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.