with the final non-conference game of the season. Could be interesting. It's an odd spot, as it will be UAH's last game, no matter what. Will any of these seniors try to go out in a blaze of glory? Considering one of the seniors is named "Geoffrion," I hope UMD is smart about how it approaches this game.
For UMD, freshman goalie Matt McNeely is not dressing because of a lower-body injury. I'm told it isn't terribly serious, and he has played more than one game with it. The goal is to have him available for next weekend against Omaha, and the playoffs against (maybe) Omaha again.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Danberg - Hendrickson - Young
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
Crandall (Aaron) - Fons
UAH
Allan - Cseter - Lysaght
Uusivirta - Reid - Vanderlugt
Webley - Brears - Pierce
Geoffrion (Brice) - Prince - Geoffrion (Sebastian)
White - DeBruyn
Strukoff - Koshey
Reinhardt - Misuraca
Griggs - Groh
For UMD, freshman goalie Matt McNeely is not dressing because of a lower-body injury. I'm told it isn't terribly serious, and he has played more than one game with it. The goal is to have him available for next weekend against Omaha, and the playoffs against (maybe) Omaha again.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Danberg - Hendrickson - Young
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Corrin - Bergman
Crandall (Aaron) - Fons
UAH
Allan - Cseter - Lysaght
Uusivirta - Reid - Vanderlugt
Webley - Brears - Pierce
Geoffrion (Brice) - Prince - Geoffrion (Sebastian)
White - DeBruyn
Strukoff - Koshey
Reinhardt - Misuraca
Griggs - Groh
Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament Schedule
Here is the schedule for the state quarterfinals, starting with Class A on Wednesday. Please note that the top five teams in voting were seeded, with the matchups for seeds No. 1-3 determined by a random draw.
Wednesday’s Class 1A Quarterfinals
#2 Breck (24-3-1) vs. Marshall (14-10-1), 11 a.m.
#3 Hermantown (23-4-1) vs. Duluth Marshall (16-12), 30 minutes after end of 11 a.m. game (Will air on The Fan 1490)
#1 St. Thomas Academy (24-2-2) vs. St. Cloud Apollo (18-10), 6 p.m.
#4 East Grand Forks (22-3-3) vs. #5 Rochester Lourdes (20-8), 30 minutes after end of 6 p.m. game
Thursday’s Class 2A Quarterfinals
#2 Duluth East (24-4) vs. Moorhead (14-11-2), 11 a.m. (Will air on The Fan 1490)
#3 Edina (22-6) vs. Lakeville North (11-16-1), 30 minutes after end of 11 a.m. game
#1 Hill-Murray (25-2-1) vs. Eastview (18-9-1), 6 p.m.
#4 Wayzata (21-7) vs. #5 Centennial (22-4-2), 30 minutes after end of 6 p.m. game
Semifinals for Class A start at 11 on Friday, while AA semifinals begin at 6. Championship games are Saturday.
Wednesday’s Class 1A Quarterfinals
#2 Breck (24-3-1) vs. Marshall (14-10-1), 11 a.m.
#3 Hermantown (23-4-1) vs. Duluth Marshall (16-12), 30 minutes after end of 11 a.m. game (Will air on The Fan 1490)
#1 St. Thomas Academy (24-2-2) vs. St. Cloud Apollo (18-10), 6 p.m.
#4 East Grand Forks (22-3-3) vs. #5 Rochester Lourdes (20-8), 30 minutes after end of 6 p.m. game
Thursday’s Class 2A Quarterfinals
#2 Duluth East (24-4) vs. Moorhead (14-11-2), 11 a.m. (Will air on The Fan 1490)
#3 Edina (22-6) vs. Lakeville North (11-16-1), 30 minutes after end of 11 a.m. game
#1 Hill-Murray (25-2-1) vs. Eastview (18-9-1), 6 p.m.
#4 Wayzata (21-7) vs. #5 Centennial (22-4-2), 30 minutes after end of 6 p.m. game
Semifinals for Class A start at 11 on Friday, while AA semifinals begin at 6. Championship games are Saturday.
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: UMD Wins, But Where Was Everyone?
I don't want to poo-poo the actual game result. UMD won 4-2 over Alabama-Huntsville on Friday, in a game that probably should have been much more lopsided. The Bulldogs hit a season-high three goalposts, including three by Caleb Herbert on shots that clearly beat UAH goalie John Griggs. It was the wrong kind of hat trick for the sophomore.
Generally, UMD played all right. About the only notable complaint that could be had is the play of the team in two five on three power plays. Not enough quick movement, not feet and not the puck. Telegraphed passes and long shots with no traffic in front of Griggs.
The Bulldogs scored a couple power play goals, and both were keyed by the second unit, with Cal Decowski getting assists on both (one by Chris Casto and one by Justin Crandall). Decowski is really starting to get going, and could be a factor down the stretch in his freshman season.
Outside of a soft goal early in the third, freshman goalie Matt McNeely played well. McNeely has a .929 save percentage over his last four starts after sitting out a couple games. UMD is 1-1-2 in that stretch after losing six in a row before then.
The Bulldogs need to keep winning, including in Saturday's finale. It's not about playoff position at this point. Instead, it's about making sure that everyone is as sharp and confident as possible before the first-round road trip.
There are three home games left. Can we pick up the attendance and atmosphere for them?
Friday's game was played before an announced crowd of 5,792. That's the smallest of the season, and smallest home crowd for UMD since a date with Minnesota State last year on the night of the Christmas City of the North Parade, when no one not involved in the parade wants to be within five miles of Canal Park.
A Saturday afternoon exhibition against the Under 18 Team drew better.
Last year's games against Huntsville drew well over 13,000 combined, including a sellout on Saturday night.
What gives?
Well, it's clear this team hasn't performed at the same level of the recent past. Obviously, that's a factor. Plus, this time of year, fans' attention is diverted to the prep playoffs. I don't doubt that makes a difference.
But the last time I checked, this was the only Division I team within a two-hour drive of Duluth. There is little excuse for not being able to fill the building for these games, and there is even less excuse for the constant lack of atmosphere -- no matter the score -- at home games.
It was a problem at the DECC, too, so you can't blame it on the new building. Plus, there was a ton of atmosphere at the high school games this week ... in the same arena. It isn't Amsoil Arena's fault.
The student section -- outside of a first-period Harlem Shake bit that was clearly orchestrated -- was nonexistent on Friday, and has been for a good chunk of the season. Never did I think I'd see a day where the student section at Mariucci was more noticeable than ours. It's happened.
Come on, Twin Ports. Three home games left. Make something good happen.
In other WCHA games Friday, Brendan Woods scored late to give Wisconsin a 4-3 win in Omaha. The Badgers rebounded nicely from Monday's overtime loss to Penn State (giggle) in Madison. Denver got third period goals from Shawn Ostrow and Ty Loney (empty net) to back Jussi Olkinuora's shutout in a 2-0 win at Minnesota. St. Cloud State held on to beat Michigan Tech 5-3. North Dakota topped Bemidji State 4-2. Also, Colorado College upset Minnesota State 4-1 in Colorado Springs. In non-conference play, Alaska-Fairbanks took care of Alaska-Anchorage 2-1 in overtime to open their annual Governor's Cup series.
Standings-wise, it all means SCSU clinches the No. 1 seed in the WCHA playoffs with a win over Michigan Tech Saturday, provided North Dakota (three points behind) doesn't beat Bemidji State. The Huskies clinch the MacNaughton for themselves with a win, a UND loss, and a Minnesota loss or tie.
UMD looks almost locked into ninth at this point, and Omaha is still on its seed line. But that could change dramatically, as Minnesota, UNO, Denver, and Minnesota State are all separated by just two total points.
Generally, UMD played all right. About the only notable complaint that could be had is the play of the team in two five on three power plays. Not enough quick movement, not feet and not the puck. Telegraphed passes and long shots with no traffic in front of Griggs.
The Bulldogs scored a couple power play goals, and both were keyed by the second unit, with Cal Decowski getting assists on both (one by Chris Casto and one by Justin Crandall). Decowski is really starting to get going, and could be a factor down the stretch in his freshman season.
Outside of a soft goal early in the third, freshman goalie Matt McNeely played well. McNeely has a .929 save percentage over his last four starts after sitting out a couple games. UMD is 1-1-2 in that stretch after losing six in a row before then.
The Bulldogs need to keep winning, including in Saturday's finale. It's not about playoff position at this point. Instead, it's about making sure that everyone is as sharp and confident as possible before the first-round road trip.
******
There are three home games left. Can we pick up the attendance and atmosphere for them?
Friday's game was played before an announced crowd of 5,792. That's the smallest of the season, and smallest home crowd for UMD since a date with Minnesota State last year on the night of the Christmas City of the North Parade, when no one not involved in the parade wants to be within five miles of Canal Park.
A Saturday afternoon exhibition against the Under 18 Team drew better.
Last year's games against Huntsville drew well over 13,000 combined, including a sellout on Saturday night.
What gives?
Well, it's clear this team hasn't performed at the same level of the recent past. Obviously, that's a factor. Plus, this time of year, fans' attention is diverted to the prep playoffs. I don't doubt that makes a difference.
But the last time I checked, this was the only Division I team within a two-hour drive of Duluth. There is little excuse for not being able to fill the building for these games, and there is even less excuse for the constant lack of atmosphere -- no matter the score -- at home games.
It was a problem at the DECC, too, so you can't blame it on the new building. Plus, there was a ton of atmosphere at the high school games this week ... in the same arena. It isn't Amsoil Arena's fault.
The student section -- outside of a first-period Harlem Shake bit that was clearly orchestrated -- was nonexistent on Friday, and has been for a good chunk of the season. Never did I think I'd see a day where the student section at Mariucci was more noticeable than ours. It's happened.
Come on, Twin Ports. Three home games left. Make something good happen.
******
In other WCHA games Friday, Brendan Woods scored late to give Wisconsin a 4-3 win in Omaha. The Badgers rebounded nicely from Monday's overtime loss to Penn State (giggle) in Madison. Denver got third period goals from Shawn Ostrow and Ty Loney (empty net) to back Jussi Olkinuora's shutout in a 2-0 win at Minnesota. St. Cloud State held on to beat Michigan Tech 5-3. North Dakota topped Bemidji State 4-2. Also, Colorado College upset Minnesota State 4-1 in Colorado Springs. In non-conference play, Alaska-Fairbanks took care of Alaska-Anchorage 2-1 in overtime to open their annual Governor's Cup series.
Standings-wise, it all means SCSU clinches the No. 1 seed in the WCHA playoffs with a win over Michigan Tech Saturday, provided North Dakota (three points behind) doesn't beat Bemidji State. The Huskies clinch the MacNaughton for themselves with a win, a UND loss, and a Minnesota loss or tie.
UMD looks almost locked into ninth at this point, and Omaha is still on its seed line. But that could change dramatically, as Minnesota, UNO, Denver, and Minnesota State are all separated by just two total points.
Friday, March 01, 2013
Game 33: Alabama-Huntsville at UMD
First-year UAH coach Kurt Kleinendorst knew his work would be cut out for him, and it might not be immediately that the effort is rewarded. But the Chargers bench boss is continuing to work anyway, hoping to have this program ready for the jump to the WCHA next season.
There aren't a lot of negatives. A new league offers the kind of stability that Independent status doesn't these days.
(By the way, this has been eating at me for a few months, but exactly how the hell is it that first-year program Penn State couldn't find a way to play UAH both in Happy Valley and in Huntsville? UAH, starving for home games, couldn't even get a home weekend from the one program in the country that should have been jumping at the chance. Nice to see that high-and-mighty Big Ten attitude didn't escape Penn State here, even in its inaugural season. /rant)
UAH will have a league championship to play for, an NCAA bid to chase, and the potential to finally grow the program to be a competitive one in Division I.
This is the final weekend of the season for the Chargers. For UMD, the hope is that it builds some positive momentum and gets the arrow pointing in the right direction before the playoffs start in two weeks.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Danberg - Hendrickson - Flaherty
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Johnson - Bergman
McNeely - Crandall (Aaron) - Fons
UAH
Allan - Cseter - Lysaght
Uusivirta - Brears - Vanderlugt
Geoffrion (Sebastian) - Reid - Pierce
Geoffrion (Brice) - Kendra - Webley
White - DeBruyn
Strukoff - Koshey
Reinhardt - Misuraca
Griggs - Groh
There aren't a lot of negatives. A new league offers the kind of stability that Independent status doesn't these days.
(By the way, this has been eating at me for a few months, but exactly how the hell is it that first-year program Penn State couldn't find a way to play UAH both in Happy Valley and in Huntsville? UAH, starving for home games, couldn't even get a home weekend from the one program in the country that should have been jumping at the chance. Nice to see that high-and-mighty Big Ten attitude didn't escape Penn State here, even in its inaugural season. /rant)
UAH will have a league championship to play for, an NCAA bid to chase, and the potential to finally grow the program to be a competitive one in Division I.
This is the final weekend of the season for the Chargers. For UMD, the hope is that it builds some positive momentum and gets the arrow pointing in the right direction before the playoffs start in two weeks.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Seidel - Herbert - Crandall (Justin)
Farley - Cameranesi - Basaraba
Danberg - Hendrickson - Flaherty
DeLisle - Decowski - Krause
Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Johnson - Bergman
McNeely - Crandall (Aaron) - Fons
UAH
Allan - Cseter - Lysaght
Uusivirta - Brears - Vanderlugt
Geoffrion (Sebastian) - Reid - Pierce
Geoffrion (Brice) - Kendra - Webley
White - DeBruyn
Strukoff - Koshey
Reinhardt - Misuraca
Griggs - Groh
Ken Pauly Puts Himself in Crosshairs of Major Junior Fight
Somehow, the fact that Benilde-St. Margaret's lost in the Section 6AA final Wednesday night is a positive for most everyone out there. Even BSM coach Ken Pauly.
Why?
Because it allows Pauly to ride off into the sunset and enter the offseason, perhaps giving him some distance from an ugly story that blew up this week involving his program and a talented freshman player he booted.
Everything started to come to a head this week, when this story was posted about BSM freshman Alec Baer and his desire to hold his options open for his hockey future. Unfortunately for Baer, one of the options he wanted open caused a pretty significant philosophical gap with Pauly, his high school coach.
Pauly doesn't win a lot of fans here. He coaches a private school team, one that isn't exactly innocent when it comes to picking top players from community-based programs. The messenger isn't exactly pristine here, which probably clouds the message.
What is the message?
Speaking on behalf of a statewide group of coaches, Pauly is saying that they want to keep players from bolting for major junior hockey, which doesn't put education first (don't get me started about their system of college scholarships that is not a lot more than a PR ploy against the NCAA system). Instead, the association wants players to stay in school, where education is supposed to always be first.
A longtime critic of major junior hockey, my friend Chris Dilks laid the wood to Pauly for his behavior here.
I do think Pauly is using his spot to deny a player the right to do what he thinks is best, but I don't disagree with this move.
Baer had to know Pauly would be irritated with his decision to skip a practice to visit Vancouver. He had to know there would be repercussions, and he chose to take the visit. Whether or not it's fair -- kids go off to visit USHL teams and colleges all the time -- is irrelevant. Life isn't fair. If Pauly said there would be a punishment, and Baer made his decision anyway, he has to accept the consequence, however harsh. A coach has the right to lay down team rules on anything he wants -- curfew, facial hair, long hair, tattoos, and virtually anything else you can think of. That's part of the gig as a coach. Lay out rules and expect them to be followed, with punishments levied if they are not.
Part of being on a team is understanding that these rules exist and must be followed. Baer and his family made a decision to violate them. By doing so. perhaps Pauly felt they showed the commitment to the school and the hockey team just wasn't as strong as everyone else's. Yes, Pauly undoubtedly would have let Grant Besse miss a team activity to visit Wisconsin. But Pauly knew Besse wasn't going to college before he graduated high school. Same goes for any other player. They can visit USHL teams, but can't play for them during the high school season unless they leave school first. And no one is going to jump into a college team out of high school during the season. The system doesn't work that way.
But Baer can sign with the WHL virtually any time he wants. Pauly knows it, Baer knows it (he signed with Vancouver after he got the boot from the BSM team, actually), his family knows it, the major junior teams know it, and so do we. Hell, the major junior teams sign players in-season all the time, and while they can't just sign high school kids during the season without permission from USA Hockey, they could have gone hard after Baer as soon as the dagger was delivered to BSM's year. People have told me Baer was good for one more year at BSM, but minds change all the time, especially when it comes to commitments to amateur hockey versus major junior.
And this wasn't some ordinary freshman taking some playing time on a varsity team. Baer had five goals and 15 points in 19 games for the Red Knights. Pauly isn't making an example of a marginal player. He's making an example of a kid who has a real upside going forward in the sport.
Whether you appreciate Pauly's decision or not, you do have to take into account the fact that he kicked a player off his team that could make a difference in future seasons. He made a decision, stuck to his guns, and didn't care about the ability of the player.
That counts a bit, too.
Why?
Because it allows Pauly to ride off into the sunset and enter the offseason, perhaps giving him some distance from an ugly story that blew up this week involving his program and a talented freshman player he booted.
Everything started to come to a head this week, when this story was posted about BSM freshman Alec Baer and his desire to hold his options open for his hockey future. Unfortunately for Baer, one of the options he wanted open caused a pretty significant philosophical gap with Pauly, his high school coach.
The 15-year-old missed a practice earlier this month to visit Vancouver of the Western Hockey League. Three days later he found out he was no longer a Red Knight.
... Pauly said his decision to dismiss Baer "is related to Major Junior hockey" but declined to comment further because Baer remains a student.
Speaking as the president of the coaches' group, Pauly said: "A trip to a college is in keeping with the overall mission and vision of high school athletics. I don't believe the Major Junior and Minnesota high school model are complementary pieces."
Pauly doesn't win a lot of fans here. He coaches a private school team, one that isn't exactly innocent when it comes to picking top players from community-based programs. The messenger isn't exactly pristine here, which probably clouds the message.
What is the message?
Speaking on behalf of a statewide group of coaches, Pauly is saying that they want to keep players from bolting for major junior hockey, which doesn't put education first (don't get me started about their system of college scholarships that is not a lot more than a PR ploy against the NCAA system). Instead, the association wants players to stay in school, where education is supposed to always be first.
A longtime critic of major junior hockey, my friend Chris Dilks laid the wood to Pauly for his behavior here.
Pauly is basically using his position to bully other players in the state of Minnesota from even considering all of the options available to them. Players need not explore what path is best for them, because Ken Pauly has already decided what is best for them, and, shocking surprise, it's the route that most directly benefits Ken Pauly. Again, I've written a great many words about why the CHL isn't the best route for a great many players, but trying to unilaterally deny players the option of even looking into it is an incredibly selfish position to take.
I do think Pauly is using his spot to deny a player the right to do what he thinks is best, but I don't disagree with this move.
Baer had to know Pauly would be irritated with his decision to skip a practice to visit Vancouver. He had to know there would be repercussions, and he chose to take the visit. Whether or not it's fair -- kids go off to visit USHL teams and colleges all the time -- is irrelevant. Life isn't fair. If Pauly said there would be a punishment, and Baer made his decision anyway, he has to accept the consequence, however harsh. A coach has the right to lay down team rules on anything he wants -- curfew, facial hair, long hair, tattoos, and virtually anything else you can think of. That's part of the gig as a coach. Lay out rules and expect them to be followed, with punishments levied if they are not.
Part of being on a team is understanding that these rules exist and must be followed. Baer and his family made a decision to violate them. By doing so. perhaps Pauly felt they showed the commitment to the school and the hockey team just wasn't as strong as everyone else's. Yes, Pauly undoubtedly would have let Grant Besse miss a team activity to visit Wisconsin. But Pauly knew Besse wasn't going to college before he graduated high school. Same goes for any other player. They can visit USHL teams, but can't play for them during the high school season unless they leave school first. And no one is going to jump into a college team out of high school during the season. The system doesn't work that way.
But Baer can sign with the WHL virtually any time he wants. Pauly knows it, Baer knows it (he signed with Vancouver after he got the boot from the BSM team, actually), his family knows it, the major junior teams know it, and so do we. Hell, the major junior teams sign players in-season all the time, and while they can't just sign high school kids during the season without permission from USA Hockey, they could have gone hard after Baer as soon as the dagger was delivered to BSM's year. People have told me Baer was good for one more year at BSM, but minds change all the time, especially when it comes to commitments to amateur hockey versus major junior.
And this wasn't some ordinary freshman taking some playing time on a varsity team. Baer had five goals and 15 points in 19 games for the Red Knights. Pauly isn't making an example of a marginal player. He's making an example of a kid who has a real upside going forward in the sport.
Whether you appreciate Pauly's decision or not, you do have to take into account the fact that he kicked a player off his team that could make a difference in future seasons. He made a decision, stuck to his guns, and didn't care about the ability of the player.
That counts a bit, too.
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