The first seven weeks of the college hockey season were a huge test for the depth of this UMD team. Not only did the Bulldogs not have a weekend off until Thanksgiving, they had to slog through with some significant players missing time due to injury.
Senior alternate captain Justin Crandall missed the Denver weekend. Senior captain Adam Krause missed eight games. Sophomore Sammy Spurrell has missed eight games (and is probably lost for the season). Freshmen Brett Boehm and Nick McCormack have missed time.
(We first talked about the injury bug before the St. Cloud series. No one is going to feel sympathy for this team when guys are banged up, but it was great to see things go as well as they did while the boys were fighting through so many man-games lost.)
UMD got so thin up front that it only had 12 healthy forwards for the Omaha series.
No matter how well the team was playing heading into break, it was a great time for a weekend off.
"Our guys are excited and anxious to get back," head coach Scott Sandelin said this week. "I think the break came at a good time. We got some guys rested up, healed up. The energy's been good (this week)."
"When you're on top and everyone's playing well, you don't want to go into a break," sophomore forward Kyle Osterberg said. "At the same time, guys are getting beaten down. We needed a break."
One of the players benefitting from the bye is Krause. He's expected back this weekend, and his coach and teammates are excited. Sandelin said it should be a "big lift" for his team.
"He's our leader. There's no question we've missed him. He's a player that guys have a tremendous amount of respect for."
Osterberg says there's "nothing better."
"He's probably the best captain I've ever had. He does everything right, from the locker room to on the ice. When we didn't have him, I think we played really well, but he'll help us out a lot in a lot of different situations."
Krause is likely to play on the fourth line with Jared Thomas and Blake Young, at least to start the weekend. The top three lines remain unchanged from the Omaha trip. But it should be a big plus to have the former Hermantown Hawk back on the ice. Those of you who are close to this team know what kind of human being Krause is. He's a great leader for this group, and his presence on the ice was missed, despite the success UMD enjoyed through November.
(By the way, both Youngs -- Austyn and Blake -- deserve a lot of kudos. Austyn struggled to get in the lineup as a freshman and a sophomore, but he found a regular spot on the line with Cal Decowski and Kyle Osterberg, and he has played very well with those two. Osterberg said he "started off doing all the little things right, and he's starting to make more plays and get confidence." Blake is a big kid with a tremendous attitude. He was the last freshman to get in the lineup, but he's found a spot by playing a hard and physical game, unafraid of any contact, while understanding his role. If it weren't for the unrelated Youngs, the Bulldogs don't win six in a row before the bye.)
Krause's "demotion" comes for a multitude of reasons, none of which are anything that people should read as a message to Krause. When I talked to him after the injury happened, he joked he hoped that Austin Farley -- who was first to take Krause's spot on the line with Dominic Toninato and Alex Iafallo -- would give him his spot back. Now it's Justin Crandall on the Toninato line, and for now, he isn't giving the spot back.
But Krause has to get back to game speed. He's missed significant time, and while he's been able to skate and has been practicing for two weeks, none of that accurately simulates game speed. Putting him on the fourth line limits his minutes a bit, but it should allow him to ease back into game speed.
Sandelin was hopeful that Boehm would be able to play this weekend. McCormack is also getting closer, according to the head coach, but it's unclear if he could go this weekend or if his return waits until the Houghton trip next week.
Spurrell had surgery Wednesday and is likely lost for the season. Because Spurrell only played in five games, he is eligible for a medical redshirt should the decision be made to pursue one. That would give him three years of eligibility starting next season. I don't know if he will go that option.
Even without Spurrell, UMD is as healthy as it's been since before the October exhibition against Lakehead. I know the Bulldogs played well before break, but even taking that into consideration, the injury situation being what it was means the bye couldn't possibly have been timed better.
Now, it's time for the players to come out looking fresh and ready Friday against Colorado College.
Showing posts with label injuries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label injuries. Show all posts
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Adam Krause's Absence Means Opportunity for Austin Farley, Others
Next man up.
That's the old saying. It isn't meant to diminish the importance of injured players in any sport. Instead, the basic gist is "No one's going to feel sorry for us, so the next guy on the depth chart better damn sure be ready."
For UMD, the loss of forward Adam Krause to a broken wrist is significant.
For starters, Krause is the captain, and a really good one. He represents this program -- on the ice, on campus, and in the community -- about as well as anyone could possibly envision when awarding a team captaincy to a player.
Oh, and he was playing really well, too.
"Anytime you lose your captain, your leader, and the kind of player he is, and the way he was playing, " head coach Scott Sandelin said. "What he was doing as a part of that line, we're going to miss him."
Next man up: Austin Farley.
The junior played a bit on that line after Krause went down on Saturday, and he just kept going with what he had done throughout the weekend. Farley posted a practically unheard-of 19 shots on goal over the two games against Denver, scoring twice and earning NCHC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
"By far his best weekend," Sandelin said. "He kind of played that ratty hockey he needs to play. He was chirpy, he really wanted the puck. I don't know the last time a guy had 19 shots on a weekend. He was very noticeable and I thought he was our best forward all weekend."
Farley probably won't be the only player who sees an uptick in ice time or a change in role with Krause's absence. We saw sophomore Sammy Spurrell get increased time Saturday, and he had a two-point game. Cal Decowski moves into Farley's place on the Tony Cameranesi line, and he had a two-point Saturday, including a greasy, go-hard-to-the-net goal.
Senior Justin Crandall is back, and he will help eat some of Krause's minutes on the penalty kill after sitting out last weekend. Sandelin indicated that Crandall probably should have sat out against Minnesota State with his undisclosed injury, but he tried to play through it. He has looked good in practice this week.
It should be an interesting series against a Miami team that UMD swept in Oxford last February. In the second game of that series, things got quite a bit testy after the final horn, something we'll discuss a bit in the series preview that will post Thursday night or Friday morning.
Talk to you then.
That's the old saying. It isn't meant to diminish the importance of injured players in any sport. Instead, the basic gist is "No one's going to feel sorry for us, so the next guy on the depth chart better damn sure be ready."
For UMD, the loss of forward Adam Krause to a broken wrist is significant.
For starters, Krause is the captain, and a really good one. He represents this program -- on the ice, on campus, and in the community -- about as well as anyone could possibly envision when awarding a team captaincy to a player.
Oh, and he was playing really well, too.
"Anytime you lose your captain, your leader, and the kind of player he is, and the way he was playing, " head coach Scott Sandelin said. "What he was doing as a part of that line, we're going to miss him."
Next man up: Austin Farley.
The junior played a bit on that line after Krause went down on Saturday, and he just kept going with what he had done throughout the weekend. Farley posted a practically unheard-of 19 shots on goal over the two games against Denver, scoring twice and earning NCHC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
"By far his best weekend," Sandelin said. "He kind of played that ratty hockey he needs to play. He was chirpy, he really wanted the puck. I don't know the last time a guy had 19 shots on a weekend. He was very noticeable and I thought he was our best forward all weekend."
Farley probably won't be the only player who sees an uptick in ice time or a change in role with Krause's absence. We saw sophomore Sammy Spurrell get increased time Saturday, and he had a two-point game. Cal Decowski moves into Farley's place on the Tony Cameranesi line, and he had a two-point Saturday, including a greasy, go-hard-to-the-net goal.
Senior Justin Crandall is back, and he will help eat some of Krause's minutes on the penalty kill after sitting out last weekend. Sandelin indicated that Crandall probably should have sat out against Minnesota State with his undisclosed injury, but he tried to play through it. He has looked good in practice this week.
It should be an interesting series against a Miami team that UMD swept in Oxford last February. In the second game of that series, things got quite a bit testy after the final horn, something we'll discuss a bit in the series preview that will post Thursday night or Friday morning.
Talk to you then.
Saturday, February 01, 2014
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Bulldogs Keep Strong Play Going With Nice Farley-Less Road Win
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- For UMD, the road has been quite good, especially in 2014.
Friday night, the Bulldogs ran their record away from Amsoil Arena to 4-0-1 in 2014, and 8-4-1 this season, by beating Western Michigan 5-2. UMD pulled away with three goals in the third period, an emphatic response after WMU got a power play goal in the last 30 seconds of the second period to tie the score.
It was an intense game played with high emotions and a lot of post-whistle stuff. Give the officials credit, because they didn't hand out random power plays on the hijinks after the whistles. They were consistent in their handling of those situations, and no one benefited or suffered as a result.
Early on, it was clear that UMD would have to work to both solve the WMU defense and goalie Lukas Hafner. He made some nice saves throughout the game, especially in the second period when it was tied, and in the third when it was a 3-2 game. In the first period, UMD struggled to get scoring chances at even strength (seven of UMD's nine first-period shots were on the power play).
As the game wore on, the Bulldogs stuck with the game plan, stayed patient, and the scoring chances came. In droves.
Hafner played pretty well. He stymied UMD on numerous occasions to keep the game tied or close, but the persistent Bulldogs wouldn't be denied on this night.
We talked before the game about how WMU is somewhat similar in structure to Denver. What the Broncos are missing is the elite blue-line play Denver has. The Bulldogs made them pay dearly for that. As the game wore on, the visitors were able to establish a forecheck, and they did a great job defending the neutral zone. Western couldn't get any speed going to develop plays off the rush, and that allowed the Bulldogs to negate the speed WMU has up front in the name of Chase Balisy, Shane Berschbach, and others. It was something UMD was missing in the Dec. 13 loss to Western Michigan, especially in the second period.
Instead, UMD was the team using its speed to make plays. It helps when the guys on the top line combine for five goals. Kyle Osterberg and Justin Crandall were fantastic on Friday. Osterberg was always around the puck in the offensive zone. Tony Cameranesi had another strong game. Oh, and despite not getting on the scoreboard, freshman forward Alex Iafallo was one of UMD's best players. I don't care that he was minus-one. He had six shots, made plays in all three zones, and won race after race for loose pucks.
The reconfigured fourth line of Max Tardy, Austyn Young, and Sammy Spurrell had some good shifts in limited work (too much special teams hockey in this game). Tardy and Young set up Spurrell for a tremendous scoring chance in the first period, but Hafner made a nice save on it. Young played because Austin Farley sat out injured, and Cal Decowski took Farley's spot. Unfortunately, more on that to come.
Defensively, Andy Welinski continued his strong play as of late. I thought Carson Soucy was having an a'ight game before getting the boot for a hit from behind. Sophomore Willie Corrin had what might have been his best game. He had two third-period assists, seemed more poised on the power play, and played a better defensive game than I thought he did last weekend in the tournament.
UMD's puck possession in the second and third periods, and great work by the penalty kill, meant Aaron Crandall had time to do whatever he wanted in goal. Western scored on a short-handed breakaway in the first, and then a great one-timer from the left point with traffic on a late power play in the second. Outside of that, Crandall was seen apparently playing Words With Friends in the crease.
He made a fantastic save on Colton Hargrove during a Western power play, as Hargrove drove around the UMD defense and got the puck to the net, and he stopped Nolan LaPorte in tight, too. But Western didn't get a lot of great looks, and missed the net on a few of the looks they did manage to earn.
I expect Western to be tighter in Saturday's game. I think they'll be better up front. Sophomore center Josh Pitt -- a player I like a good amount -- missed 53 minutes Friday after getting ejected for contact to the head. His presence will make a difference. As much as I liked UMD's game Friday, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that UMD won't outshoot Western Michigan 37-19 again. This team wasn't unbeaten in six straight by accident, and while the Broncos didn't come out rusty off a bye, it was obvious UMD was the fresher team as the game wore on. That might not be the case -- at least not as emphatically -- in the second game of the series.
If you're sick of the Farley story, stop reading here and move on to the next section.
No, seriously, I'm begging you.
Now, if you are tempted to tweet something about moving on, I'm probably going to laugh at you.
We've been trying to move on. Literally, the entire week. No one on the UMD side wants to talk about this. Guaranteed. If it were up to us, it would have gone away a week ago, when Minnesota's Ben Marshall lit up UMD sophomore Farley with a clearly illegal hit that has no place in the game.
1. The penalty was for contact to the head. Watch the full-speed replay, ignore the slow motion, and tell me in no uncertain terms that you know there was no head contact without the benefit of replay. If you can honestly say that, you need to slap on some skates and become an official.
2. My initial reaction was that this was a minor for interference. Having had the opportunity to watch the replay about ten times in the last week, I've come around to the fact that this should probably have been a major for interference.
Problem: There is no option in the NCAA rulebook to call a major for interference. Fix this, please. Officials need to have options at their disposal. This is a blindside hit on a player who never had the puck. It needs to not be in our game. Right now, this hit can only be a minor penalty.
3. Marshall gets no sympathy from me. He delivers a rising blow-up hit on a shorter player, then tells the official Farley is fine. No, he isn't. But thanks for playing, Dr. Marshall.
Also can't let FSN's Tom Chorske off the hook. His commentary at the time was measured and intelligent if you watch the video. I don't have a major issue with anything he said. But he probably shouldn't have engaged anyone on Twitter.
I think this one's my favorite.
Yes, Farley had the flu on Monday, missed practice because of it, and is still sick this weekend. Sounds like our medical staff sucks.
Chorske went on to say that it's "unusual" Farley played with an injury suffered on the hit. Yeah, unusual. Just like it's unusual Mikko Koivu dished out two assists against Washington while playing with a broken ankle, and it's unusual Zach Parise played multiple games on a broken foot before finally shutting it down for a while.
You'd think a guy with the long and successful hockey career Chorske had would be able to understand that adrenaline can do funny things, including causing a player to think he's okay in the heat of the moment. It's something I tell my PeeWee kids all the time. Just because you get hit and think you're fine in the game doesn't mean you're fine. When the game is over and you go home, that adrenaline goes away and you might not be "fine" anymore.
I'm not breaking new ground here. These are concepts that have existed in sports for decades, and I'm shocked Chorske -- a knowledgeable guy who I have always respected as a player and broadcaster -- forgot these things.
I don't know specifically what Farley's injury is, but I do know it didn't happen on the bus trip home from St. Paul on Saturday. You guys are probably smart enough to deduce a few options.
But it would be really nice if Chorske and the rest of the Gopher media contingent would stop accusing a player who was injured on a hit of embellishment. I'm not saying players can't embellish when legitimately injured, but when you know damn well someone is actually hurt, it's a hell of an accusation to be throwing out there. Probably doesn't do much for people's opinion of you.
The Gophers just can't seem to escape controversy. Taken to a shootout by Michigan State (snicker) Friday night, here's the third round attempt from Sparty on UMTC netminder Adam Wilcox, as posted on YouTube by the great CJ Fogler (@cjzero).
What you are about to read is more discussion of a play that happened in a shootout than there ever should be.
It was called a goal on the ice. It was overturned after video review. I believe it to be correct, and here's why:
1. I do not believe it would have gone in the net had Wilcox not knocked it off. While the puck still crossed the line inside where the goalpost would have been if it hadn't moved, I don't see that as the issue. Instead, watch how far Wilcox's body moves to the right when his skate hits the right post and the leg doesn't stop. It isn't far, but it's probably far enough that his left skate doesn't hold the post.
2. With that in mind, you have to judge his intent. And if you feel you can do that, you're a better person than I. I don't think there's split-second intent by Wilcox to knock the net off because he's beat. I just don't. So you can't call it a goal or give the MSU player a do-over because you think Wilcox cheated the system. He tried to make a play he's probably done a hundred times in one-on-one situations in his career. The goalpost had a different idea.
3. Perhaps with shootouts not going away in college hockey, there's a protocol that needs to be written for situations like this. But don't ask me to do it.
UMD's win tied the Bulldogs for fifth in the NCHC. Thanks to St. Cloud State's 5-3 win at Nebraska Omaha Friday on a late Kevin Gravel game-winner, the winner of Saturday's UMD-WMU game will have a chance to move into a home-ice position in the NCHC standings.
(Real nice win for St. Cloud State. From the sounds of it, they were badly outshot in the first 20 minutes, but Ryan Faragher kept them going. Nice to see Joey Benik back. He scored a pair of goals for SCSU, and then Gravel got the late winner before a Brooks Bertsch empty-netter iced it. In news that isn't really news, Josh Archibald scored again for UNO. 18 goals in 23 games for him. Amazing.)
Omaha is fourth with 21 points. If St. Cloud beats UNO again Saturday -- be it in regulation, overtime, or a shootout -- the winner of Saturday's UMD-Western Michigan game -- be it in regulation, overtime, or a shootout -- moves into fourth place with ten league games to go.
The win kicked UMD into 12th in the PairWise. The Bulldogs claim the season series with a victory in Saturday's game. This weekend starts a stretch that sees UMD alternate between home and away series the rest of the regular season (at WMU, vs CC, at SCSU, vs UND, at Miami, vs UNO). As you can see, every weekend will be hugely significant, which is part of the reason UMD signed on to the new conference structure.
Coverage starts at 5:30 along the network. Go to 94xrocks.com if you need streaming info or if you want to download our free app so you can listen on phones or tablets.
Friday night, the Bulldogs ran their record away from Amsoil Arena to 4-0-1 in 2014, and 8-4-1 this season, by beating Western Michigan 5-2. UMD pulled away with three goals in the third period, an emphatic response after WMU got a power play goal in the last 30 seconds of the second period to tie the score.
It was an intense game played with high emotions and a lot of post-whistle stuff. Give the officials credit, because they didn't hand out random power plays on the hijinks after the whistles. They were consistent in their handling of those situations, and no one benefited or suffered as a result.
Early on, it was clear that UMD would have to work to both solve the WMU defense and goalie Lukas Hafner. He made some nice saves throughout the game, especially in the second period when it was tied, and in the third when it was a 3-2 game. In the first period, UMD struggled to get scoring chances at even strength (seven of UMD's nine first-period shots were on the power play).
As the game wore on, the Bulldogs stuck with the game plan, stayed patient, and the scoring chances came. In droves.
Hafner played pretty well. He stymied UMD on numerous occasions to keep the game tied or close, but the persistent Bulldogs wouldn't be denied on this night.
We talked before the game about how WMU is somewhat similar in structure to Denver. What the Broncos are missing is the elite blue-line play Denver has. The Bulldogs made them pay dearly for that. As the game wore on, the visitors were able to establish a forecheck, and they did a great job defending the neutral zone. Western couldn't get any speed going to develop plays off the rush, and that allowed the Bulldogs to negate the speed WMU has up front in the name of Chase Balisy, Shane Berschbach, and others. It was something UMD was missing in the Dec. 13 loss to Western Michigan, especially in the second period.
Instead, UMD was the team using its speed to make plays. It helps when the guys on the top line combine for five goals. Kyle Osterberg and Justin Crandall were fantastic on Friday. Osterberg was always around the puck in the offensive zone. Tony Cameranesi had another strong game. Oh, and despite not getting on the scoreboard, freshman forward Alex Iafallo was one of UMD's best players. I don't care that he was minus-one. He had six shots, made plays in all three zones, and won race after race for loose pucks.
The reconfigured fourth line of Max Tardy, Austyn Young, and Sammy Spurrell had some good shifts in limited work (too much special teams hockey in this game). Tardy and Young set up Spurrell for a tremendous scoring chance in the first period, but Hafner made a nice save on it. Young played because Austin Farley sat out injured, and Cal Decowski took Farley's spot. Unfortunately, more on that to come.
Defensively, Andy Welinski continued his strong play as of late. I thought Carson Soucy was having an a'ight game before getting the boot for a hit from behind. Sophomore Willie Corrin had what might have been his best game. He had two third-period assists, seemed more poised on the power play, and played a better defensive game than I thought he did last weekend in the tournament.
UMD's puck possession in the second and third periods, and great work by the penalty kill, meant Aaron Crandall had time to do whatever he wanted in goal. Western scored on a short-handed breakaway in the first, and then a great one-timer from the left point with traffic on a late power play in the second. Outside of that, Crandall was seen apparently playing Words With Friends in the crease.
He made a fantastic save on Colton Hargrove during a Western power play, as Hargrove drove around the UMD defense and got the puck to the net, and he stopped Nolan LaPorte in tight, too. But Western didn't get a lot of great looks, and missed the net on a few of the looks they did manage to earn.
I expect Western to be tighter in Saturday's game. I think they'll be better up front. Sophomore center Josh Pitt -- a player I like a good amount -- missed 53 minutes Friday after getting ejected for contact to the head. His presence will make a difference. As much as I liked UMD's game Friday, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that UMD won't outshoot Western Michigan 37-19 again. This team wasn't unbeaten in six straight by accident, and while the Broncos didn't come out rusty off a bye, it was obvious UMD was the fresher team as the game wore on. That might not be the case -- at least not as emphatically -- in the second game of the series.
******
If you're sick of the Farley story, stop reading here and move on to the next section.
No, seriously, I'm begging you.
Now, if you are tempted to tweet something about moving on, I'm probably going to laugh at you.
We've been trying to move on. Literally, the entire week. No one on the UMD side wants to talk about this. Guaranteed. If it were up to us, it would have gone away a week ago, when Minnesota's Ben Marshall lit up UMD sophomore Farley with a clearly illegal hit that has no place in the game.
1. The penalty was for contact to the head. Watch the full-speed replay, ignore the slow motion, and tell me in no uncertain terms that you know there was no head contact without the benefit of replay. If you can honestly say that, you need to slap on some skates and become an official.
2. My initial reaction was that this was a minor for interference. Having had the opportunity to watch the replay about ten times in the last week, I've come around to the fact that this should probably have been a major for interference.
Problem: There is no option in the NCAA rulebook to call a major for interference. Fix this, please. Officials need to have options at their disposal. This is a blindside hit on a player who never had the puck. It needs to not be in our game. Right now, this hit can only be a minor penalty.
3. Marshall gets no sympathy from me. He delivers a rising blow-up hit on a shorter player, then tells the official Farley is fine. No, he isn't. But thanks for playing, Dr. Marshall.
Also can't let FSN's Tom Chorske off the hook. His commentary at the time was measured and intelligent if you watch the video. I don't have a major issue with anything he said. But he probably shouldn't have engaged anyone on Twitter.
I think this one's my favorite.
@runwiththedogs He played after the hit. What's wrong w/him? For all I know he has the flu?
— Tom Chorske (@hockeylogic) February 1, 2014
Yes, Farley had the flu on Monday, missed practice because of it, and is still sick this weekend. Sounds like our medical staff sucks.
Chorske went on to say that it's "unusual" Farley played with an injury suffered on the hit. Yeah, unusual. Just like it's unusual Mikko Koivu dished out two assists against Washington while playing with a broken ankle, and it's unusual Zach Parise played multiple games on a broken foot before finally shutting it down for a while.
You'd think a guy with the long and successful hockey career Chorske had would be able to understand that adrenaline can do funny things, including causing a player to think he's okay in the heat of the moment. It's something I tell my PeeWee kids all the time. Just because you get hit and think you're fine in the game doesn't mean you're fine. When the game is over and you go home, that adrenaline goes away and you might not be "fine" anymore.
I'm not breaking new ground here. These are concepts that have existed in sports for decades, and I'm shocked Chorske -- a knowledgeable guy who I have always respected as a player and broadcaster -- forgot these things.
I don't know specifically what Farley's injury is, but I do know it didn't happen on the bus trip home from St. Paul on Saturday. You guys are probably smart enough to deduce a few options.
But it would be really nice if Chorske and the rest of the Gopher media contingent would stop accusing a player who was injured on a hit of embellishment. I'm not saying players can't embellish when legitimately injured, but when you know damn well someone is actually hurt, it's a hell of an accusation to be throwing out there. Probably doesn't do much for people's opinion of you.
******
The Gophers just can't seem to escape controversy. Taken to a shootout by Michigan State (snicker) Friday night, here's the third round attempt from Sparty on UMTC netminder Adam Wilcox, as posted on YouTube by the great CJ Fogler (@cjzero).
What you are about to read is more discussion of a play that happened in a shootout than there ever should be.
It was called a goal on the ice. It was overturned after video review. I believe it to be correct, and here's why:
1. I do not believe it would have gone in the net had Wilcox not knocked it off. While the puck still crossed the line inside where the goalpost would have been if it hadn't moved, I don't see that as the issue. Instead, watch how far Wilcox's body moves to the right when his skate hits the right post and the leg doesn't stop. It isn't far, but it's probably far enough that his left skate doesn't hold the post.
2. With that in mind, you have to judge his intent. And if you feel you can do that, you're a better person than I. I don't think there's split-second intent by Wilcox to knock the net off because he's beat. I just don't. So you can't call it a goal or give the MSU player a do-over because you think Wilcox cheated the system. He tried to make a play he's probably done a hundred times in one-on-one situations in his career. The goalpost had a different idea.
3. Perhaps with shootouts not going away in college hockey, there's a protocol that needs to be written for situations like this. But don't ask me to do it.
******
UMD's win tied the Bulldogs for fifth in the NCHC. Thanks to St. Cloud State's 5-3 win at Nebraska Omaha Friday on a late Kevin Gravel game-winner, the winner of Saturday's UMD-WMU game will have a chance to move into a home-ice position in the NCHC standings.
(Real nice win for St. Cloud State. From the sounds of it, they were badly outshot in the first 20 minutes, but Ryan Faragher kept them going. Nice to see Joey Benik back. He scored a pair of goals for SCSU, and then Gravel got the late winner before a Brooks Bertsch empty-netter iced it. In news that isn't really news, Josh Archibald scored again for UNO. 18 goals in 23 games for him. Amazing.)
Omaha is fourth with 21 points. If St. Cloud beats UNO again Saturday -- be it in regulation, overtime, or a shootout -- the winner of Saturday's UMD-Western Michigan game -- be it in regulation, overtime, or a shootout -- moves into fourth place with ten league games to go.
The win kicked UMD into 12th in the PairWise. The Bulldogs claim the season series with a victory in Saturday's game. This weekend starts a stretch that sees UMD alternate between home and away series the rest of the regular season (at WMU, vs CC, at SCSU, vs UND, at Miami, vs UNO). As you can see, every weekend will be hugely significant, which is part of the reason UMD signed on to the new conference structure.
Coverage starts at 5:30 along the network. Go to 94xrocks.com if you need streaming info or if you want to download our free app so you can listen on phones or tablets.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Adrian Peterson Sits Until Opener
It hasn't been officially announced, but a number of Twin Cities media outlets are reporting that the Vikings have decided to keep running back Adrian Peterson on the sidelines for the rest of the preseason.
This isn't a huge surprise, but it's a noteworthy story.
Vikings radio voice Paul Allen has noted a number of times on his daily show that Peterson could have practiced in camp from the outset, and he could have played in the preseason opener at San Francisco. The fact he hasn't played in a game yet has nothing to do with his rehab, but instead is simply a precaution.
Is it the right move?
Only the Vikings and Peterson can say for sure, but if I were a Vikings fan, I'd much rather see No. 28 in a preseason game if he's healthy enough to play in one.
One of the things I've learned from covering sports over the years is that there is often a mental hurdle for an athlete of any caliber to overcome when he suffers a major injury. That hurdle can be overcome by taking a hit, giving the player the feeling that he's finally okay. Sometimes, it takes a longer time than others, and there are some who can come right back with no ill effects.
Clearly, the Vikings are thinking Peterson can come back with little or no ill effects. Even if he's limited on Sept. 9, they have Toby Gerhart at their disposal, and he's looked strong so far in the preseason.
Peterson, when healthy, is unquestionably the best running back in the NFL. If Christian Ponder is going to improve as a passer, it is only going to help Peterson make big plays in the running game. If they can work off each other, there's no reason the Vikings won't be much improved when it comes to matriculating the ball down the field and scoring points.
Now ... about preventing points from being scored ...
Although there was talk of the running back returning to play Friday in the Minnesota Vikings' exhibition game against San Diego, an NFL source said Monday night that the Vikings are planning to keep the Pro Bowl running back on the sideline for their two remaining preseason games.
The Vikings' exhibition finale will be Aug. 30 in Houston.
Peterson has long pointed to being back for the team's regular-season opener on Sept. 9 against Jacksonville and club officials have made it clear that is a realistic possibility. The current plan remains for the Vikings to get Peterson on the field for that game.
This isn't a huge surprise, but it's a noteworthy story.
Vikings radio voice Paul Allen has noted a number of times on his daily show that Peterson could have practiced in camp from the outset, and he could have played in the preseason opener at San Francisco. The fact he hasn't played in a game yet has nothing to do with his rehab, but instead is simply a precaution.
Is it the right move?
Only the Vikings and Peterson can say for sure, but if I were a Vikings fan, I'd much rather see No. 28 in a preseason game if he's healthy enough to play in one.
One of the things I've learned from covering sports over the years is that there is often a mental hurdle for an athlete of any caliber to overcome when he suffers a major injury. That hurdle can be overcome by taking a hit, giving the player the feeling that he's finally okay. Sometimes, it takes a longer time than others, and there are some who can come right back with no ill effects.
Clearly, the Vikings are thinking Peterson can come back with little or no ill effects. Even if he's limited on Sept. 9, they have Toby Gerhart at their disposal, and he's looked strong so far in the preseason.
Peterson, when healthy, is unquestionably the best running back in the NFL. If Christian Ponder is going to improve as a passer, it is only going to help Peterson make big plays in the running game. If they can work off each other, there's no reason the Vikings won't be much improved when it comes to matriculating the ball down the field and scoring points.
Now ... about preventing points from being scored ...
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Mounting Packers Injuries Show Importance of Depth, Other Things
Thursday was an ugly night for the Green Bay Packers, in more ways than one. A 21-13 loss is relatively inconsequential at this stage in the game. Doesn't matter. The way Green Bay got there, though, wasn't good, and neither has been the start of camp in terms of the team's health.
The Packers turned the ball over like crazy in San Diego, with reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers fumbling and throwing an interception in his short turn under center. If that wasn't enough, they lost starting middle linebacker Desmond Bishop in the first quarter, and it could be a season-ender.
The Bishop loss would be a tough one, as it could be argued he's the Packers' best linebacker, even ahead of that Clay Matthews chap. Bishop is a run-stuffer who can also get things done in pass coverage, and he's developed into a leader on the defensive side of the ball.
The Packers don't have a ton of depth at the position, with DJ Smith likely taking over for Bishop. The dropoff in ability is cavernous, and it makes me wonder if Ted Thompson isn't done signing veterans during camp.
Wait. Isn't done? Thompson signed a veteran during training camp?
After taking heat a couple different times over his team not being blessed with much depth at running back, Thompson reacted quickly to news that James Starks would be "week to week" with turf toe. Sunday, the Packers announced a one-year, no-risk deal with running back Cedric Benson.
That should solve the problem at running back. Once Starks returns, the Packers will be no worse off than they were when they had Starks with Ryan Grant. In fact, they might be better off, depending on what kind of shape Benson is in, and how motivated he is after three straight 1,000-yard seasons left him with no suitors once his Bengals deal was up last spring.
The offensive line is banged up, with journeyman turnstile Herb Taylor starting at left tackle in Thursday's loss. The position hasn't been addressed yet, but still might be before camp is over.
This early on, having so many guys banged up is not a good thing. It challenges a team's depth in ways that it really shouldn't be challenged this early in the season.
More than that, this should make abundantly clear the need for some good fortune -- ol' fashioned luck -- in the journey toward an NFL championship.
No one can predict when an injury is going to happen. Something like what felled Bishop on Thursday could happen to any defensive player at any time. Hell, it could happen to an offensive player, too. There is nothing that could be done to prevent it, outside of throwing the player in a bubble until the games count.
Sure, the Packers won Super Bowl XLV in a season where they seemed to have enough guys hurt to fill a separate starting lineup (it was only 15 guys on IR, with two more serious injuries suffered during the Super Bowl). But it's not a recipe for success.
If the Packers of 2012 are to have a shot at a second title in three years, they'd better hope for improved fortune in the injury department. Otherwise, the door might be more open in the NFC North than anyone thinks it is right now.
That would be good news for the Bears, Lions, and even Vikings, but not so much for the Cheeseheads.
The Packers turned the ball over like crazy in San Diego, with reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers fumbling and throwing an interception in his short turn under center. If that wasn't enough, they lost starting middle linebacker Desmond Bishop in the first quarter, and it could be a season-ender.
Bishop, the Green Bay Packers’ leading tackler last season and one of its heart-and-soul players from his inside linebacker position, had had his right leg bent awkwardly beneath him while trying to tackle Chargers running back Ronnie Brown, and while it appeared the initial concern should be for Bishop’s knee, it was actually his hamstring that worried McKenzie.
And when McKenzie examined Bishop’s hamstring upon returning to Green Bay, his worst fears were realized: A tear that could very well end Bishop’s 2012 season before it starts.
“Unfortunately, the hamstring injury was what we feared,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said matter-of-factly after practice Saturday night. “Surgery is imminent, and Desmond’s season is in jeopardy. Once we have the surgery, we’ll have a better idea on his status for this season.”
Bishop also suffered a knee sprain on the play, “but the hamstring is what’s going to keep him out,” McCarthy said.
The Bishop loss would be a tough one, as it could be argued he's the Packers' best linebacker, even ahead of that Clay Matthews chap. Bishop is a run-stuffer who can also get things done in pass coverage, and he's developed into a leader on the defensive side of the ball.
The Packers don't have a ton of depth at the position, with DJ Smith likely taking over for Bishop. The dropoff in ability is cavernous, and it makes me wonder if Ted Thompson isn't done signing veterans during camp.
Wait. Isn't done? Thompson signed a veteran during training camp?
After taking heat a couple different times over his team not being blessed with much depth at running back, Thompson reacted quickly to news that James Starks would be "week to week" with turf toe. Sunday, the Packers announced a one-year, no-risk deal with running back Cedric Benson.
Benson, who turns 30 in December, spent the last four seasons in Cincinnati, registering 1,000-yard seasons each of the past three years. His best season for the Bengals was in 2009, when in 13 games he rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns on 301 carries (4.2-yard average).
That should solve the problem at running back. Once Starks returns, the Packers will be no worse off than they were when they had Starks with Ryan Grant. In fact, they might be better off, depending on what kind of shape Benson is in, and how motivated he is after three straight 1,000-yard seasons left him with no suitors once his Bengals deal was up last spring.
The offensive line is banged up, with journeyman turnstile Herb Taylor starting at left tackle in Thursday's loss. The position hasn't been addressed yet, but still might be before camp is over.
This early on, having so many guys banged up is not a good thing. It challenges a team's depth in ways that it really shouldn't be challenged this early in the season.
More than that, this should make abundantly clear the need for some good fortune -- ol' fashioned luck -- in the journey toward an NFL championship.
No one can predict when an injury is going to happen. Something like what felled Bishop on Thursday could happen to any defensive player at any time. Hell, it could happen to an offensive player, too. There is nothing that could be done to prevent it, outside of throwing the player in a bubble until the games count.
Sure, the Packers won Super Bowl XLV in a season where they seemed to have enough guys hurt to fill a separate starting lineup (it was only 15 guys on IR, with two more serious injuries suffered during the Super Bowl). But it's not a recipe for success.
If the Packers of 2012 are to have a shot at a second title in three years, they'd better hope for improved fortune in the injury department. Otherwise, the door might be more open in the NFC North than anyone thinks it is right now.
That would be good news for the Bears, Lions, and even Vikings, but not so much for the Cheeseheads.
Friday, March 23, 2012
NCAA Northeast Regional: Spencer Abbott a Game Time Decision
WORCESTER, Mass. -- As soon as I heard what happened to Maine senior forward Spencer Abbott -- a Hobey Baker finalist -- I knew this was going to be a story throughout the week.
Abbott sustained a head injury during the Black Bears' 5-3 win over Boston University in last week's Hockey East semifinals in Boston. He has not practiced much this week, but did skate without taking contact during Friday's workout at DCU Center.
Whitehead confirmed the terminology "game-time decision" to me Friday, not that it was really a surprise to anyone.
"Unfortunately, we have got to be patient," Maine head coach Tim Whitehead said Friday. "These are the kind of injuries that you don't mess around with.
"This isn't something that you say 'Hey, he's gonna give it a try,' or see how it feels. He's either cleared or he's not."
Pressed at Friday's press conference for details on the process Abbott must work through to be allowed on the ice Saturday, Whitehead made it abundantly clear that clearance could come in time for Abbott to play, even if it might seem somewhat unlikely.
In a conversation I had with him after the press conference, Whitehead joked that it seems you almost "need a presidential pardon to get cleared from a head injury," but he is fully understanding of the protocol that his star player must pass.
While it isn't clear if Abbott will play on Saturday, Whitehead is confident that his team will be okay if it doesn't work out in the Black Bears' favor.
"It’s been a week now," Whitehead said, "and I thought we handled the situation well against BU. We were able to bounce right back after three minutes and get the game-winning goal. . . I think the BU game was almost a microcosm of our season with our team.
"We’ve handled adversity within the game and off the ice with anything that’s thrown at us, and the boys have handled it very well. So I think we’re prepared and now we’ve had a week to adjust to it as well. So I think if he’s not playing we’ll certainly be ready, and if he is that’s just a bonus."
UMD is reporting no injuries. Expect a similar lineup to what you have seen so far in the playoffs.
Abbott sustained a head injury during the Black Bears' 5-3 win over Boston University in last week's Hockey East semifinals in Boston. He has not practiced much this week, but did skate without taking contact during Friday's workout at DCU Center.
Whitehead confirmed the terminology "game-time decision" to me Friday, not that it was really a surprise to anyone.
"Unfortunately, we have got to be patient," Maine head coach Tim Whitehead said Friday. "These are the kind of injuries that you don't mess around with.
"This isn't something that you say 'Hey, he's gonna give it a try,' or see how it feels. He's either cleared or he's not."
Pressed at Friday's press conference for details on the process Abbott must work through to be allowed on the ice Saturday, Whitehead made it abundantly clear that clearance could come in time for Abbott to play, even if it might seem somewhat unlikely.
In a conversation I had with him after the press conference, Whitehead joked that it seems you almost "need a presidential pardon to get cleared from a head injury," but he is fully understanding of the protocol that his star player must pass.
While it isn't clear if Abbott will play on Saturday, Whitehead is confident that his team will be okay if it doesn't work out in the Black Bears' favor.
"It’s been a week now," Whitehead said, "and I thought we handled the situation well against BU. We were able to bounce right back after three minutes and get the game-winning goal. . . I think the BU game was almost a microcosm of our season with our team.
"We’ve handled adversity within the game and off the ice with anything that’s thrown at us, and the boys have handled it very well. So I think we’re prepared and now we’ve had a week to adjust to it as well. So I think if he’s not playing we’ll certainly be ready, and if he is that’s just a bonus."
UMD is reporting no injuries. Expect a similar lineup to what you have seen so far in the playoffs.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
J.T. Brown Out This Weekend
UMD sophomore forward J.T. Brown will miss this weekend's series against Minnesota State. Brown suffered an upper-body injury Saturday, and there is no set timetable for his return.
Brown was injured during a UMD power play late in the first period. Multiple sources indicate he was slashed by a UND player. He came off the ice in some discomfort during a four-on-three advantage, and was replaced by Mike Seidel. UMD would score a goal seconds later, as a Chris Casto shot was tipped in by Travis Oleksuk to tie the game at 2-2. Seidel scored 24 seconds later to give UMD the lead for good.
The injury was the subject of a ton of speculation in the arena, with multiple erroneous reports cycling through my Twitter feed during the game. Brown did not return to the game, and has not skated at practice this week. He's expected to skate on his own Wednesday.
UMD freshman Justin Crandall is questionable for this weekend. Crandall suffered an upper-body injury during a win at Alaska-Anchorage Feb. 3. He was scratched the next night, and believed at the time to be healthy enough to play. He missed the UND series and returned to practice this week. Crandall skated Tuesday in the always-enjoyable "DON'T HIT ME" jersey. He said he feels good, but head coach Scott Sandelin wouldn't commit to Crandall's playing status, one way or the other.
If Crandall is out, look for UMD to skate with 11 forwards and seven defenseman against Minnesota State. If the defensive pairings remain as they were on Saturday, Luke McManus and Scott Kishel will likely travel with the team to Mankato, with one of them playing as a forward for Friday's game against the Mavericks.
Brown was injured during a UMD power play late in the first period. Multiple sources indicate he was slashed by a UND player. He came off the ice in some discomfort during a four-on-three advantage, and was replaced by Mike Seidel. UMD would score a goal seconds later, as a Chris Casto shot was tipped in by Travis Oleksuk to tie the game at 2-2. Seidel scored 24 seconds later to give UMD the lead for good.
The injury was the subject of a ton of speculation in the arena, with multiple erroneous reports cycling through my Twitter feed during the game. Brown did not return to the game, and has not skated at practice this week. He's expected to skate on his own Wednesday.
UMD freshman Justin Crandall is questionable for this weekend. Crandall suffered an upper-body injury during a win at Alaska-Anchorage Feb. 3. He was scratched the next night, and believed at the time to be healthy enough to play. He missed the UND series and returned to practice this week. Crandall skated Tuesday in the always-enjoyable "DON'T HIT ME" jersey. He said he feels good, but head coach Scott Sandelin wouldn't commit to Crandall's playing status, one way or the other.
If Crandall is out, look for UMD to skate with 11 forwards and seven defenseman against Minnesota State. If the defensive pairings remain as they were on Saturday, Luke McManus and Scott Kishel will likely travel with the team to Mankato, with one of them playing as a forward for Friday's game against the Mavericks.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sidney Crosby Return Lives Up To Hype
If the media had things the way the media would probably have wanted it, this wouldn't have played out the way it did.
Some 29 hours before the opening faceoff of Monday's Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Islanders game in Pittsburgh, the Penguins announced that captain/superstar/hockey lightning rod Sidney Crosby would be returning. Crosby was scheduled to play in a game for the first time since early January, when his MVP season was cut short by a concussion that wouldn't go away (presumptuous, maybe, but Sid had 32 goals and 66 points in 41 games, so saying he was on track for the MVP is probably quite the understatement).
Versus scuttled plans to televise Boston-Montreal (boring!). CBC scuttled plans to televise whatever CBC usually televises on Monday nights. They scrambled to get their broadcasters to Pittsburgh for the game, Versus sending Dave Strader and Pierre McGuire, while CBC went with the "A" team of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson.
No one knew what to expect. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma talked of Sid playing 12 minutes. He was going to play between Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, his linemates last season. But would he have to kick off the rust, or would he quickly return to his old self?
The answer was quick. And it was as emphatic as it was quick.
It took all of 2:20 of ice time for Sidney Crosby to light the lamp.
Before the game, NHL Network's E.J. Hradek boldly predicted Sid would have three points. I was watching, and I wasn't so sure. After all, he wasn't going to have his normal ice time. He hadn't done anything at game speed since January.
The comeback from concussions eventually turns into a mental game. What would happen when Crosby was on the verge of getting hit. What would happen when he got hit hard? Would he shake it off and keep playing, or would there be doubts and questions about whether or not he was okay?
No worries. He took hits. He gave hits. He kept going, and he kept dazzling the home crowd in Pittsburgh.
It was a great show, even from the couch. Crosby did everything that made him the best player in the world before he was hurt. He has speed unlike virtually anyone else. His vision and smarts are second to none, too. But what makes Crosby great is that competitive drive, and it doesn't look like he's lost one bit of that drive.
From Bruce Arthur of The National Post:
It was an incredible night for the sport, one that brought it plenty of attention it wouldn't normally get.
At the tail-end of November, that's hardly a bad thing.
Some 29 hours before the opening faceoff of Monday's Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Islanders game in Pittsburgh, the Penguins announced that captain/superstar/hockey lightning rod Sidney Crosby would be returning. Crosby was scheduled to play in a game for the first time since early January, when his MVP season was cut short by a concussion that wouldn't go away (presumptuous, maybe, but Sid had 32 goals and 66 points in 41 games, so saying he was on track for the MVP is probably quite the understatement).
Versus scuttled plans to televise Boston-Montreal (boring!). CBC scuttled plans to televise whatever CBC usually televises on Monday nights. They scrambled to get their broadcasters to Pittsburgh for the game, Versus sending Dave Strader and Pierre McGuire, while CBC went with the "A" team of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson.
No one knew what to expect. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma talked of Sid playing 12 minutes. He was going to play between Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, his linemates last season. But would he have to kick off the rust, or would he quickly return to his old self?
The answer was quick. And it was as emphatic as it was quick.
It took all of 2:20 of ice time for Sidney Crosby to light the lamp.
Before the game, NHL Network's E.J. Hradek boldly predicted Sid would have three points. I was watching, and I wasn't so sure. After all, he wasn't going to have his normal ice time. He hadn't done anything at game speed since January.
The comeback from concussions eventually turns into a mental game. What would happen when Crosby was on the verge of getting hit. What would happen when he got hit hard? Would he shake it off and keep playing, or would there be doubts and questions about whether or not he was okay?
No worries. He took hits. He gave hits. He kept going, and he kept dazzling the home crowd in Pittsburgh.
It was a great show, even from the couch. Crosby did everything that made him the best player in the world before he was hurt. He has speed unlike virtually anyone else. His vision and smarts are second to none, too. But what makes Crosby great is that competitive drive, and it doesn't look like he's lost one bit of that drive.
From Bruce Arthur of The National Post:
And Crosby, once again, was able to soar to the occasion. A little over five minutes into his second hockey life, on his third shift, Crosby gathered a puck at speed in the neutral zone, raced right around defenceman Andrew MacDonald, and sliced a backhand over the glove hand of rookie goaltender Anders Nilsson. The clock froze at 5:24 and Crosby turned in the corner, flexed his arms, roared “F— yeah!” along with the crowd, turning the air a little blue.
He would add an assist on a Brooks Orpik one-timer that made it 2-0, and would pick up a secondary assist on the power-play goal by Evgeni Malkin that made it 3-0. He would win a puck battle, create space, and send a knuckling backhand that deflected off the leg of Islanders defenceman Steve Staios for the game’s final goal. Four points, and he could have had more — twice he set up teammates who hit the post. He kept displaying his old terrifying speed, his drive, his relentlessness. Like old times.
“The first draw — it’s a faceoff and he battles like it’s the last draw of the season,” said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.
“I felt like I was waiting forever,” said Crosby, who played just 15:54. “And I kind of was, in a way. I’ll have a great memory of this one for a lot of different reasons.”
Sure, the Islanders looked like a team that was a ladder and a bucket of confetti away from playing the Harlem Globetrotters. But it’s easy to forget that as recently as Sept. 7, Crosby didn’t absolutely rule out the possibility of retirement.
It was an incredible night for the sport, one that brought it plenty of attention it wouldn't normally get.
At the tail-end of November, that's hardly a bad thing.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Danberg Out Indefinitely
If you missed the UMD Coaches Show Wednesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings, the one major news item that came out of our conversation with men's hockey coach Scott Sandelin is certainly not good news in the least.
Senior forward and assistant captain Cody Danberg will be out for an extended period of time with a shoulder injury. I talked to Cody at the arena Wednesday, and he remains hopeful that he can play towards the end of the season, though that timetable is not a certainty at this point.
Sandelin confirmed that Danberg will have surgery, probably within a few days.
"We'll see how the surgery goes, and after that it's pretty much how quickly the recovery process is," Sandelin said. The coach didn't want to put a timetable on Danberg's recovery, but he is also hopeful that Danberg will be able to play before the season ends. The only specific he would note is that Danberg will be out until at least after Christmas.
"You feel bad for him, obviously," Sandelin said. "He's got good leadership. He's well-respected. Our guys know how important he is. The good thing is he will still be around, and can provide that leadership to our guys."
Danberg has been a joy from my perspective. If you remember, he traveled with us to New York last year, and he ended up working on the broadcasts with me in the Clarkson games, adding insights and laughing at my bad jokes. He's good with the little kids, so he's a go-to guy at events like Skate With The Bulldogs, and he's just a very good person.
You don't wish this kind of stuff on anyone. But if you were, say, a Philadelphia fan, and you actually did wish this kind of stuff on people (I kid), Danberg would be about the last guy you would do that to.
We'll hope for the best. For now, look for the UMD top line (Mike Seidel - Jack Connolly - J.T. Brown) to stay intact this weekend. Joe Basaraba has been skating, and should play right wing with Jake Hendrickson and Travis Oleksuk barring a setback.
Senior forward and assistant captain Cody Danberg will be out for an extended period of time with a shoulder injury. I talked to Cody at the arena Wednesday, and he remains hopeful that he can play towards the end of the season, though that timetable is not a certainty at this point.
Sandelin confirmed that Danberg will have surgery, probably within a few days.
"We'll see how the surgery goes, and after that it's pretty much how quickly the recovery process is," Sandelin said. The coach didn't want to put a timetable on Danberg's recovery, but he is also hopeful that Danberg will be able to play before the season ends. The only specific he would note is that Danberg will be out until at least after Christmas.
"You feel bad for him, obviously," Sandelin said. "He's got good leadership. He's well-respected. Our guys know how important he is. The good thing is he will still be around, and can provide that leadership to our guys."
Danberg has been a joy from my perspective. If you remember, he traveled with us to New York last year, and he ended up working on the broadcasts with me in the Clarkson games, adding insights and laughing at my bad jokes. He's good with the little kids, so he's a go-to guy at events like Skate With The Bulldogs, and he's just a very good person.
You don't wish this kind of stuff on anyone. But if you were, say, a Philadelphia fan, and you actually did wish this kind of stuff on people (I kid), Danberg would be about the last guy you would do that to.
We'll hope for the best. For now, look for the UMD top line (Mike Seidel - Jack Connolly - J.T. Brown) to stay intact this weekend. Joe Basaraba has been skating, and should play right wing with Jake Hendrickson and Travis Oleksuk barring a setback.
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