Wild were introduced to Dan Sexton

Dan Sexton continued his terror on the NHL in his first ever call up. Last night he scored against the Wild. Read full game Recap HERE.
Game Highlights HERE

Also, the Examiner has a nice little blurb about how Sexton has quickly rose through the ranks.
View that HERE

Okposo has big Night Saturday Vs. Rangers

Kyle Okposo had a big night Saturday scoring the game-winning boal in overtime over the rival New Yor Rangers. Okposo has played well but struggled statistically at a time where all indication he is a forward that is on the bubble of making the 2010 Team USA for the upcoming Olympics. From the New York Daily News....Full Story Here

The second-year winger picked an opportune time to halt his 18-game goal
slump since mid-November, setting up the first two Islander scores with hard
work and pretty feeds and then netting the game-winner in overtime for a 3-2 win
over the Rangers Saturday night at the Garden.

"Monkey's off the back, and it definitely felt good," Okposo said
after his wrister from inside the blue line deflected off Rangers defenseman Marc Staal and in with 47 seconds left in OT. "(Making the Olympic team) is up to the GMs and coaches making the
decisions, but I'll be tuning in and hopefully will hear my name called.
"I feel like I've played pretty well, but it's not up to me anymore."

Gordon, who will serve as one of Ron Wilson's assistant coaches for the Americans
in Vancouver, can attest that he never was concerned about the rest of Okposo's gritty game being affected by mounting frustration over his scoring woes.

"Kyle's as honest a player as you can have on a team. He's not going to cheat you or cut any corners," Gordon said. "His work ethic is second to none on our team."

Okposo, who led the low-scoring Isles with 18 goals as a rookie last season, had been stuck on five this season since scoring in back-to-back games Nov. 13-14. Still, the 2006 first-round pick now has notched 12 assists during the last 19 games, including a backhanded feed to Frans Nielsen for the Isles' first goal Saturday night.

Armstong 40th Anniversary Team

The Armstrong Falcons are celebrating their 40th Anniversary and named a 40th Anniversary Team that included some impressive recognizable names. Two defensemen that were named are Jordan Leopold of the Florida Panthers and Derek Peltier of the Colorado Avalanche.

Leopold has five goals and seven assists in 39 games this year. Unfortunatley the former Gopher captain is a -6, but so far he has been pretty healthy and is looking like the reliable defenseman the Calgary Flames were happy to have early in his career. In 2003-2004 Leopold played in 82 games scoring 33 points and was +8 on the season. In the 2006-2007 season injuries started to slow his career down and he only played in 15 games and 43 the next.

Peltier has been called up two separate times to the Avalanche's NHL roster but he has yet to get any playing time. He played in 11 games last season. Peltier deserves a lot of credit for his growth because although he was more than a solid WCHA defenseman he wasn't touted as a for sure NHL prospect and has done enough to keep Colorado very interested.

Last year Thomas Fallen was the best player on Armstrong's roster and now he's an undersized defenseman in the rugged USHL. At 5'8", 161 pounds Fallen uses his skating ability and great hockey sense to play at such a high leve. He's still looking for his first goal but he does have seven assists in 18 games. Two of the assists are on the power play and one is a short-handed assist.

Corey Thorson was the best player on Armstong's team in 2007-2008 and is making a nice bid to catch a college team's attention late in the recruiting process. Thorson was named to the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's "Players to Watch" list for 2009 draft-eligibles released on Oct. 20 as a "C" rated player. Thorson is first on Owatonna Express team in points and second on the team in plus/minus. In 29 games he has 32 points with an even 16 goals and 16 assists. Three of his goals have been game-winners as well as three of them being on the power play. He has added five power play assists and is a +8.

Another former Gopher on the list that college hockey fans would recognize is Evan Kaufman who is playing professionaly in Germany. Kaufman has three goals and 14 assists in 29 games. Last year he had 26 points.

Goaltender Mike Zacharias played three years of juniors, four yeas of college at Minnesota-State Mankato and now is in his first professional season so it may seem like a lot of time has passed since he wore a Falcons uniform despite only being 24 years old. He is currently in the ECHL playing for the Ontario Reign. He has a record of 3-4-1, a 3.37 GAA and save percentage of 88.8%.

Paul Martin's comeback slowing down

For a while it was thought that Paul Martin would be back in the lineup for the New Jersey Devils, but his arm is not healing as well as expected and his return is being delayed. From The Record at northjersey.com

Devils defenseman Paul Martin, who is recovering from a fractured left forearm that he suffered Oct. 24 in Pittsburgh, has stopped skating and general manager Lou Lamoriello said it’s "hard to tell" if Martin will get back on the ice before New Year’s.

"Paul is going to be a little while longer," Lamoriello said. "We’ll have more to say on that next week when we know more."

Lamoriello would not get into specifics, but insisted that Martin did not suffer a setback. It’s clear that Martin is taking longer to heal than initially expected, though. He already has missed eight weeks and the original prognosis was that he would be out 4-to-6 weeks.

"It’s just the healing process you go through," Lamoriello said

Guillaume Latendresse tidbits

Michael Russo of the Star Tribune gave a little insight into the personal life of new Wild forward Guillaume Latendresse. Russo notes that his girlfriend is a pop star named Annie Villeneuve, pictured far left and used to date former Miss Quebec Maika Desnoyers pictured second.

He used to date former Miss Quebec Maika Desnoyers, and the two have a son, Hayden, who attended Thursday's morning skate with Latendresse's parents and wore a No. 48 Wild sweater. Now, Latendresse dates pop star Annie Villeneuve, a 2003 runner-up of Quebec's "Star Academy" -- Quebec's version of "American Idol."

Pictures of them are all over the Internet. "People take pictures of us eating in restaurants, coming out of stores, walking down the street," Latendresse said.

Villeneuve attended Tuesday's game in St. Paul. She's now in Calgary recording music for the Olympics and its TV coverage.

She'll spend 20 days over the holidays in Minnesota before hitting the road again. "Her career is really taking off, so it's hard to see each other," Latendresse said.

No wonder he is so happy to be in Minnesota. Read the full article in the Star Tribune HERE and you can take a list en to some of Villeneuve's music at this LINK

Some T.J. Oshie Ink

T.J. Oshie got a big game-winner Tuesday night and yesterday there was some nice publicity about his performance on the night they were honoring former Blues great Brett Hull. Rather than the complete articles I've pasted the best and links to complete articles

1) From The Sporting News Ryan Kennedy wrote a piece centered around Oshie and the youthful Blues. Full Article HERE

Watching T.J. Oshie's performance against Calgary Tuesday night, I became more of a believer in the former University of North Dakota standout. Sure, Oshie is an obvious candidate for praise since he scored the game-winner against the Flames, but even before that strike the gritty second-year pivot was impressive.

On the forecheck, he always seems to be between the man with the puck and his own goal, shadowing from such a distance as to make outlet passes difficult. We know from his run-ins with Columbus star Rick Nash that the 5-foot-11, 194-pounder plays bigger than his frame and he's a good secondary offensive threat.

Oshie is the type of player a team can build around and though slightly less experienced, I see him in the Mike Richards-Jonathan Toews category; a two-way threat with leadership skills. I can easily see him as captain of the Blues soon.

Which is why the near future looks solid in St. Louis. While the present face is obvious – Keith Tkachuk, Paul Kariya and Andy McDonald are the big names on the roster – those veterans are also closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. And it's Oshie, David Backes and Brad Boyes (who is kind of a tweener here in terms of age and experience) who are starting to log the most serious minutes among forwards on the team.

Norm Sanders of the News-Democrat, Full Article HERE wrote about the meeting between Oshie and Hull.

T.J. Oshie never thinks of himself as a hockey star, despite his ever-growing popularity among St. Louis Blues fans.

Oshie got his first up-close and personal meeting with Hall of Famer Brett Hull on Tuesday and was nearly overwhelmed by Hull's star power.

Perhaps inspired by the fusion of Blues luminaries past and present during Hull's pregame ceremony, Oshie went out and scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.

"It was unbelievable; I had never met him before," Oshie said. "He's a legend in my eyes and a hero and inspiration. I haven't met too many of the big guys like that yet."

The 22-year-old Oshie also was surprised to hear that Hull brought up the meeting during an interview with local media earlier Tuesday.

"He just reminds me of me when I was a kid," Hull said of Oshie. "It brought back a flood of memories of when I got traded here, walking in to the old Arena and going 'I'm going to show these guys what I've got.' That's the way he is."

The meeting included a comparison of sticks between the two wingers.

"I took a look at his stick and he critiqued mine a little bit," said Oshie, a little taken aback when told of Hull's comments. "No pressure, I hope I get that many goals. It's an honor to be compared to him."

Oshie and the rest of the Blues realized they were in the presence of hockey royalty. Hull's hand-picked "Dream Team" brought a cast of Blues alumni to St. Louis that included Wayne Gretzky, Brendan Shanahan, Al MacInnis, Bernie Federko, Grant Fuhr, Guy Carbonneau, Curtis Joseph and a lot more.

"You hear a lot about the great players that came through here a long time ago, but some of the players that were out there ... wow," Oshie said. "You kind of forget that sometimes because you've seen them playing in other places, but it's amazing the talent that's come through here -- and the foundation they've left for us."

Oshie made sure Hull's big night included a Blues victory, taking a pass from Paul Kariya and sending a sizzling wrist shot high over the glove of Flames goalie Curtis McElhinney.

"(David) Backes went to their net pushing their defenseman back and Paul just made a great pass," said Oshie, who had six goals and 16 points in 27 games before Wednesday with three points in his last two contests. "I tried to find a hole. There were a bunch of sticks and skates in the way, so I'm not sure exactly how it went through.

"I was struggling there for a while, so it's really nice to get the game-winner."

One thing that struck Oshie about Hull and his former teammates was how close they still are.

"I think hockey's a little different than any other sport with how close you are with your teammates," Oshie said. "It showed out there (Tuesday)."

Oshie loves the physical side of the game and perhaps it's no surprise he's enjoyed success in both games against the rugged Flames.

"I like getting out there getting hits, and I like getting hit sometimes and trying to give it back to them," he said. "I feed off of it and it's a fun game to play in when there's a lot of physical play out there."

Blues coach Andy Murray noticed that as well.

"He was probably our best player in that (previous Calgary) game and he was good in the game (Tuesday)," Murray said. "He's another guy that can play that gritty kid of a game."

UMD recruit leading the way for Hermantown

There's a nice article posted yesterday in the Duluth News Tribune about Hermantown's undefeated season a couple of years ago and drawing a comparison to this year's team. The team of 2006-2007 was lead by current St. Cloud State Husky Drew LeBlanc and this year's team is led by a player UMD was able to convince to stay in the Twin Ports Adam Kruase.

Last season Krause had 26 goals and 33 assists as one of the top junior forwards in the state. Link to the article HERE or pasted below.

By: Rick Weegman, Duluth News Tribune

That’s what Hermantown’s boys hockey team found out the past two years in following up on the school’s undefeated, Class A title-winning season in 2006-07.

This season’s team, however, has a chance at a championship sequel.

Led by high-scoring senior center Adam Krause, a future Minnesota Duluth player, the Hawks hope to contend for a second state title.

“We think about that all the time,” said Krause, who has seven goals and 11 assists in the fourth-ranked Hawks’ 4-1 start. “The ’07 team had a lot of role players — they had the scoring line and the hustle line. We have the same ingredients, but it’s just about mental toughness and having confidence. That was a special team — I don’t think there will ever be another one like it — but I think we can accomplish what they did.”

The Hawks were impressive in defeating Superior 4-2 on Tuesday night, despite missing four players to injury and suspension. The return of 14 seniors and good depth at all positions has coach Bruce Plante sensing similarities between this team and its 2007 predecessor.

“We have good leadership at the top from our seniors, and that’s what we had that year,” Plante said. “But we don’t know how tough we are mentally; we still have a bit of panic mode going on. That team in ’07 was so tough mentally that they weren’t going to get beat by anybody.”

Hermantown followed its record-breaking 29-0-2 campaign in 2006-07 by going 17-10 and 24-4 the past two years.

“We have a lot of expectations on this team,” Krause said. “We know we’ll have some off nights, but we have to be consistent. The last couple years we haven’t been consistent.”

That fault doesn’t pertain to Krause, who had 26 goals and 33 assists last season. Toss in fellow senior forwards Charlie Comnick, Willis Kantonen and Cody Christopherson, and the Hawks have several scoring options.

“[Krause] has it all — size, speed, strength, vision, a little bit of everything — and he’s a good leader,” Plante said. “He’s a special player — you don’t get one like that very often.”

Defending Section 5A champion St. Cloud Cathedral is perhaps the main obstacle in Hermantown’s path, though Duluth Denfeld hopes to factor in the race despite a 5-1 loss to the Crusaders last week.

The Hunters (3-2) just hope to survive a season-opening seven-game road trip before they play 16 of their final 18 games at the Heritage Center.

Seniors Keith Tomassoni (6-5–11) and Logan Talarico (2-8–10) have started strong, while Levi Talarico (5-5–10) is one of the highest-scoring freshmen in the state. But the Hunters are still trying to replace defenseman Judd Peterson and forward Josh Wentz, who transferred to Duluth Marshall before the school year.

“Any time you have any unexpected holes to fill, it takes time for kids to get up to speed,” Hunters coach Kevin Smalley said. “With the quality teams we have on our schedule, there’s no room for error. I feel we’re competing at a high level, but we’re making some mistakes that need to be corrected.”

Michael Dorr story in College Hockey News

College Hockey News posted this story about Roseville's Michael Dorr. The interesting thing about Dorr is that he had an early junior season commitment to University of Minnesota-Duluth, but then had a great senior season and changed his mind to Minnesota. After realizing just how many forwards of his caliber there were at Minnesota he decided to go get some ice time in Mankato.

Link to story HERE or pasted below.

by Joshua Berhow/CHN Writer

MANKATO, Minn. — Michael Dorr didn’t waste much time helping his new team to a series sweep in his first game in more than a year.

Dorr scored the game winner for Minnesota State and even added an assist in the Mavericks’ 3-2 win against No. 4 Bemidji State on Saturday in Bemidji, Minn. After dropping the Beavers 5-1 Friday, the victory Saturday capped a sweep against what was then the nation’s top-rated PairWise team.

The Roseville, Minn., native had to sit out a calendar year after he transferred from Minnesota during midseason last year. His presence Saturday — he became officially eligible the day after finals completed — was a noticeable spark for the Mavericks, who all of a sudden have won six of their last eight.

“He’s looked very good in practice, but if I were to tell you I thought he was going to score the game-winning goal in his first game, I’d be lying,” said Mavericks coach Troy Jutting. “But Michael’s going to score goals; that’s what he does.”

Dorr transferred from the Gophers in search of more playing time, something he didn’t get in a half of a season with the Gophers, as he appeared in only two games and recorded no points.

“I just wanted to get the opportunity to play,” he said, “and there I wasn’t given the opportunity.”

Coming to Mankato also reunites Dorr with former high school teammate Adam Mueller, a sophomore forward for the Mavericks.

Dorr made the trip north for the nonconference series, anticipating he would be cleared for Saturday’s game as soon as final grades went through. It was a timely addition to the Mavericks’ lineup as well, since the Mavericks have been without forwards Jason Wiley and Andy Sackrison because of separate injuries.

Dorr earned the second assist on Kael Mouillierat’s goal in the opening minute of the second period to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead and then scored what would become the game-winner at 7:34 of the third period. Dorr’s goal was the only shot on net the Mavericks had in the final frame.

“We were in the middle of a line change, and [Ben] Youds flipped the puck off the glass and it was pretty much a sprint for me to the top of the circle,” Dorr said. “I beat their defenseman and took one step and shot it. I was just trying to get it on net, but it took a lucky bounce and went right under his armpit.”

Jutting was pleased with his newest skater’s performance.

“I thought he played very well,” he said. “Especially for a kid who has played one game in the last year and a half, he played extremely well.”

The Mavericks will be without Wiley for at least this weekend against Nebraska-Omaha and without Sackrison for longer. Dorr will keep getting his opportunities to play, too, but not just because injuries are clearing a path for him.

“He’ll be an every-night kid providing he works hard and keeps playing well,” Jutting said. “He’s a skilled kid who can make plays and has the ability to shoot pucks by goaltenders.”

Dorr is just happy to finally have a chance to play, and to finally put on a game jersey instead of a raggedy practice one is a good feeling, too.

“To get the opportunity to go out and play is all I really asked coach Jutting for,” Dorr said. “Now I just have to keep it going.”

Dustin Byfuglien on bubble for Team USA

Dustin Byfuglien has proven himself as one of the best power forwards in the NHL. But whether Team USA covets the beef that he brings to the wing position is still up in the air as Brian Burke is in the final stages of selecting the team that will compete in the Olympics in Vancouver. Article in the Chicago Sun Times HERE or partially pasted below.

The United States roster for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver won't be announced until Jan. 1 during the NHL Winter Classic in Boston, but U.S. general manager Brian Burke said most of the team was decided this week at a meeting of the six-man selection committee.

Burke said six players are competing for the final three spots on the 23-man roster, and at least one, Paul Gaustad of the Buffalo Sabres, wasn't at the summer orientation camp at Seven Bridges in Woodridge. The Hawks had two players, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien, at the orientation camp. Kane is considered a shoo-in to make the final cut, but Byfuglien is likely on the bubble.

''I haven't heard anything,'' Byfuglien said after Wednesday's morning skate. ''It'd be nice, but whatever happens, happens.''

Byfuglien had one of his best games Wednesday, highlighted by seven hits and four shots on goal.

''Buff had a strong game. He was very notable out there,'' coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Hawks also have Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews vying to make Team Canada, and Marian Hossa figures to play for Slovakia. Those with an outside shot at making their respective Olympic teams are Tomas Kopecky (Slovakia) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden). Quenneville has talked with several selectors.

Article On Mark Parrish in the Minors

This is an interesting article posted in the Virginia-Pilot by a correspondent named Jim Hodges about Mark Parrish and his struggles to play his way back into the NHL. Link to article HERE and pasted below.

The hardest time is at night, after a game, or during the afternoon after practice when he calls wife Nichole back home in Minnesota, where she is a month away from presenting 2-year-old Giana with a brother.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do, maybe not as a hockey player but as a person," said Mark Parrish, who is camping out in Norfolk and in various ports the Admirals visit, trying to resuscitate his career.

He had it all: a five-year, $13.25 million contract to play for the Wild down the street from where he had played high school hockey in Minnesota. Two seasons later, in July 2008, he had a $5.5 million payoff to be unemployed.

Minnesota wanted to get under the NHL salary cap, so the Wild shed Parrish, who moved from coach Jacques Lemaire's dog house to unemployment.

It's not the money. It's the hockey.

A false start in Dallas last season - Parrish had three goals in his first game for the Stars, but finished the season with only eight in limited playing time - was no help, in part because he played with anger, but not enough conditioning as a 31-year-old caught in a youth movement.

Nor was training camp in September with Vancouver, where there were no jobs.

The New York Islanders called, but nothing happened. Parrish called Brian Lawton, his former agent and now general manager of Tampa Bay and the Admirals.

"I told Brian, 'If I go home, I might as well hang it up,' " Parrish said. "After the last couple of years, I knew I just had to get back into playing hockey, get back into the routine of playing games again."

It made sense to Lawton and to Admirals coach Darren Rumble. "As long as a player has that fire, he wants to compete," Rumble said. "If you lose it, you can't get it back. It's gone. He still has it, and he knows that if he stays back in Minnesota, shoveling show, that he's not going to get a look by an NHL team."

And so Parrish has played, not so well at first, but better now and with enthusiasm. He has six goals, three in the past three Admirals games, and playing on a line with Radek Smolenak and Brandon Bochenski - a scoring line - has picked up his game.

To where it was when he was scoring 24 and 26 goals in two seasons with Florida, or 17, 30, 23, 24 and 24 with the Islanders? To where he scored 216 times in 704 NHL games?

That remains to be seen. Scouts come in from St. Louis and Montreal and other NHL outposts to take a look. None has taken him back with him yet. His agent's phone rings with inquiries, but not offers. Not yet.

It might be that he's just now playing well enough to impress.

"I finally feel I'm getting back to myself, not confident so much as comfortable with my game," Parrish said. "I'm comfortable enough to be more patient, not try to force things. When an opportunity arises, I can play smarter, take advantage of it."

An opportunity arose 10 days ago in Hershey. Parrish had only three goals and was recovering from a collarbone injury that cost him six games. He just signed his second 25-game Professional Tryout Contract and had a soul-searching talk with Rumble.

"I wanted to see where his head was at," Rumble said. "He said he's enjoying it here and he still likes to compete."

And Rumble offered another observation.

"After I'd gotten about 20 shots and nothing had been going in, Rums came up and said, 'Parri, I'll be honest with you. I think you're looking at what's in front of the net and not the net,' " Parrish said. "You get so focused on what's in front of you, the guy who's trying to block the shot, the sticks, the goalie, you're looking at them so much that it's natural to just kind of shoot it at them."

At Hershey the next night, the game was just over a minute old when Parrish clanged a puck off a Hershey goalpost and into the net.

OK, hidebound hockey tradition says that's the way month-long scoring droughts end, and so Parrish could celebrate, but his was muted.

A period later, Smolenak sent a puck to Parrish in the right faceoff circle. Hershey goalie Jason Bacashihua spread in anticipation of a shot, leaving only the barest hole, perhaps 6 inches square. But the puck is only 3 inches across, and Parrish found the net. This time, exuberance.

"This time, it was definitely in my head to just look up and find mesh," Parrish said. "It was just nice to know that I hit the spot I was aiming for."

All goals, then, are equal - but only on the scoreboard.

"As a goal-scorer, it always seems to be the bank shot, the one that you almost don't intend, that goes in first," Parrish explained. "For some reason, I guess, that kind of relaxes you, but as a goal-scorer, you're still not happy until you have that one that goes exactly where you intend it to go. A shot where you pick your spot and just hit it.

"I remember after that, it was such a relief. I just made a big circle thinking, 'It's about time. I've been waiting for you. Yep, it's still there. Keep working.' "

And then, Saturday night against Manitoba, he did it again on a pass from Bochenski. Parrish has three goals and three assists in his last three games going into tonight's meeting with Wilkes Barre/Scranton at Scope.

After feeling his way through an unfamiliar situation, and after spending time on lines whose young members, like 20-year-old Dana Tyrell, could learn from him, Parrish is comfortable.

"You know, it was something at first I didn't realize," he said. "When I first got here, I was so focused on getting used to it and not getting in the way. You don't want to step on toes.

"I think I didn't realize how much my experience would come in handy for these kids. I would see something and think, 'why is he doing that?' Then I realized that nobody's taught him the way guys like Dino Ciccarelli and Bret Hedican in Florida taught me.

"It dawned on me that myself, Craiger (Ryan Craig) and some of the other guys - we're the older guys. It's an adjustment, because it's a different dynamic. Now I'm teaching. And now, I'm enjoying it."

But he's still playing with a goal in mind. He wants to win, but he has to fit in with a team to turn scouts' heads.

"I'm much more concerned about my complete game," Parrish said. "I want to score goals, and I know to get to where I want to be, I have to score goals. But at the same time, I'm not going to put myself at risk because I want to win. Winning is way more important."

Now that he's playing on a line with Bochenski, who has 14 goals, and Smolenak, whose scoring is coming around, Parrish is feeling more at home.

"It's a different role from the one I've played the last couple of years, but it's one I've played my whole career before that, a goal-scorer," he said. "It's the role I'm comfortable with. It's a role I think I can still do."

And at a higher level.

A summer of work with skating guru Barry Karn has helped. Parrish is faster now. And a mental approach of putting the problems at Minnesota and Dallas behind him has made it easier to focus on the future. That future, he believes, still involves hockey in the NHL.

He's playing on a scoring line, killing penalties and playing on the power play, doing anything he's asked to do.

"You hope that these guys, these scouts, have been around and are smart enough to know that sometimes the offense isn't going that night, but you are showing the willingness to do all of the important things," Parrish said. "I'm much more concerned about my complete game."

And when that game is done, he's even more concerned about the phone calls to Nichole and Giana and the knowledge that, in another month, he'll have a son.

"I could care less what people say about my hockey," Parrish said, his eyes narrowing at the various criticisms that are repeated for comment. "My wife is pregnant and she's due in January."

That's what's most important.

At world Juniors, NCAA players diminishing

There has been talk locally here about the Gophers and how strange it is to see them only send one player to the World Juniors over the holiday break as Jordan Schroeder will be playing for his third consecutive year. It might serve as a sign that some of the players on Minnesota's roster have not played up to the levels that were once expected. However, a look at the potential roster and it is clear that there are less NCAA players than ever and the following article on College Hockey News' website points out that a major reason is the country's top players are often playing north of the border in major juniors, seen as a step up from college hockey.

Link to Article HERE

This is the time of year when elite underclassmen go from their respective NCAA teams to U.S. and Canadian World Junior Leagues.

This year's tournament takes place Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Regina, Sask., as Team Canada has the home-ice advantage in seeking its sixth straight gold medal. NHL Network will air all of Team USA's games.

This is a situation college coaches embrace, for the most part, wanting their younger players to get that opportunity and experience -- even though it wreaks havoc with rosters during a time of year when there are important games to be played.

Team Canada, of course, is a juggernaut, and the annual World Junior championships are as covered and watched in Canada as is the Super Bowl in the U.S. Typically, very few NCAA players make the Canadian junior, which some ascribe to an intentional bias against NCAA players by Team Canada's powers that be -- although, no doubt, the large majority of top Canadian players of junior age are in the Canadian major junior system.

Whatever the case may be, this year's NCAA hopeful is Denver's Patrick Wiercioch, the ultra-talented sophomore defenseman and Ottawa Senators draft pick. Wiercioch was sent home, however, last week by Team Canada because they found a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his knee.

This is not necessarily news to Denver fans, who knew that Wiercioch suffered a knee injury in November, and recently returned to the lineup. Apparently, that was not fully healed, or he re-injured it.

Denver coach George Gwozdecky was upset with Team Canada's decision, and felt bad for Wiercioch, but Canadians were more non-chalant.

"He may have had a Grade 2 a couple of weeks back, but he played on it," Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray told the Montreal Gazette. "The fortunate thing now is that he is not part of the junior team and has a couple of weeks before Denver starts again, so he should be 100-per-cent healthy then, but it's a huge setback for him because he desperately wanted a chance to play for Canada."

Two NCAA players were cut today in final moves made by Team Canada -- Harvard's Louie Leblanc (who is in the middle of exams) and Minnesota-Duluth's Dylan Olsen.

Meanwhile, Team USA -- with one gold medal in its history and always struggling for recognition -- is selecting its team under the watchful eye of Nebraska-Omaha coach Dean Blais. This year, as much as any other in recent memory, exemplifies a growing "problem," if you will, in college hockey right now. The roster has a lot of Canadian major junior players -- i.e. U.S. born players who have bypassed the NCAA for Canada.

Because of changes the Canadian Hockey League (Canada's ruling body for junior hockey) made, major junior has become a more enticing route for top players -- as the recent spate of defections and players reneging on college commitments shows.

It's Blais' job to juggle this, and it behooves him not to pull any reverse-bias here, and favor NCAA players.

The Team USA roster now stands at 30, and will be whittled down to 22 this week, during a three-day tournament in Grand Forks, N.D., from Dec. 17-19.

Taking a look at the current roster, it's like a who's who of players who left NCAA teams holding the bag.

Among the two goalies, Mike Lee is with St. Cloud State now, while Jack Campbell recently bailed on a commitment to Michigan to play in the OHL.

Among the 11 defensemen, just five are in the NCAA now, while Justin Faulk and Jon Merrill are both with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Ann Arbor, Mich. John Carlson, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Natick, Mass., played in the USHL, was a first-round pick of the Washington Capitals, and went briefly to the OHL before heading straight to the pros. He's currently in Hershey of the AHL. That leaves Brian Lashoff, Cam Fowler and John Moore, playing in the OHL -- all flat out turned down the NCAA, with Moore also bailing on a commitment to Michigan.

Finally, there are 17 forwards, of which only nine are in the NCAA, with 17-year old Jason Zucker, a native of Las Vegas, with the USNTDP. Of the other seven, two jump out that fit this pattern -- Ryan Bourque, who was committed to New Hampshire before jumping ship before the start of this season, and Kenny Ryan, who was likewise committed to Boston College before taking off after already having played in two exhibition games with the Eagles.

Contrast all of this to the 2004 U.S. gold medal team, just six years ago. Just five of the 22 players on that roster were major junior players. The rest were all on NCAA rosters -- including Zach Parise, Brett Stirling, Matt Carle, Al Montoya, Jimmy Howard, Ryan Suter, Patrick Eaves and Drew Stafford.

How much of this is really a "problem," we'll explore in the coming weeks. It should be remembered that, there was a time when the NCAA was a much more unattractive option for top players. But that also came at a time when there weren't as many top players that were U.S.-born. As the U.S. started producing many more high-level, high-draft-pick type of players, NCAA hockey also was becoming more and more a viable option for these players. So this became a symbiotic thing.

The defections, if you will, threaten to leave college hockey no worse off than it used to be -- and in fact, still probably far better. These elite players going to Canada now, simply didn't exist 20 years ago -- at least not in these numbers. So while frustrating, it remains to be seen the impact on the college game.

Big night for Blues

It was a big night for the St. Louis Blues last night as they honored one of their greats in former UMD Bulldog Brett Hull. It was big night for the WCHA in St. Louis with Warroad's T.J. Oshie a former North Dakota Fighting Sioux getting the winning goal with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Also Minneapolis native and former Minnesota State Mankato forward David Backes scored his third goal in two games.

See Game Highlights HERE

The St. Louis Blues honored Brett Hull for a second time and this time they made it a feel-good night all the way around.

T.J. Oshie scored the go-ahead goal with 4:58 to play and the Calgary Flames were limited to only four shots in the third period of St. Louis' 4-3 victory on Tuesday night. The Blues are only 6-10-2 at home, and beat the NHL's top road team after Hull was honored for his recent induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony.

"I think the festivities definitely helped us," said Brad Boyes, who assisted on the first three goals. "But at the same time it was a big game. We've got to get this home record back to the way we need it, and tonight was the first step."

The first time the Blues honored Hull, there was a sour finish - a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in December 2006 that was the final game before coach Mike Kitchen was fired. Players also were motivated after blowing a 3-0 lead in a 5-3 loss to the Oilers at home on Friday.

"I think we learned from our mistakes," Oshie said. "We talked about putting a 60-minute game together. We had our heads on straight."

Rene Bourque had a goal and assist for the Flames, who have lost three straight one-goal decisions. Calgary is 11-5-3 on the road with an NHL-leading 25 points.

"I think we've just got to get back to our game," forward Dustin Boyd said. "The last three games we've shown flashes, but not enough."

All of the Flames' regulation road losses have been by one goal.

"For 40 minutes it was a good game," Calgary coach Brent Sutter said. "We took our foot off the pedal in the third and made some mental mistakes."

Andy McDonald and Alex Steen snapped goal droughts of 14 and 12 games for the Blues.

Oshie scored on a rush, beating backup goalie Curtis McElhinney from the slot off a feed from Paul Kariya. It was his second winning goal of the season and this month, after scoring in a shootout at San Jose on Dec. 4.

"That was a great pass, good shot, good execution," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "We just needed to beat somebody at home."

Daymond Langkow's power-play goal early in the second ended a string of 10 consecutive penalty kills by St. Louis. Calgary took its first lead when Boyd scored from the slot midway through the period. The Blues tied it at 3 on Steen's power-play goal at 17:23, with the puck apparently deflecting off Langkow's stick in front.

David Backes' third goal in two games opened the scoring, and McDonald sped around Robyn Regehr and scored with just over a minute to go in the first period to give the Blues their second lead.

Bourque scored his 10th goal and third in four games midway through the period after Dion Phaneuf's backhand feed across the crease.

Zach Parise in a drought?

Zach Parise has been far and away the best American forward this year in the NHL, but he doesn't have any goals in his last five games. He does have five assists in those games, but scoring goals is what Parise does-he 15 goals and 20 assists in 31 games this year.

Sports writer Tom Gulitti from The record and on NorthJersey.com has this article posted HERE

Zach Parise isn't used to not scoring – at least not for extended stretches.

Last season, when the Devils' left wing finished third in the NHL with 45 goals, the longest he went without one was four games.

Now, however, Parise is mired in a seven-game drought that dates back to Nov. 28.

"Of course it's frustrating," he said Monday. "It always [stinks] when you don't [score]. This probably won't be the last time we're going to have this conversation. Eight years from now, it will probably be the same thing.

"But I know that I'm playing well. I know that I'm making stuff happen out there. I know I'm getting chances. Our line is getting chances. It's just frustrating when you're going through it. But it's going to end.''

Parise hopes it ends in Wednesday night's home game against Montreal. He believes he's doing a lot of the same things he was doing when he scored nine goals in the 10 games before the drought began.

"I think every game I'm getting two good chances," he said. "I don't think I've been shooting the puck as much. I've been looking at that. I don't like to overanalyze it, but I think I can shoot the puck a little bit more."

Entering Monday's games, Parise was one behind Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the league lead with 135 shots on goal. But in three of the last seven games, he had only two shots.

Parise has five assists during his goal drought. That the team is 5-2 in the seven games and other players such as Niclas Bergfors (five goals), Patrik Elias (three goals) and Brian Rolston (three goals) have been scoring makes it a little easier to deal with.

"It makes you feel a lot better that the team is winning and it's not magnified," he said. "But I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't thinking about it."

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire believes Parise is headed in the right direction.

"I think the last two games he's been pushing more. He's been playing better," Lemaire said. "I think it's going to come, but he's not alone there. But don't forget Bergie is scoring. [Parise] contributes in other ways."

BRIEFS: RW Jamie Langenbrunner, who has been playing through a nagging upper-body ailment, sat out practice again Monday because he was "resting." Lemaire said Langenbrunner will practice today and play Wednesday. … Martin Brodeur is expected to tie Patrick Roy's NHL goaltending record by playing in his 1,029th game Wednesday.

Across the Web NHL Pulse

Here's a look at some of the top things on the web for your MN pulse.

• This article is actually a two-parter with the first part being about the St. Louis Blues honoring the best UMD Bulldog ever, Brett Hull followed by Moorhead's Matt Cullen answering questions about why the Carolina Hurricanes are stuggling so mightily.
  Read Article HERE
• Colorado Avalanche beat writer for the Denver Post Adrian Dater took time to compliment the recent play of Blaine's Matt Hendricks and posted a video of his interview.
  Read Article and Watch Interview HERE
• This blog focuses on just how big of an impact Phil Kessel has had on the Toronto Maple Leafs since joining the team.
  Read Short blog HERE
• Toronto defeated Ottawa in in the battle of Ontraio last night and Jason Blake and Phil Kessel both scored goals. Watch Game Highlights HERE
• Warroad's T.J. Oshie and several other Blues made a trip to the local Children's hospital.
  Read Article HERE
• A New Jersey Devils blogger part of the Sports Nation wrote about what the Devils should do when Elk River's Paul Martin returns from injury after a report yesterday suggested he will likely be back before Christmas.
  Read Blog HERE

Meuller and Brian Lee mentioned in trade rumors

It has been reported that the New York Rangers tried to make a play for Peter Mueller of the Phoenix coyotes this past weekend. From the Toronto Sun....

A league source said Leafs GM Brian Burke expressed an interest in Phoenix forward Peter Mueller but didn't have the right assets to strike a deal. Mueller, 21, who has just one goal and five assists in 26 games this season, was the Coyotes' No. 1 choice in the 2006.

And from the Columbus Dispatch came a report that the Blue Jackets are interested in Moorhead native Brian Lee who has bounced back and forth from the Senators to the AHL the past two seasons.

The Blue Jackets have expressed an interest in Ottawa Senators prospect defenseman Brian Lee. No trade is imminent. In fact, it's possible that no trade specifics have even been discussed, but the Blue Jackets have made a call to Ottawa. One must wonder if Lee wouldn't be part of a package coming the Blue Jackets' way should they decide to trade prospect forward Nikita Filatov. [Columbus Dispatch]

WCHA Weekend in Review

Here is the WCHA weekend roudup from the WCHA

MADISON, Wis. – Minnesota, Colorado College and Wisconsin were the big gainers in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play over the Dec. 11-12 weekend and all three teams earned their respective successes on the road. The Golden Gophers gained four big points in the standings with a pair of 3-2 wins at Michigan Tech, the Tigers picked up three points with a 4-4 (ot) tie and 4-1 victory at St. Cloud State, and the Badgers came out of Grand Forks with three points against North Dakota in a 3-3 (ot) tie and 4-3 win.
In the one other conference series contested, host Minnesota Duluth came back from a 3-2 loss to Denver on Friday to hand the Pioneers a 6-3 setback on Saturday to gain a split.

In non-conference play, Minnesota State, Mankato recorded back-to-back road victories at Bemidji State of College Hockey America with a 5-1 triumph on Friday and a 3-2 decision on Saturday, boosting the WCHA’s 2009-10 non-conference mark to an impressive 24-12-2 (.658).

Through games of Dec. 13, and at the halfway point of the league’s 28-games per team WCHA schedule, just four points separate the top five teams. Pre-season favorite Denver (11-5-2, 9-3-2 WCHA) enters the break in first place with 20 points, Colorado College (11-4-3, 8-3-3 WCHA) is second with 19 points, Wisconsin (11-5-2, 8-4-2 WCHA) is third with 18 points, Minnesota Duluth (11-6-1, 8-5-1 WCHA) is fourth with 17, and St. Cloud State (8-7-3, 7-5-2 WCHA) is fifth with 16 points. Defending MacNaughton Cup champion North Dakota (9-6-3, 6-6-2 WCHA) is in sixth place with 14 points, Minnesota State (9-8-1, 5-8-1 WCHA) is eighth with 11 points, Alaska Anchorage (6-12-0, 4-10-0 WCHA) is ninth with eight, and Michigan Tech (3-13-0, 2-12-0 WCHA) is 10th with four. Seven WCHA-member teams own winning records overall.

At John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton on Saturday night, visiting Minnesota completed a WCHA sweep of Michigan Tech with another one-goal, 3-2 triumph before 2,376 as center Mike Carman scored the game-winner at 17:11 of the second period. The game was tied 1-1 after the first period before the Golden Gophers tallied twice in the second, including a go-ahead goal by center Taylor Matson at 11:41. For the Huskies, left winger Malcolm Gwilliam had a goal and an assist while Kevin Genoe had 28 saves in nets.
At the National Hockey Center on Dec. 12, visiting Colorado College skated to a 4-1 WCHA triumph over St. Cloud State before a sellout crowd of 6,053 as the line of left winger Stephen Schultz (2a), center Andrew Hamburg (1g, 1a) and right winger Mike Testwuide (1g, 1a) led the way. Testwuide’s goal at 1:22 of the second period staked the Tigers to a 2-0 lead and held up as the game-winner. For the Huskies, winger Jared Festler had an unassisted tally at 7:09 of the second that closed the gap to 2-1.

At Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on Saturday night, Wisconsin claimed a 4-3 conference victory over North Dakota before a sellout crowd of 11,760 as the Badgers received 31 saves from goaltender Scott Gudmandson, the game-winning goal from defenseman Brendan Smith (1g, 1a), and converted on 3-of-8 power-play attempts. For the host Sioux, first period goals from right winger Brett Hextall (2g) and center Chris VandeVelde game them a 2-1 lead entering the second stanza before the UW scored three unanswered goals, including a go-ahead tally by left winger Ben Street at 7:55 of the second. Also for the UW, center Derek Stepan had two assists, including one on Smith’s GWG.

At the DECC in Duluth on Saturday evening, host Minnesota Duluth erupted for three third period goals, including the game-winner from right winger Kyle Schmidt (1g, 1a) at 9:20, to break open a tie game and roll on to a 6-3 WCHA triumph over league-leading Denver before 4,568. The Bulldogs, who also scored three times in the first period, received two goals and an assist from center Jack Connolly and three assists from linemate and winger Mike Connolly while winger Rob Bordson and center Travis Oleksuk each added a goal and an assist. For the Pioneers, center Tyler Ruegsegger had a goal and an assist and defenseman Matt Donovan added two helpers.

And at John Glas Fieldhouse in Bemidji on Dec. 12, the WCHA’s Minnesota State gained a second straight non-conference victory over host Bemidji State with a 3-2 triumph before 2,359, despite being outshot 31-14. Left wingers Kael Mouillierat and Michael Dorr led the way for the visiting Mavericks with a goal and assist each, with Dorr’s first goal of the season at 7:34 of the third period proving to be the winner. Also scoring for MSU was right winger Eriah Hayes while in goal, Austin Lee had 29 saves for the win.

This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, December 11: Colorado College 4 at St. Cloud State 4 ot (WCHA); Denver 3 at Minnesota Duluth 2 (WCHA); Minnesota 3 at Michigan Tech 2 (WCHA); Wisconsin 3 at North Dakota 3 ot (WCHA); Minnesota State 5 at Bemidji State 1 (nc).
Results of Saturday, December 12: Minnesota 3 at Michigan Tech 2 (WCHA); Colorado College 4 at St. Cloud State 1 (WCHA); Denver 3 at Minnesota Duluth 6 (WCHA); Wisconsin 4 at North Dakota 3 (WCHA); Minnesota State 3 at Bemidji State 2 (nc).

Next Week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, December 18: Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan (nc), 7:35 pm ET; Nebraska-Omaha at Minnesota State (nc), 7:37 pm CT.
Games for Saturday, December 19: Minnesota State at Nebraska-Omaha (nc), 7:07 pm CT; USA Under-20 Team at North Dakota (x), 7:07 pm CT.

Ryan Stoa plays in first NHL game

Just last week this was published about Stoa in the farm report...

After a slow start to the season statistically, Ryan Stoa is starting to find the back of the net in Cleveland.The University of Minnesota product – Colorado’s first selection (second round, 34th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft – made the jump to the professional ranks this season with the Lake Erie Monsters.Stoa recorded goals in back-to-back games for the first time as a pro this past week, netting an even-strength tally during Tuesday’s victory over Grand Rapids and then adding a power-play goal on Friday in Chicago. The Bloomington, Minn., native totaled 11 shots on goal during the two contests.Stoa has now totaled eight points (6g/2a) in 24 games this season.

Then on the Avs website they had this video profile of Ryan Stoa HERE

On Saturday it was announced that Bloomington native and former Gopher Ryan Stoa was called up to the Avalanche along with Plymouth native and former Gopher Derek Peltier. Peltier had been called up before, but this marked the first time for Stoa. Below is that announcement from the team's site.

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has recalled defenseman Derek Peltier and forward Ryan Stoa from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League. Peltier is tied for first among Lake Erie defensemen in scoring this season with nine points (1g/8a) in 22 games. The 24-year-old scored his first goal of the year and added an assist in Lake Erie’s 4-3 shootout loss last night at Grand Rapids. Colorado’s fifth selection (sixth round, 184th overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft, Peltier made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in 2008-09, appearing in 11 games (no points). The Plymouth, Minn., native played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he served as team captain as a senior in 2007-08.Stoa, 22, has tallied seven goals and nine points in 25 games with the Monsters in his first professional season. He is tied for third on the team in goals and tied for fifth in points. Stoa, who scored in last night’s game against Grand Rapids, has three goals in four games in the month of December.Colorado’s first selection (second round, 34th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft, Stoa led the University of Minnesota with 46 points (24g/22a) in 36 games while serving as team captain during his junior season in 2008-09. The Bloomington, Minn., native captured the WCHA scoring title and was named first-team All-American.

Stoa played 9:22, registered two shots and was a -1. This game Stoa a great opportunity to be part of the y0uth movement taking place in Colorado, which surprisingly hasn't meant a bad season as they are in first place in the Northwest Division.

When Ryan Stoa made his NHL debut tonight, he became the fifth Avalanche player to do so this season (joining Matt Duchene, Justin Mercier, Ryan O’Reilly and Ryan Wilson). All five players were in the lineup tonight, along with fellow rookie T.J. Galiardi. Although he played in 11 games last season for Colorado, Galiardi is still considered a rookie this year by NHL standards. Stoa, recalled from Lake Erie on Saturday, skated on an all-rookie line with Duchene and Galiardi…Derek Peltier, who was recalled along with Stoa yesterday, did not dress tonight

Max Tardy Feature story

Max Tardy was the leading scorer on DuluthEast's team last season where Derek Forbort was a star defenseman. Here is a feature story published on Max Tardy....

Forgive Max Tardy for not buying into the suggestion that first-year players in the United States Hockey League can’t be playmakers.
“I don’t necessarily see myself as always being the go-to guy, but I’m always out there looking to score and make things happen,” says the Tri-City Storm forward. “I expect that of myself every night out.”
Through 19 games, Tardy is tied for third on the team with 12 points, including five goals. After a fast start that included seven points in the Storm’s first nine games, the 6-foot, 180-pound native of Duluth, Minn., has tallied four assists in the Storm’s last three games.
“The game is so much faster at this level than high school. You have to make quick decisions and be more prepared mentally and physically,” Tardy says. “It’s taken me some time to learn what works and doesn’t work.”
Tardy came to the Storm following a storied prep career at Duluth East High School, where he scored 28 goals and 48 points his senior season on his way to being named a finalist for the prestigious 2009 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award. He was also named the 2009 Duluth News Tribune Player of the Year.
“In high school, I was a playmaker. I went out there every game with the expectation of being the guy who would make things happen,” says Tardy.
Despite being a first-year player in the USHL, Tardy says his role with the Storm is similar to his high school playing days. “I have to bring a strong work ethic and good effort every game, and that includes doing all the little things,” he says. “Beyond that, I’m someone who has to contribute on the scoreboard.”
Tardy has already committed to play his college hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and he was a seventh round selection by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL’s 2009 Entry Draft.
Storm Head Coach Drew Schoneck says he would like to see Tardy work at being more consistent.
“We are going to count on him for offense because he’s a competitive guy who can skate and put the puck in the net,” Schoneck says.
“He’s already proven that he’s up to the challenge of playing in this league. At the same time, I want to see increased intensity and consistency from him,” adds Schoneck. “He can’t be great one night and just okay the next.”
Tardy said he’s working at becoming a more complete player by developing his skills on defense.
“As you move up levels and play against stronger competition, you have to focus more on being a good player on both sides of the puck,” he says. “I know I have to get better defensively. I know what is expected of me, and I’m excited about this season and doing what I can to help the team have success.”

Derek Forbort story

This story was posted a while ago on the USA hockey website, but it is work posting....

Skates. Check. Hockey equipment. Check. Backyard rink. Check.National Team Development Program Under-18 defenseman Derek Forbort was always on the ice as a youngster. The time of day didn’t matter in Duluth, Minn.; Forbort was always skating.“I started hockey when I was 2 years old,” Forbort said. “My dad built a rink in the backyard, and my mom ran a daycare. There were obviously huge games going on back there so I was always out there skating.”So, it should shock no one that Forbort is doing something that he loves all while wearing the red, white and blue for Team USA this season.

Derek Forbort mans the blue line for the NTDP.“The best way to describe Derek is that it just comes natural and so easy to him,” Under-18 coach Kurt Kleinendorst, a former coach in the New Jersey Devils’ organization, said. “The way he plays and practices — the agility, puck skills and movement — it seems to come so easy for him.”

Forbort arrived at the NTDP after appearing in 25 games for Duluth East High School last year, posting seven goals and 28 points and leading the team to a coveted Class AA state tournament berth. The transition from high school to the NTDP has been an interesting ride and an eye-opener in some respects for Forbort. In 24 games, he has one goal and 10 points, along with 12 penalty minutes.“The game is so much faster. You have to be more responsible defensively. In high school, you could get away with some things. Here, if you make a mistake you are going to get burned,” Forbort said. “I knew that I was always going to come here. I love my high school and I have a lot of friends back there. Hockey is what I want to do with my life and this is the place to be if I want to do that.”

Not surprising, the most difficult adjustment for the 6-foot-4, 195-pound blueliner has been the workouts.“I thought maybe I would get sick of the rink, but I love hanging out here and with the guys. I love being here, especially in the locker room,” Forbort said. “I knew the workouts would be pretty tough.”As a first-year coach, Kleinendorst can relate to what Forbort is going through this fall.“The players who come in after the first year go through an adjustment period. They have to make the commitment and train,” Kleinendorst explained. “Derek has a great attitude but he probably had no clue to what extent he was going to be pushed. He has really handled it well and I have not really noticed that adjustment period. He is a good player, and he has a great reputation as a good kid and he was raised by very good parents.”

Forbort did have a little taste of USA Hockey last year, appearing in two international tournaments. He competed with the U.S. Under-17 Select Team at the 2009 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Slovakia. In addition, he skated in nine games with the Under-17 team, including all six at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in British Columbia.“Last year, I went to Slovakia with the team and that was a really cool experience. I also played at the U-17 Challenge in B.C. and that was a lot of fun to play against the Canadian teams,” Forbort said.

“Getting to know the guys last year at the tournament was a huge help and a feel for international tournament was a huge help.”Forbot will never forget the first time he saw the USA jersey waiting for him. It is a memory that can last a lifetime.“It was unreal. I remember walking into the locker room and I was staring at it for a while. To represent your country is a pretty cool thing and I am really fortunate to be able to do that every day,” Forbort said. “It is a huge honor [to play for the NTDP]. You definitely do not want to take it for granted as you are representing your country, so take it all in — live in the moment.”Living in the moment are words that Forbort tries to live by.

He is currently the top-ranked defenseman in the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary ranking for United States Hockey League. Yet Forbort is not even worried about the rankings. Instead, he is focused on the team.

Maybe it is that attitude that has the scouts focused on Forbort’s talent.“I do not pay any attention to that at all. I am not thinking about that at all. I am worried about this year and this team winning,” Forbort said. “I need to be solid defensively and do my job back there. If everyone does their job, then we should be able to win.”Even though Forbort attended plenty of Minnesota Duluth games growing up, he committed to the University of North Dakota.

He knows that he needs to continue to work and improve if he is going to get to the next level.“I really like the coaches out there and the program. They seem to be developing their players pretty good so it was the right fit,” Forbort said of his decision to play for the Fighting Sioux. “I need to get a lot stronger on the ice, stronger legs and a better skater. I need to keep working on my game; every part of your game can get worked on and no one is perfect at everything.”

No matter what the future holds, Forbort will always have his early beginnings as a reminder of just how far he has come with hockey. After all, it all began on a backyard rink built by his dad when skates, equipment and a group of kids was all that it took to have a game.

Aaron Marvin stepping up

When Aaron Marvin was in high school in Warroad he wasn't the highest scoring player in the state. He wasn't the fastest skater or biggest hitter. Yet almost every scout on and off the record thought he had the most NHL potential of any player in Minnesota at the time.

Marvin is improving in the WCHA and those scouts are beginning to look like they knew what they were talking about.


Pasted below is a nice Kevin Allenspach column from the St. Cloud Times on Marvin's progress.

To view the article go HERE

Hockey isn't a lot like riding a bike, except in the sense that once you learn to score goals you never forget how.

Sometimes you just hit a slump, that's all.

Ask Aaron Marvin. Last time out he scored twice in an eight-minute span of the second period to help the Huskies sweep Alaska Anchorage. It started with the first short-handed goal of his career and, a couple shifts later, he netted the game-winner.

This wouldn't rate such big type except for the fact that Marvin, St. Cloud State's junior alternate captain, hadn't scored in 21 games — since Feb. 14.

"It takes some pressure off a little bit," Marvin said. "It's nice to score. It makes you feel like you're contributing to the No. 1 goal, and that's team success."

A third-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2007, he scored 10 goals last season and the hope was he would assume a role right behind Ryan Lasch and Garrett Roe as SCSU's most dangerous forwards.

Instead, the first half of the season must've felt like a detour through the ditch. He helped the Huskies by centering a line with Lasch, who's on a team-best eight-game point streak, and killing penalties with Jordy Christian, who scored a shortie last Friday with Marvin assisting before the reversed roles Saturday.

"They were a couple of garbage goals, but that's just what I needed," Marvin said. "The first one, Jordy made the play to get the puck on net and I just whacked away at it. The second one, (Lasch) just passed it to me in front. They weren't pretty, but sometimes those get you going."

With sixth-ranked Colorado College visiting the National Hockey Center this weekend, Marvin and the Huskies — who've won three straight and five of their last seven — can't afford to slow down. It's their last series until after New Year's Day and it could go a long way toward setting up the second half. No. 17 SCSU is in a three-way tie for third in the WCHA and, on Sunday, could be in first or sixth.

"These are going to be the two toughest games we've played yet," Marvin said. "CC's going to battle to continue the start they're on, so this is going to be a big test.

"The goals maybe haven't come like we thought they would so far, but we're still building and we've done OK. It's a long season. We just need to take what's happened and learn from it."

That's to say, keep on pedaling.

www.stcloudtimes.com

Defending Big D not defending Matt Niskanen

Defending Big D is a very well done Dallas Stars blog done on the Sports Nation forum. In a blog posted on November 30th Brandon Worley talks about what he is calling the struggles or decline in Matt Niskanen's game. Niskanen was a star defenseman for Virginia before a very short stint with University of Minnesota Duluth.

I've pasted quite a bit of the blog entry below but you can view the entire article HERE

Matt Niskanen has had a rough time adjusting to life without Sergei Zubov. After playing just 13 games in the AHL after graduating from college, injuries on the Stars' roster thrust him into the starting lineup and he found himself playing next to a future Hall of Fame defenseman. He was second on the team in plus/minus with a plus-22, scored seven goals and was the breakout player of the year for the Stars. He and the rest of the Stars young defensemen, Mark Fistric and Nicklas Grossman, held together down the stretch when Zubov was out due to injury and played admirably in the playoffs that season. Yet the warning signs were starting to show.

In 2008, with Zubov struggling to return to the ice, Niskanen and his fellow defenseman fell flat on their faces. In the first month of the season Niskanen had just one assist and was a minus-7 as the Stars became a sieve on defense and in net, finding themselves in the basement of the conference standings just seven weeks into the season.

Niskanen would finish last season last among defensemen with a minus-11, yet set a career high with 29 assists and 35 points. There were some that played off the subpar season as a 'sophomore slump' and were encouraged by his offensive potential. He played well for the USA in the World Championships over the summer and with Marc Crawford and Charlie Huddy coming to the Stars to implement a new system, Niskanen looked to be on track to return to the form from 2007 that so many fans excited.

What is frustrating is that Niskanen has all of the potential you would want in a defenseman: great skating ability, good size, good speed and a booming shot from the point. What Niskanen is in desperate need of is some extended time in the AHL, where he can just focus on his skills and his approach to the game without the distractions of having to play in top form 100% of the time for an NHL team fighting for positioning in the standings. There's a reason that Ivan Vishnevskiy is still down in Austin and he is well on his way into developing into a top defenseman for the Stars in the near future.

And there lies the crucial missing link for Matt Niskanen: development. Players coming to the NHL are expected to already be as polished as possible; that's what the AHL and ECHL are there for. Jamie Benn is an exception to the rule and he is having some growing pains as well that can be covered up while playing on the wing. As a defenseman, Niskanen's mistakes are all there for the world to see and there's no hiding his shortcomings.

Since there is no doubt that Niskanen possesses all of the physical tools you could possibly want in a defenseman, it all comes down to intelligence, training and confidence.

While he is still playing under his original contract, Niskanen has now played in enough games to necessitate the Stars place him on waivers in order to assign him to the AHL. That option no longer exists for the Stars unless Niskanen gets hurt and can be assigned to a 'conditioning stint' down in Austin.

So what's the cure? Should Marc Crawford bench Niskanen for a few games in favor of Jeff Woywitka to give him some time to get his head in the right place. Will that happen tonight, or will Crawford give Niskanen a few more games to prove that this past weekend is all a fluke? Currently, Niskanen possesses a team-worst minus-11 and is last among all defensemen with an overall plus/minus per 60 minutes (-1.22 per game). He has just seven assists and has not been the weapon on the power play that this team has needed him to be.

Even so, can the Stars afford to sit Niskanen? Are they better off with Woywitka playing more minutes while Niskanen sits? More importantly, will benching Niskanen shatter whatever amount of confidence he has left?

Is Matt Niskanen able to be saved? Without time in the AHL was Niskenen's career put on the wrong track from the start?

Whatever the answers to these questions might be, there's no doubt that the Stars can afford many more blatant mistakes like Niskanen made this past weekend.

-Defendingbigd.com

WCHA weekend Preview

No in depth preview from me, however, I am excited to take in the University of North Dakota game versus Wisconsin on the NHL Network Saturday night. With no television for the Gophers this weekend I may come away a little less saddened about college hockey.

From the WCHA website....

MADISON, Wis. – The upcoming weekend of Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11-12, promises plenty of excitement for Western Collegiate Hockey Association member team fans as the top six clubs in the current standings – all ranked in the nation’s polls – matchup in three key two-game series that will mark the conclusion of conference play for the first half of the 2009-10 season. Pre-season league favorite, first place and No. 2-ranked Denver plays at third place (tie) and No. 12/14-ranked Minnesota Duluth, second place and No. 6-ranked Colorado College heads to third place (tie) and No. 17-ranked St. Cloud State, and third place (tie) and No. 11-ranked Wisconsin visits No. 3-ranked North Dakota.

The Pioneers (10-4-2, 8-2-2 WCHA) and Bulldogs (10-5-1, 7-4-1 WCHA) face-off at the DECC (5,303) in Duluth on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:07 pm CT. These will be the only two regular season meetings between DU and UMD, who met in the Broadmoor Trophy championship game of the 2009 Red Baron WCHA Final Five last March 21, with the Bulldogs prevailing 4-0.

The Tigers (10-4-2, 7-3-2 WCHA) and Huskies (8-6-2, 7-4-1 WCHA) meet up at the National Hockey Center (5,371) in St. Cloud at 7:07 pm CT both Friday and Saturday.

The Badgers (10-5-1, 7-4-1 WCHA) and the Fighting Sioux (9-5-2, 6-5-1 WCHA) go head-to-head at Ralph Engelstad Arena (11,634) in Grand Forks on Friday at 7:37 pm CT and Saturday at 7:07 pm CT. This, too, will be the only regular season matchups between UW and UND.

And in one other WCHA series to be contested Dec. 11-12, Minnesota (6-9-1, 4-7-1 WCHA) travels to Houghton to take on Michigan Tech (3-11-0, 2-10-0 WCHA) at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena (4,128) at 7:07 pm ET both Friday and Saturday.

Outside the WCHA, Minnesota State, Mankato (7-8-1, 5-8-1 WCHA) will hit the road to face streaking Bemidji State (13-2-1) of College Hockey America on Friday and Saturday at John Glas Fieldhouse. The Beavers, who already have a 12-point lead in their conference race, join the WCHA family in 2010-11 along with Nebraska-Omaha. So far this season, WCHA-member teams are an impressive 22-12-2 in non-conference competition for a .639 winning percentage.

Alaska Anchorage (6-12-0, 4-10-0 WCHA) is now idle until Jan. 8-9.

In action last weekend, Dec. 4-5, the five head-to-head conference series saw St. Cloud State and Wisconsin record sweeps at Alaska Anchorage and over Michigan Tech, respectively. In a battle of league co-leaders, Denver took three of four points from Colorado College in a home-and-home set, while both the North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota vs Minnesota State home-and-home series resulted in splits.

Through games of Dec. 6, just three points, and one victory, separate the top five teams in the WCHA standings – Denver (18 points), Colorado College (16 points), Minnesota Duluth (15 points), St. Cloud State (15 points) and Wisconsin (15 points). Defending conference champion North Dakota, meanwhile, is just two points out of third place with 13 points, while Minnesota State is just two points back of the Sioux.

Six WCHA-member teams sport winning records overall this season in DU (10-4-2, .688), CC (10-4-2, .688), UMD (10-5-1, .656), UW (10-5-1, .656), UND (9-5-2, .625) and SCSU (8-6-2, .562).

On the docket for the final weekend of on-ice action prior to the two-week Christmas holiday break – Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 – three conference-member teams will be engaged in non-conference action. Minnesota State will play a home-and-home set against CCHA-member Nebraska-Omaha (@ MSU Friday, @ UNO Saturday), Michigan Tech plays at CCHA-member Northern Michigan on Friday, and North Dakota entertains the U.S. Under-20 Team on Saturday.

In this week’s (Dec. 7) USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Div. 1 Men’s College Hockey Poll, Denver is No. 2, North Dakota is No. 3, Colorado College is No. 6, Wisconsin is No. 11, Minnesota Duluth is No. 12 and St. Cloud State is No. 17.

In the latest (Dec. 7) USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s Div. 1 Poll, Denver is No. 2, North Dakota is No. 3, Colorado College is No. 6, Wisconsin is No. 11 and Minnesota Duluth is No. 14. Also receiving votes was St. Cloud State.

This 2009-10 campaign marks the 58th in the storied history of the WCHA, with the league owning a record 36 national championships. It will also mark the final season with a membership consisting of 10 teams, as both Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha come on board as the 11th and 12th members in 2010-11.

This Week in the WCHA

Games for Friday, December 11: Minnesota at Michigan Tech (WCHA), 7:07 pm ET; Colorado College at St. Cloud State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Denver at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Wisconsin at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; Minnesota State at Bemidji State (nc), 7:35 pm CT.

Games for Saturday, December 12: Minnesota at Michigan Tech (WCHA), 7:07 pm ET; Colorado College at St. Cloud State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Denver at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Wisconsin at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota State at Bemidji State (nc), 7:05 pm CT.

Alex Goligoski returned last night in Penguins win

Alex Goligoski who played excellent when Pens top defenseman Sergei Gonchar was out injured returned to the lineup and for the first time since early in the year he and the Russian veteran blue-liner are on the ice at the same time.

Here is a pasted version of a story on Goligoski from the Pittsburgh Daily News

MONTREAL — After dealing with crippling injuries for the better part of the past six weeks, the Penguins are almost completely healthy.

Alex Goligoski, who has only played one game in the past month because of two separate injuries, played Thursday in Montreal.

"I feel really good," Goligoski said. "I feel like I'm ready to handle a whole workload."

Goligoski has been terrific all season and should be able to help the team's floundering power play.

Coming into action Thursday, the Penguins were converting only 14 percent of their power plays, good for 28th in the NHL.

"I hope I can help out," Goligoski said. "We'll see."

Goligoski's return meant that the Penguins were able to use their six-man starting defensive unit for the first time since Sergei Gonchar broke his wrist Oct. 20. He played in Montreal with Jay McKee, which was how the duo started the season.

"The guys who got called up did a great job," Goligoski said. "Now we need to stay healthy."

Read Entire Story HERE