UMD is trying for a second straight home series sweep. A win and a Minnesota loss leaves UMD one point out of the top spot in the WCHA, not that it will stop much of the Twin Cities contingent from kneeling before their favorite hockey team.
The streaking UMD Bulldogs bamboozled Alaska-Anchorage early and cruised to a 5-0 win at Amsoil Arena Friday night. UMD scored three goals in a span of less than two minutes in the first period, added one more later in the period, and then put the game in auto-pilot.
Kenny Reiter set a school record by running his scoreless streak to over 160 minutes. He'll carry that into Saturday's game, which is likely to be his tenth straight start in UMD's goal. I've already written a few superlatives about Reiter's recent play, and I'm not going to bore you with more.
As coach Scott Sandelin told me Wednesday, this isn't the NHL or even major junior, where you play enough games that you'd have to think about the potential of wearing down a goalie. Two games a week isn't going to do that to these kids. Minnesota isn't sitting Kent Patterson anytime soon, and as long as Reiter is putting up these kinds of numbers, he shouldn't be on the pine, either.
UMD got goals from five different players -- though it sure seems like Travis Oleksuk scored the second goal, which was credited officially to Chris Casto -- and the defensive contributions continue. Casto got that second goal, Brady Lamb had two assists, and Wade Bergman had an assist.
The Bulldogs started a tad sluggishly Friday, but quickly turned on the jets to a level UAA simply couldn't match. Jack Connolly threw a beauty of a pass to set up Joe Basaraba for the first goal, then Oleksuk's line -- with J.T. Brown and Caleb Herbert -- turned on the forecheck. A failed clearing attempt led to Casto's quick shot from the right point, one that looked relatively harmless until it was in the net. Before the game was seven minutes old, Connolly one-timed a superb pass from Scott Kishel to make it 3-0 and force Alaska-Anchorage coach Dave Shyiak to change goalies.
Chris Kamal played well in relief of Rob Gunderson, but he can't score goals for his team. The Seawolves were largely inept offensively for most of the night, and unless Kamal plays out of his mind in Saturday's finale, UAA better find a way to generate more of an attack than it did for most of Friday.
Sandelin told Kevin Pates after the game that he still wants his team to play better. It's not necessarily coach-speak, because UMD was in cruise control for most of the night, and outside of some great forechecking from Jake Hendrickson's line (with Justin Crandall and David Grun), the Bulldogs really didn't do much on a consistent basis.
Such is life when you take a 4-0 lead less than 13 minutes into a game. UAA couldn't really do anything positive to carry over into the series finale, which means it wasn't all bad. Like I told my wife, most of the time it's okay if a game is boring when your team has a 4-0 lead in the first period. Most of the scenarios that could make that type of game exciting -- comeback, big fight leading to injuries and/or suspensions -- are not good things.
UMD will need to match the opponent's intensity Saturday, though. No question UAA will be better, especially when it comes to one-on-one battles, many of which the Seawolves uncharacteristically lost Friday. Against Bemidji State two weeks ago, UMD struggled to match the improved level of play from the opponent after a Friday blowout. This time around, we'll see if UMD can pass the test.
If the Bulldogs do, we'll keep talking about this unbeaten streak for another week. I think we're all just fine with that idea.
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Elsewhere, the Gophers figured out that you can indeed lose a game once in a while, falling 3-1 at Wisconsin.
The Badgers rang up a three-spot on eight shots in the second period, and that was enough to send Minnesota to its first WCHA loss, cutting their league lead to three points over UMD and about 15 other teams (okay, three). The Gophers offense, which is virtually unstoppable according to a gaggle of Twin Cities hockey geniuses, has scored 24 goals in seven league games, exactly three fewer than UMD in the same number of games. Looks like the Sacred Heart Offensive Inflation Factor -- which benefits everyone but Air Force, I guess -- is coming into play here.
Bemidji State got a goal from the vastly-underrated Jordan George in the final minute to tie Nebraska-Omaha 3-3 at home. The Beavers kept UNO from taking sole possession of second place in the league.
Minnesota State won its second straight, topping St. Cloud State 4-2. I think the Huskies are really going to miss injured captain Drew LeBlanc, especially with Mike Lee already on the shelf for them. Meanwhile, MSU might not have the most talented group they've ever had, but you have to give credit to the Mavericks for playing their tails off to rally back from a terrible start and a bunch of injuries.
Colorado College plays Denver Saturday night in Denver for a single game on the weekend. Michigan Tech and North Dakota are off, which means the Fighting Sioux will get a normal week out of their offense.
(Sorry, I had to play that card while I could. By February, this 1-5 WCHA start will be a distant memory for UND.)
Should be an interesting weekend, as a desperate Seawolves team tries to break a four-game slide against a UMD group that hasn't lost in six.
Start of a four-game homestand at Amsoil Arena, which will be followed by eight straight road games (in wondrous locales like Houghton and Kalamazoo) spread out over two months before UMD returns home in January.
For the UMD men's hockey team, there have already been tests this season. Their speed was tested against Notre Dame. The series against Minnesota -- especially the outcome -- tested their mettle. Providence was the first road trip, and it tested UMD's ability to play a patient game and play in front of a less-than-ideal atmosphere. Bemidji State tested the Bulldogs' patience even more, and Denver tested UMD's conditioning and provided another opportunity for the team to show its mettle.
This weekend, UMD plays what is likely its most physical opponent to date in Alaska-Anchorage. I'm not basing that off long studies of tape. I haven't seen this UAA team. I'm basing it off what I've seen in each of my previous six years calling these games. I can't imagine it's much different now.
Dave Shyiak will demand that this team work hard, finish checks, and make life miserable for the UMD players, just like he always does. That means that the Bulldogs will need to bring the pain themselves. They need Tim Smith, Brady Lamb, Chris Casto, and other big bodies to throw the lumber early and often in this series. Protect your skill players (though J.T. Brown and Travis Oleksuk don't exactly shy away from contact), and make sure no one dictates anything to the home team.
It's not fancy, and it's certainly not pretty. Instead, for UMD, it's the way they have to play to win. It's something UMD did very well last year, and they are 3-0-1 this year playing teams that don't exactly want to play a skating game. UAA fits that bill, though they certainly have some guys who can skate.
Mickey Spencer has five goals already, and Daniel Naslund can move. They have a couple smaller forwards who likely will mold into Kevin Clark-type players that simply drive opponents nuts with their scoring ability and general competitiveness.
The Seawolves also have experience and talent in goal. Sophomores Rob Gunderson and Chris Kamal don't have sexy numbers, but Kamal flat-out stole games against the Gophers last year, and Gunderson has his share of wins, too. Shyiak has the luxury of being able to play either goalie and know he will have a chance to win the hockey game.
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Don't expect a lot of lineup changes for UMD Friday, especially up front. At practice this week, the forward lines from Saturday were intact, and if there is a change to the lineup at all, it will be at that sixth defensive position that has been occupied by three different guys -- Luke McManus, Derik Johnson, and Tim Smith -- so far.
Kenny Reiter will start in goal. UMD coach Scott Sandelin talked Wednesday about the fact that they have stuck with Reiter so far, and he has made it pay off. Sophomore Aaron Crandall hasn't exactly been playing poorly in practice, and he continues to push for playing time. Sandelin was non-committal Wednesday when asked about maybe getting Crandall in a game before Thanksgiving, something that I could certainly see happening, even if UMD stays hot.
That said, they are going to stick with Reiter at least in the here and now.
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UMD has a couple special events surrounding Friday's game. You probably know about the camouflage jersey auction happening throughout. If you aren't attending the game, you can still take part in the auction. Defending the Blue Line has set up a couple numbers for call-in bids during the game. They are (651) 253-6737 and (651) 829-1827.
The charity will post live updates on its website during the auction.
In addition, a toy drive will be going on to benefit Toyland Express. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy if you are attending Friday's game.
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UMD has not announced 2012-13 recruits that signed during the early signing period, which started Wednesday. Goalie Matt McNeely -- currently with Cedar Rapids of the USHL -- has already signed to play with UMD. The other recruits are expected to sign by the end of the signing period, at which point UMD will announce them.
I know that a lot of you care about recruiting. It was one of the early lessons I picked up when I took this job, because I never really covered recruiting in the past. I still probably don't spend as much time on it as some of you would like, but I will post on the recruits once we get the official word.
It was really good to see UMD respond like it did last weekend in Denver.
Down 1-0 after 64 seconds, 2-0 later in the first, and eventually 3-1 in the second period, the Bulldogs had nothing going offensively. Head coach Scott Sandelin decided to mix up UMD's lines, and the changes worked.
UMD scored two power-play goals to force a 3-3 tie Friday. The Bulldogs then used their newly-drawn lines for the entire game Saturday, cruising to a 4-0 win.
The line changes became a bit of a story over the weekend, and justifiably so. For those who didn't hear, Sandelin took Travis Oleksuk off Jack Connolly's line and put him back to center, then moved Caleb Herbert and J.T. Brown to his wings. Connolly now centers Mike Seidel and Joe Basaraba. You can expect to see more of these lines in the Alaska-Anchorage series this weekend.
But equal or greater to all that was the play of senior goalie Kenny Reiter.
After struggling in his first three starts (two losses), Reiter has caught fire as of late. In leading UMD to a six-game unbeaten streak entering this weekend's games, Reiter has posted a .944 save percentage and stopped 151 of 160 shots.
Reiter has shutouts in his last two Saturday appearances, giving him eight for his career. That's one off the school record. He has also taken the top spot all-time in save percentage (.912) and goals against (2.34) entering this weekend, besting former UMD All-American Alex Stalock.
This isn't to say that Reiter is automatically a better goalie or a better NHL prospect than Stalock. They're different goalies with different strengths who played on different teams at UMD. Stalock didn't have the benefit of guys like Connolly, Connolly, Fontaine, Oleksuk, or others for most of his UMD starts. The 2007-2008 team he started for was one of the worst offensive teams UMD has ever had, and Stalock kept them in virtually every game they played.
Reiter, meanwhile, has a ring, which counts for something. He's been pretty consistent, and he's worked his way up to this job. He didn't have Stalock-ian hype coming in, and when he eventually earned the right to start most of the games for UMD, it came after virtually everyone assumed that someone else would take the job and hold it for a couple years.
He's at his best when he's fighting through screens to see the puck, and he's become quite capable of playing the puck, even if he'll never be able to hold a candle to the never-boring Stalock in that department.
Instead of just accepting his fate as a backup, Reiter established himself as at least an equal to Brady Hjelle from the start of the 2009-2010 season. By year's end, he was far and away UMD's best option in goal, getting the call in the WCHA playoffs against Colorado College and in the Final Five against North Dakota. That last game -- a 2-0 loss -- might have been Reiter's best of the season. UMD could do little offensively, but were in a scoreless draw deep into the third period thanks to Reiter's stout play in net. Hjelle transferred to Ohio State, where he isn't exactly stinking up the joint early in the season (.938 save percentage in three games).
If Reiter can keep up his current level of play, he will hold three major UMD career goaltending records (save percentage, goals against, shutouts) when he's done at the end of this season. He will also become the men's hockey program's first-ever four-time WCHA Scholar Athlete.
Not a surprise, but I'll throw the information out there for all those interested. Sellouts and full houses have been hard to find in St. Paul this season, but I think it would be really nice if we could fill the XCel Energy Center for this.
The Minnesota Wild announced plans Tuesday to honor former player Derek Boogaard, who died in May.
The plans surround Minnesota's home game against Calgary, scheduled for Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.
On November 27, Minnesota Wild fans will get one more chance to say goodbye and to remember Derek Boogaard, the beloved tough guy who called Minnesota home for most of his professional career.
Boogaard, who tragically passed away in May, will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony prior to the Wild hosting the Calgary Flames at 5:00 that Sunday afternoon. Boogaard's parents Joanne and Len, siblings Aaron, Krysten, Ryan and Chris and grandparents Peter and Nancy are scheduled to be in attendance when the team shows a tribute video during the ceremony.
On the ice, Boogaard was one of the most feared enforcers in the game. Off the ice, he was one of the most charitable and friendliest players to wear a Wild sweater. One of his biggest passions was the support of Defending The Blue Line, a non-profit charitable foundation whose mission is to ensure that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the great game of hockey. Military personnel wishing to to attend the game can purchase lower level tickets at a special price of $45.
While at the game, all fans in attendance will receive a Derek Boogaard poster featuring a re-production of a painting of "The Boogeyman" by sports artist Robert Blehert. They can also visit a Boogaard tribute in the main concourse near Gate 3 and adjacent to a similar tribute to former Wild player Sergei Zholtok.
The team will also unveil a commemorative Boogaard tribute T-shirt and puck along with releasing a limited number of Boogaard autographed items and game worn jerseys on November 27. Proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit Defending The Blue Line.
For more information on Defending The Blue Line, go to www.defendingtheblueline.org.
As we get wound up for the hot stove season in baseball*, the Minnesota Twins made their first significant move of the offseason Monday.
(* - Yes, I know free agency has started, but nothing of note generally happens until after the winter meetings.)
The Twins' move doesn't involve a player. Instead, the team has gone to its past to try to save its future.
General manager Bill Smith was fired Monday, with the team citing the always-mysterious "philosophical differences" in making the announcement. Former general manager Terry Ryan -- who served in that capacity from 1994-2007 -- is taking over on an interim basis.
Smith was fired, according to sources with knowledge of the team's thinking, because he simply had lost the confidence of the people around and underneath him within the organization.
... The firing, however, had nothing to do with a drop in payroll, sources said -- Smith was told, with no qualms, that the payroll would dip from $115 million to approximately $100 million. Turning a 99-loss team into a contender with a limited free-agent budget is a tall task, as the Twins are already tied up for about $80 million, but Smith did not push back in that regard.
The firing also had nothing to do with the addition of former Cincinnati Reds' GM Wayne Krivsky as a pro scout and adviser -- Smith actually facilitated that move perhaps more aggressively than anyone in the organization, one source said.
There was just a growing sense within the organization that Smith was not the right man to turn things around going forward -- a notion his successor Terry Ryan laments, because he was the one who recommended Smith to be his own successor in the first place.
Unquestionably, this is a sensitive issue for everyone involved, especially considering that Smith replaced Ryan, and now we're seeing the script flipped for the world to see.
The Twins had no choice here, especially if Mackey's report rings true (no reason to think it doesn't). The organization hasn't been moving forward lately. It's been moving the other direction. Minnesota hasn't drafted terribly well, and the players they have drafted haven't been making the kind of impact that they should.
I'm not saying the Twins can't grow prospects. Certainly, guys like Denard Span, Ben Revere, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau have done a lot of good things. But the Twins don't have the rotation ace they need, the bullpen they should have, and they haven't developed an impact position player since Kubel. He's been around long enough to be eligible for free agency, so that should tell you something.
The Twins denied permission to the Orioles to speak with scouting director Mike Radcliff about their front-office overhaul last week. It makes you think that Radcliff might be in play for the "permanent" job in Minnesota.
But is that the right way to go? It's not like the Twins are overwhelmed with prospects, and that's on the scouting guy, at least in part. Perhaps there were issues here with Smith (speculation) trying to control too much, and then this all makes more sense.
Hats off to the Twins, who didn't take any shots at Smith or reveal whatever the issue was with him. It's something more specific than "philosophical differences," but there's no point in tearing the man down more than firing him already did.
No matter the motivation, Twins brass got it right. Ryan is a good baseball man, and a loyal Twins employee. He thinks this can be fixed quickly, and we can only hope he's right. It went south in a hurry, and hopefully it can go north just as fast.
Simply put, I think they're better than everyone ranked below them. To me, the standard has always been "Who would win on a neutral field?" In this case, Alabama gets the nod because I'm certain that Boise State, Oklahoma State, and Stanford would come up short on a neutral field. I don't care that Alabama lost to LSU, because that simply means LSU is better. Doesn't mean unbeaten teams that I don't think are as good are automatically better than Alabama.
Elsewhere, a very "meh" weekend. Nothing of real note in the poll.
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