UMD Men's Hockey Schedule 2014-15

As published in Tuesday's Duluth News Tribune, here is the UMD men's hockey schedule for next season.

Oct. 10 -- vs. Minnesota at Icebreaker, South Bend, Ind.
Oct. 12 -- vs. Notre Dame or RPI at Icebreaker, South Bend, Ind.
Oct. 17 -- Minnesota State
Oct. 18 -- at Minnesota State
Oct. 24-25 -- Denver
Oct. 31-Nov. 1 -- Miami
Nov. 7-8 -- at St. Cloud State
Nov. 14 -- at Minnesota
Nov. 15 -- Minnesota
Nov. 21-22 -- at Nebraska-Omaha
Dec. 5-6 -- Colorado College
Dec. 12-13 -- at Michigan Tech
Jan. 9-10 -- at North Dakota
Jan. 16-17 -- Western Michigan
Jan. 23 -- vs. Bemidji State at North Star College Cup, St. Paul
Jan. 24 -- vs. Minnesota or Minnesota State at North Star College Cup, St. Paul
Jan. 30-31 -- at Denver
Feb. 6-7 -- Northern Michigan
Feb. 13-14 -- St. Cloud State
Feb. 20-21 -- at Miami
Feb. 27-28 -- Nebraska-Omaha
March 6-7 -- at Western Michigan
March 13-15 -- NCHC playoffs first round
March 20-21 -- NCHC Frozen Faceoff at Target Center

A few things:

• Expect at least one home exhibition game to be added, especially with there being a month between games over the holiday break. That seems like a good spot for something.
• No North Dakota in Duluth next season, and UMD will not visit Colorado Springs. Sad face.
• Home non-conference is Minnesota and Minnesota State for single games, then Northern Michigan for two. UMD plays in two tournaments -- the Icebreaker and North Star College Cup -- and also visits Michigan Tech in December.
• As for the Icebreaker, it's a Friday/Sunday event in South Bend because Notre Dame football is home to take on North Carolina that Saturday. If you're traveling out for that event, the football game is probably a must if you're at all a football fan. Actually, I'd carve out time for a campus tour of some sort if you've never done that before. And go to the football game.
• 2014-15 will be the fourth time in five years that UMD's final regular season home series has come against Nebraska Omaha.

UMD Hockey Awards; Other Offseason Notes

We have a few things to clean out of the proverbial notebook regarding UMD hockey.

For starters, UMD announced its annual player awards Tuesday night. Senior Mike Seidel is the team MVP. Seidel led the team with 17 goals, tied for the team lead with 34 points, and was named the Fan Favorite Award winner during the last weekend of the season.

Forward Tony Cameranesi was voted the team's top rookie. He tied Seidel and fellow freshman Austin Farley with 34 points, scoring 14 goals and making an impact on the UMD power play.

Freshman Cal Decowski was named the most improved player. Six of his eight points came over the final nine games of the season, as Decowski found a role on the second power play and developed chemistry on the fourth line.

Senior defenseman Drew Olson won Most Inspirational Player honors, and rightfully so. Senior Keegan Flaherty got the Community Service Award -- also richly deserved for all he did. Junior defenseman Tim Smith got the Bob Junkert Award for leading the team in plus-minus.

It appears that UMD's 2013-14 schedule is even closer to getting finalized. The Bulldogs have added an Oct. 7 exhibition against Lakehead University of Thunder Bay. That Monday night game comes four days before UMD's season opener against Michigan Tech at Amsoil Arena.

UMD's series at Minnesota could still be altered. Games are scheduled for Nov. 22 and 23, but Minnesota's football team is scheduled to host Wisconsin on Nov. 23. It's possible that the second game of the series could move to Sunday as a result. And, yes, it seems the "Main U" still insists on fielding a football team for reasons I can't articulate.

The Bulldogs' first taste of NCHC action comes Oct. 18 at Colorado College. The conference home opener isn't until Dec. 6 against St. Cloud State.

Last week, it was announced that forwards Joe Basaraba (senior) and Adam Krause (junior) will serve as co-captains for the 2013-14 team. Solid choices. I've known Basaraba was captain material from about the midway point of his sophomore season. Krause's effort and work ethic -- along with his classroom prowess -- make him a very good leader.

But as much as I like the choices for captains, it's worth pointing out that no good team relies solely on captains for leadership. There are a slew of guys -- specifically, I'm talking about players like Justin Crandall, Smith, and even Caleb Herbert and Andy Welinski -- who should be able to provide leadership, either vocally or by example with their play and work.

By the way, this offseason sucks. It's already been going on too long. The losses to Wisconsin were an incredible buzzkill, and the excitement about the future is ramping up. Let's get started already!

UMD Hockey 2012-13 Schedule

Much of this was known a few months ago, but now it's official.

The UMD men's hockey team announced its 2012-13 schedule Tuesday, marking the program's 48th and final year as a member of the WCHA. Here is the slate of 37 games (including an exhibition).

Oct. 12-13 –OHIO STATE (NC), 7:07
Oct. 18-19 –at Notre Dame (NC), 6:05 p.m.
Oct. 26-27 –WISCONSIN, 7:07 p.m.
Nov. 10-11 –at Nebraska-Omaha, 7:07 p.m., 2:07 p.m.
Nov. 16-17– at North Dakota, 7:37 p.m., 7:07 p.m.
Nov. 23-24 –ST. CLOUD STATE, 7:37 p.m., 7:07 p.m.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 –at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Dec. 7-8 –BEMIDJI STATE, 7:07 p.m.
Dec. 14-15 –at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Dec. 28-29 –Florida College Classic, Estero, Fla. (NC - matchups TBA)
Jan. 11-12 –MICHIGAN TECH, 7:07 p.m.
Jan. 18-19 – at Colorado College, 8:37 p.m., 8:07 p.m.
Jan. 26 –USA UNDER-18 (exhibition), 2:07 p.m.
Feb. 1-2 –DENVER, 7:07 p.m.
Feb. 8-9 –MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO, 7:37 p.m., 7:07 p.m.
Feb. 15-16 –at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Feb. 22-23 –at Minnesota, 7:07 p.m.
March 1-2 –ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE (NC), 7:07 p.m.
March 8-9 – NEBRASKA-OMAHA, 7:07 p.m.

March 15-17 –WCHA Playoffs, first round
March 21-23 –WCHA Final Five, St. Paul
March 29-31 –NCAA Regionals
April 11-13 – NCAA Frozen Four, Pittsburgh

NFL Goes World Cup

Sunday marks the final day of the NFL regular season. There are playoff spots, division titles, and conference No. 1 seeds all up for grabs as all 16 games will be played on Sunday. That's the only time this will happen during the season.

To set up the most compelling TV viewing, the NFL is taking a page out of the World Cup's playbook.

No, really. And to think, most of you probably think soccer is stupid. Apparently, the NFL is smart enough not to think that way.

Every four years, the World Cup is contested. The current format involves eight groups of four teams apiece playing a round robin, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the "knockout" stage. Game times are staggered over the first two games of the three-game round robin schedule, so no games are being played at the same time.

Once they get to the final round, though, each group's two-match slate is played at the same time. The reason behind this is that you will get an honest effort from all four teams. At least three of them are usually alive for the knockout phase, and sometimes all four are. By playing both matches simultaneously, no one has the advantage of knowing if they will be through to the knockout phase based on the other result in their group. If a team controls their own fate and needs a win to advance, they have to play to win, because they can't assume the other match will go their way.

Now, look at Sunday's NFL schedule.

Think now about the playoff scenarios that exist for Week 17.

The Steelers and Ravens are in the playoffs, but the AFC North hasn't been clinched. They play early games Sunday, and the Steelers can't sit on a Baltimore loss. They have to go all-out to beat Cleveland.

Atlanta hasn't won the NFC South yet, and must beat Carolina to clinch that and the NFC's No. 1 seed. No one thinks that will be a problem, but the Falcons don't get the luxury of resting their starters for that game. Tampa Bay is still in the hunt for a spot, but they need a win and help, and a loss to New Orleans won't clinch anything for anyone. Therefore, there's no harm to the Wild Card chase to have that as an early game.

The other playoff spots will be decided in late afternoon and night games. St. Louis and Seattle got the night game, and the winner is a division champion. Loser goes home.

In the late afternoon, you find Chicago-Green Bay, Dallas-Philadelphia, and the Giants at Washington. Those three games will decide the final NFC playoff spot, along with a first-round bye in the NFC. Having them go off at the same time ensures that no one will assume anything, and all six teams will give it their best effort, whether the goal is a playoff spot, a higher seed, or just to play spoiler.

In the AFC, the South Division will be decided in the late afternoon window, too. Jacksonville needs a win and an Indianapolis loss, while Indy can clinch the division if Jacksonville loses.

Give the NFL credit. They know how to create compelling television, and they've done that with their game-time tinkering for Sunday. They've also copied a successful formula from another sport.

It is a copycat society, after all.

2010-11 UMD Men's Hockey Schedule

Still a long way from the opening game, but the UMD men's hockey schedule was released while I was vacationing in Vegas. Here is the release from the school, along with the complete schedule:

A much-anticipated midseason move into a new facility and the University of Minnesota Duluth's final eight games in the 44-year old Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center are among the highlights of the 2010-11 Bulldog men's hockey schedule, which was officially released today.

The Bulldogs will launch their 67th year of intercollegiate competition -- and 50th season as a member of the NCAA Division I ranks -- on Oct. 8 with a road engagement against Lake Superior State University before taking on host Northern Michigan University, which qualified for the NCAA tournament this past March, the next evening in another Superior Cup matchup. One week later (Oct. 15-16), Hockey East combatant Providence College is slated to visit the DECC for UMD's 2010-11 home debuts and the University of Alaska Anchorage will be in town the following weekend, marking the start of the Bulldogs' 28-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association slate.

UMD will host two more series at the DECC -- Nov. 12-13 vs. Michigan Tech University and Dec. 3-4 against defending WCHA regular season champion Denver -- until it christens its new $70-million, 6,800-seat arena on Dec. 30 by facing the University of North Dakota in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game. The remainder of the Bulldogs' home schedule includes clashes with 2010 NCAA Frozen Four runnerup the University of Wisconsin (Jan. 14-15), the University of Minnesota (Feb. 4-5), St. Cloud State University (Feb. 11-12), the University of Nebraska-Omaha (regular season finales on March 4-5), which, along with Bemidji State University will join the WCHA fold this season, and the U.S. Under-18 Team (exhibition game on Jan. 8).

The 2010-11 Bulldogs are slated to play Michigan Tech, Minnesota and Wisconsin four times next winter and the eight other WCHA schools twice each.

"I can't think of a better way to open our new building then to do so against our biggest rivals in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and St. Cloud State," said head coach Scott Sandelin, who will embark on his 11th season behind the UMD bench this fall. "But, at the same time, that means we'll have very challenging second half to deal with."

UMD closed out 2009-10 with a 22-17-1 overall record -- their second straight 22-win season -- and tied for fourth place in the WCHA at 16-11-1 (their best conference mark in five years). The Bulldogs, who held down the No. 14 spot in the final uscho.com poll, also advanced to the WCHA Final Five tournament for the fifth time in eight seasons.

10/8/2010 Lake Superior State Sault Ste. Marie, MI 6:05 pm
10/9/2010 Northern Michigan Marquette, MI 6:30 pm
10/15/2010 Providence College Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
10/16/2010 Providence College Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
10/22/2010 Alaska-Anchorage Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
10/23/2010 Alaska-Anchorage Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
10/29/2010 Bemidji State Bemidji, MN 7:07 pm
10/30/2010 Bemidji State Bemidji, MN 7:07 pm
11/5/2010 North Dakota Grand Forks, ND 7:37 pm
11/6/2010 North Dakota Grand Forks, ND 7:07 pm
11/12/2010 Michigan Tech Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
11/13/2010 Michigan Tech Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
11/19/2010 Wisconsin Madison, WI 7:07 pm
11/20/2010 Wisconsin Madison, WI 7:07 pm
11/26/2010 Clarkson Potsdam, NY 6:00 pm
11/27/2010 Clarkson Potsdam, NY 6:00 pm
12/3/2010 Denver Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
12/4/2010 Denver Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
12/10/2010 Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 7:07 pm
12/11/2010 Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 7:07 pm
12/30/2010 North Dakota Duluth, MN 7:37 pm
1/8/2011 U.S. Under-18 Team Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/14/2011 Wisconsin Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/15/2011 Wisconsin Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/21/2011 Michigan Tech Houghton, MI 6:07 pm
1/22/2011 Michigan Tech Houghton, MI 6:07 pm
2/4/2011 Minnesota Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/5/2011 Minnesota Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/11/2011 St. Cloud State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/12/2011 St. Cloud State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/18/2011 Minnesota State-Mankato Mankato, MN 7:37 pm
2/19/2011 Minnesota State-Mankato Mankato, MN 7:07 pm
2/25/2011 Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO 8:37 pm
2/26/2011 Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO 8:07 pm
3/4/2011 Nebraska-Omaha Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
3/5/2011 Nebraska-Omaha Duluth, MN 7:07 pm

It's possible that game times will change. Outside of that, there it is.

The WCHA playoffs start March 11, and the Final Five is March 17-19 at XCel Energy Center, which will also host the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four.

English Soccer in the States

If you're interested in taking advantage of the increase in coverage of English soccer in the United States, you'll need this info.

Courtesy of EPLTalk.com, here is the U.S. broadcast schedule for the English Premier League through November of this year. Stay tuned for information from December through the end of the season in the spring.

Tuesday, August 18:

* Sunderland v Chelsea, 2:40pm, Setanta US
* Wigan v Wolves, 2:40pm, Setanta Xtra

Wednesday, August 19:

* Burnley v Man United, 2:40pm, Setanta US
* Hull v Tottenham, 2:40pm, Setanta Xtra

Saturday, August 22:

* Man City v Wolves, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* Arsenal v Portsmouth, 10am, Setanta US
* Wigan v Manchester United, 10am, ESPN2
* Sunderland v Blackburn, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Birmingham v Stoke City, Noon, Fox Soccer Channel
* Hull City v Bolton, 5pm [delayed], Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, August 23:

* West Ham United v Tottenham, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Fulham v Chelsea, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Monday, August 24:

* Liverpool v Aston Villa, 3pm, ESPN2

Saturday, August 29:

* Chelsea v Burnley, 7:45am, ESPN2
* Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* Bolton v Liverpool, 10am, Setanta US
* Blackburn v West Ham, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Manchester United v Arsenal, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel
* Stoke City v Sunderland, 5pm [delayed], Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, August 30:

* Portsmouth v Manchester City, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Aston Villa v Fulham, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Saturday, September 12:

* Man City v Arsenal, 10am, Setanta US
* Liverpool v Burnley, 10am, ESPN2
* Stoke v Chelsea, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Tottenham v Manchester United, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, September 13:

* Birmingham City v Aston Villa, 7am, Setanta US
* Fulham v Everton, 11:15am, Fox Soccer Channel

Saturday, September 19:

* Burnley v Sunderland, 7:45am, ESPN2
* Arsenal v Wigan Athletic, 10am, Setanta US
* Aston Villa v Portsmouth, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* West Ham United v Liverpool, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, September 20:

* Manchester United v Manchester City, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Chelsea v Tottenham, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Saturday, September 26:

* Portsmouth v Everton, 7:45am, ESPN2
* Stoke v Man United, 10am, Setanta US
* Liverpool v Hull City, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Fulham v Arsenal, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, September 27:

* Sunderland v Wolves, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Monday, September 28:

* Manchester City v West Ham United, ESPN2

Saturday, October 3:

* TBD v TBD, 10am, ESPN2
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* Bolton v Spurs, 10am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Manchester United v Sunderland, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, October 4:

* Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Chelsea v Liverpool, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Monday, October 5:

* Aston Villa v Manchester City, 3pm, ESPN2

Saturday, October 17:

* Aston Villa v Chelsea, 7:45am, ESPN2
* Man United v Bolton, 10am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra

Sunday, October 18:

* Blackburn Rovers v Burnley, 8am, Setanta US
* Wigan v Manchester City, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Monday, October 19:

* Fulham v Hull City, 3pm, ESPN2

Saturday, October 24:

* Wolves v Aston Villa, 7:45am, ESPN2
* Man City v Fulham, 10am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, October 25:

* Liverpool v Manchester United, 10am, Setanta US
* West Ham United v Arsenal, 11:15am, Fox Soccer Channel

Saturday, October 31:

* Arsenal v Tottenham, 8:45am, ESPN2
* Fulham v Liverpool, 11am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 11am, Setanta Xtra
* Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers, 1:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, November 1:

* Birmingham City v Manchester City, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Saturday, November 7:

* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 10am, ESPN2
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Wolves v Arsenal, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, November 8:

* Hull City v Stoke City, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Chelsea v Manchester United, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Monday, November 9:

* Liverpool v Birmingham City, 3pm, ESPN2

Saturday, November 21:

* Liverpool v Manchester City, 7:45am, ESPN2
* Chelsea v Wolves, 10am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Manchester United v Everton, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, November 22:

* Bolton v Blackburn, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Stoke City v Portsmouth, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

Saturday, November 28:

* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta US
* TBD v TBD, 10am, ESPN2
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Fox Soccer Channel
* TBD v TBD, 10am, Setanta Xtra
* Aston Villa v Tottenham, 12:15pm, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, November 29:

* Everton v Liverpool, 8:30am, Setanta US
* Arsenal v Chelsea, 11am, Fox Soccer Channel

It should be noted that Setanta US is a pay channel ($15/month for DirecTV subscribers), but the others are available on many cable or satellite packages.

Those with high-definition capabilities will be able to get the ESPN matches in HD, from what it appears.