Retired former NHL defenseman and former Gopher Chris McAlpine has joined former teammate Ben Hankinson's sports agency SPS Hockey.  McAlpine is currently coaching in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League.

Casey Hankinson who retired from professional hockey this summer will begin work at United Properties this week.  Hankinson is likely to work as a television color analyst for the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament this spring.

Former Gopher Pat O'Leary retired from professional hockey this summer and is now working for Acceleration Northwest in Plymouth.
 
Erik Westrum remains in fourth place in scoring in the AHL with 5 goals and 13 assists with the Houston Aeros.

Colin Peters has been recalled from the ECHL by the Houston Aeros and Jay Rosehill has been recalled to the Springfield Falcons from the Johnstown Chiefs.

Former Gopher and NHL star Corey Millen is coaching the NAHL Alaska .  He has lived in Alaska since retiring from professional hockey after winning the Deutche Eishockey Liga Championships with the Cologne Sharks.  Millen's assistant coach is Dean Larson, who played in Rochester in the USHL, and was a standout in minor league hockey.

Thomas Vanek, still looking for his first NHL goal, is ranked 11th amongst NHL rookies in scoring with 7 assists in 13 games and a +1 rating.

Luke Stauffacher had two goals in his first game with the Charlotte Checkers, a 4-3 OT loss to Columbia.

Brian Gornick is tied for the scoring lead with the Dayton Bombers with 7 points.

Luke Curtain is tied for the ECHL lead in scoring with five goals and 10 points.  He scored four goals and an assist against the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Friday.

Bryce Lampman missed two games with the Hartford Wolf Pack with Strep throat, losing 13 pounds during the illness.

Matt Hussey's goal scoring is one of the reasons that the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins have won 9 consecutive games to begin the AHL season, a 9-0-0-0 record.

While the NHL took all of the rule changes implemented in the AHL last season the AHL has stood firm in not implementing an NHL rule, two referees.  Only one referee works AHL games.  The AHL does restrict the number of players that can suit up per game to only 17 one down from last year's 18 players.

Adam Hauser passed the 3,000 saves mark in his professional career last week with the Manchester Monarchs.

Former UND Defenseman David Hale is out of the Albany River Rats lineup with an undisclosed injury.  Fans of the Rats and Devils hope it isn't a flare-up of his IgA nephropathy kidney ailment that has sidelined him in college and the pros. 

Jake Brenk was released by the Pensacola Ice Pilots.

Former St. Cloud State Husky Mark Hartigan was reassigned by the Blue Jackets to the Syracuse Crunch after the weekend series against the Wild.

Adam Berkhoel was reassigned to the Chicago Wolves after Mike Dunham was activated off IR for the Atlanta Thrashers.

According to ESPN.com the Minnesota Wild rank 9th in total attendance amongst NHL teams, including home and away games.  The Wild remain a one of the poorest draws on the road with only a capacity percentage when on the road of 82.5% and average attendance of 15,292, that fifth worst in the league.  The number 9 overall ranking is buoyed by the Wild's home attendance which ranks fourth in the league with an average 103.1% capacity attendance, an average of 18,266 per game.

Quick Reality Check:

Army Ranger Derek Steven Hines, a native of Massachusetts and former Army hockey captain, was killed during a gunfight with insurgents in Baylough, Afghanistan on Sept. 1 in Operation Enduring Freedom. He was 25. According to his West Point hockey coach, Brian Riley, Hines kept firing at insurgents after taking a bullet that proved fatal. He is survived by parents Susan and Steven Hines. (Some info from NHL.com)


Quick Speculation:

Look for former St. Cloud State Head Coach Craig Dahl to step behind the mike as a colour analyst for television broadcasts after the holidays.

Quick Quotes:

"We decided to head home was, because like anything, it was just the uncertainty of not knowing what's going to happen.  But I kept in touch with people down here, and everything seems to be fine."

- Reg Berg on his decision to return home to Minnesota rather than stay in Naples to ride out Hurricane Wilma.
 
“We’re looking at coming into each game and playing like we’re 9-0 and getting wins. We’re trying to put together a good, solid effort each game — playing each shift and each period the best we can.”

- Matt Hussey on his Baby Pens' 9-game win streak to start the AHL season. (Times Leader)
 

Quick Facts has learned that Breck star Jordon Fulton committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Wednesday morning while visiting the campus.  The 6'1" and 190 pound forward scored 29 goals and 41 assists last year for Breck, following up on a 66 point sophomore season.  He has been one of the leading scorers in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League competition this fall. 

Patrick Eaves scored his first NHL goal just 14 seconds into the Ottawa Senators game against the Carolina Hurricanes Monday.  Unfortunately it was their first loss of the season, falling 2-3 to the Canes.  Eaves' emergency recall was cancelled following the game and he will return to the Binghamton Senators.  He played two games during his third call-up of the season.  In four NHL games, he has a goal and an assist.

36% of the players on the Minnesota Wild roster were drafted by the Wild and 40% are homegrown talent, according to Hockey's Future.  Homegrown players are defined as drafted players, plus those who were not drafted, but made their NHL debuts with the team. Nine players the Wild drafted are playing in the NHL.
 
Reggie Berg and his family flew home to Minnesota on Friday from Naples, Florida to avoid Hurricane Wilma.  Berg's Florida Everblades team postponed their home opening games due to the storm.  Germain arena was running on generator power with the ice melting but power was restored Tuesday afternoon.  This weekend's games may still be in question depending on whether the arena still needs to be used as a shelter.  Berg, who was trying to fly back to Naples on Tuesday, is set to begin his sixth season with the 'Blades.

Midland Baring Financial Group Inc, a Quebec-based investment company, has purchased controlling interest in the World Hockey Association.  The WHA made their initial public offering of stock in September.  Under the terms of the transaction, Midland Baring Financial Group will own approximately 20% of the WHA.  Jean-Francois Amyot, Managing Director of Midland Baring Financial Group said "we believe that hockey should be available to all people and not just for the ones able to pay a $100 ticket price. The WHA offers fans a quality on ice product and provide players an opportunity to demonstrate their talent." The WHA currently operates the WHA Super Junior hockey and plans to operate a Professional hockey league. The WHA also owns and operates a real-estate division, which is in the process of acquiring and building sports and hockey facilities throughout North America.

According to Greg Shepard, a mistake was made in the third period of the Gophers's Friday night game against the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks.  A double minor was asssessed to the Mavericks but the referees failed to place an additional player in the penalty box to serve the penalty.  Earlier in the game the Gophers received a double minor and had an additional player serve the extra two minutes that were not offset.

Tom Reimann's three goals lead all ECHL defenseman and he ranks fourth with his four points.  Reimann plays for the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Washington Capitals rookie Alexander Ovechkin's streak of at least one point in each of his first eight career games has set an NHL record for the longest scoring streak at the start of a career by an overall No. 1 draft pick, a record (7) that was previously set by the Minnesota Wild's Alexander Daigle in 1993-94.

Peter Mueller was named WHL Player of the Week after scoring two goals and seven assists in four games with the Everett Silvertips last week.

Nate Hagemo is out of the Golden Gophers' lineup with a reaggravation of a shoulder injury suffered in the World Junior Championships last year.  Expect Peter Kennedy to play at least one game in St. Cloud this weekend in his place.

Chris Chucko was wearing a 'do not hit' jersey in practice with the Gophers but is expected to play against the Huskies this weekend. 

The Gophers will stay overnight at a hotel in St. Cloud between games Friday and Saturday, rather than driving back to the Cities.

The Vancouver Canucks used Mariucci Arena for their practice Wednesday morning, and were served a meal in the Club Room.  Their flight out of town after beating the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night was not scheduled until 5:00pm.  Many of the Vancouver coaches observed the Gopher hockey practice held in the afternoon, no doubt watching young phenom Phil Kessel.

Quick Take:

Gary Bettman recently gave a speech in Toronto, in effect, seemingly taking credit for the 'New NHL' and the excitement the rules changes have given back to the game.  Gary Bettman had ten years to make changes to the game, he could have implored Colin Campbell and all his predacessors to enforce the rules as they were written years ago, and stuck with any of those attempted enforcements. He could have implemented any of the changes finally adopted this year, but he did not.  He could have taken the helm in finding a way to make these wholesale changes almost a decade ago but instead, he did absolutely nothing to improve the on-ice product.
 
No, it was the players who took the lead in the revolution to return hockey to the way it should be played.  Dozens of players over the years have publically complained about the status of rules enforcement and how the games were being played.  The players have always wanted to make the changes and see the enforcement continue, it was the league, led by Bettman, that lagged behind.
 
Mario Lemieux attributed the sad state of the game to his decison to retire in 1999.  He was one of the most outspoken critics of the game for years, bemoaning the clutch-and-grab tactics and neutral zone trapping.   He told the Beaver County Times in 1999 "The game is too slow.  It's not very exciting with the trapping.  They have to make the ice bigger and open up the game a little bit and let the players play," he said.   He once called the league a 'garage league.'
 
In 2000, following the controversial Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL reportedly implemented a supposed crackdown on obstruction, and two referees were used in all games.  Gary Bettman said in an Associated Press item "We feel spontaneity is back in the game. But we're worried that enforcement of some rules can be improved."  The game was right back where it started in less than two months. 
 
The oft-quoted Jeremy Roenick predicted the regression when he said in a 2000 Sporting News story "I've heard it all before.  "I've heard how the NHL is going to start enforcing obstruction more for the rest of the season.  Pardon me ... but I'll believe it when I see it."
 
Mark Recchi told The Sporting News, "I've played in this league for a long time.  I've played with Eric Lindros, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and I've played against Pavel Bure, Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, and what this game needs is to let these players do what they do best.  They all have different skills but the same end result: They lift the fans out of their seats."
 
The outspoken, Brett Hull said once, "I wouldn't pay to watch this game.  It sucks!"  In a 2001 interview with Hockey Digest Hull "The fans are the most important part of the game. Without them, there is no game. They are going to quit coming to the games if we don't make the game better, more entertaining. However we do it, we have to do it."  He continued, "Sometimes I don't think the league is trying to make itself better. Sometimes I think the league is just stifling itself, and I want people just to think and wonder, "Can it be better? What can we do to make it better?" And that's what I want."
 
In 2003, during an interview with TSN following a game against Pittsburgh Boston Bruins star Joe Thornton said "I look back on it with thoughts that this might be my last year. It's not worth the pain. My back is killing me and things like that - it's just not worth the ordeal. You don't want to be a whiner, you just want to the game to be called how it is in the rulebook."
 
In his speech in Toronto last week discussing the new rules of the NHL this season Bettman finally acknowledged the players' role in the changes to the game.  "It is significant that these rule changes result from our partnership with the players."  However he seemingly took partial responsibility to the players' 'partnership' with the league. 
 
Brendan Shanahan took the lead over the summer of 2005 with his summit to discuss the rules of NHL hockey and how things could be changed and improved.  He had representatives from every level of the league from coaches to referees and players and developed a list of recommended changes to help resolve the problems the league had faced for years.  His leadership, and the voices of all the players who complained about the state of the game before him, are the reason the rules were changed in spite of Gary Bettman, not because of him
 
The players were certainly the ones who got the short end of the stick in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement but it was their victory, and their victory alone that forced the league to address the rules and issues with the way the game was being played and officiated.  It is the players whom fans can thank for bringing back the real game of hockey to the National Hockey League.

Adam Berkhoel made his second career NHL start for the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday, getting his first win, beating the New Jersey Devils and Martin Brodeur 4-3, stopping 32 of 35 shots.

Dan Hinote remains out of the Avalanche lineup due to a sore back.

Reggie Berg plays hockey in Naples Florida for the ECHL Everblades.  The 'Blades had their opening games postponed due to Hurricane Wilma over the weekend.  Berg and his wife have a new baby, prompting concerns with the impending arrival of the hurricane.  Team officials met with Everblades players on Wednesday to discuss options and some players did evacuate the area.
 
Erik Rasmussen returned to the Devils' lineup after missing practices and a game with severe bruises.  He had an assist in the Devils' loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.

As Quick Facts reported at the time of the transaction Anthony Blumer has returned to the US from Amsterdam to play hockey for the Quad City Mallards.  However, his actions have left a very angry Amstel Tigers team in his wake.  A team in the Netherlands only gets an certain of international transfer cards (ITC). The Tigers expended theirs on Blumer. Blumer told the team that he had personal problems, preventing him from playing hockey. The Tigers were sympathetic and released him from his contract, allowing him to return home. Two days later Blumer signed to play in the UHL with the Quad City Mallards, his 'personal problems' no suddenly longer an issue.  The Tigers have lost their ITC and they are unable to receive any compensation for the loss as the United Hockey League is not an IIHF-affiliated league, leaving them to rightfully question the integrity of Blumer.

Wyatt Smith finally was able to skate in a game with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers after missing the first three weeks of the season with a hairline fracture in his foot.  Smith rejoined the team Saturday night and together with Matt Koalska earned an assist on the Tigers' lone goal of their 1-4 loss to the Portland Pirates.  Koalska assisted on the opening goal for Bridgeport Sunday and scored a highlight reel goal, stepping in front of a Penguins pass at the blueline and breaking in alone for an unassisted tally, his second of the season.  Unfortunately the Tigers fell to the unbeaten Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a rout 3-8.  Matt Hussey had the 4th goal for the Pens in the game.  Koalska was named the third star in the Sunday loss.

Patrick Eaves was recalled by the Ottawa Senators due to the injury to Mike Fischer.  The Senators had their weekend game against the Florida Panthers postponed due to Hurricane Wilma but Eaves has an assist in three games with the Sens.

Anyone in Buffalo New York can take the opportuntity to watch Thomas Vanek practice on game days as the Buffalo Sabres have announced that all game-day skates, usually scheduled for 10:00am, are open to the public.

Jake Taylor scored his first goal of the season for the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday, a 6-5 win over the Hershey Bears.

Rochester's Bryce Lampman is on recall to the New York Rangers. He now has 9 total NHL games played under his belt including the one game this season.

Tom Reimann had two goals and an assist in the opening weekend for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

Barry Tallackson had two single assists on two goals by teammate Peter Vrana in the Albany River Rats' Saturday victory over the Lowell Lock Monsters.

Thomas Vanek is still seeking his first NHL goal with the Buffalo Sabres.  He has 7 assists in 8 games so far this season.

White Bear Lake's Adam Blossey signed a contract to play professional hockey in the Netherlands this year after a stellar career at Arizona State University.  Blossey was the Sun Devils' Rookie of the Year his freshman season and their Most Valuable Player, American Collegiate Hockey Association Honorable Mention All-American and an Academic All American his final three seasons.  Blossey helped guide the Sun Devils to back-to-back appearances in the ACHA national tournament his junior and senior years, and was a member of the USA Hockey Team in the University Games, earning a 3-3 record last winter.  He has a degree in Finance from ASU and began play with the Groningen Grizzlies this fall.  He is the only USA player on the team and one of only three imports.

Prior to his retirement, Brett Hull reportedly lost 14 pounds prior to the start of training camp and another 18 pounds since camp, for a total weight loss since summer of 32 pounds.  That's a lot of cheeseburgers!  Hull is expected to enjoy his retirement more at his home in Dallas rather that the one he still owns in Duluth.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin has sold his interest in the AHL's Iowa Stars to the owner of the NAHL Texas Tornado, Kirby Schlegel, who had been a partner.  Baldwin is reportedly seeking to own an NHL team.

The Tornado recently swept competition at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, going undefeated on the weekend.  The team has won back-to-back National Championships.  Mark Messier's son Lyon Messier plays for the team.

Former North Star Moe Mantha has been suspended for an entire year for his role as General Manager of the OHL Windsor Spitfires in a hazing incident for one of his players.  The organization has been fined $35,000 (Can) and Mantha has been suspended 40 as Head Coach of the team.  Nigerian-born Akim Aliu reportedly refused to take part in a hazing incident on the team bus where four teammates were shoved naked into the bus bathroom with the heat turned up.  Later, as a result of his refusal, teammate Steve Downie tapped Mr. Aliu on the shoulder in practice and then cross-checked him in the mouth as he turned around, causing Aliu to lose four teeth.  Aliu, aged 16, has been suspended one game for fighting with Downie.  Downie, a first round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, has been suspended five games.  Both Aliu and Downie have asked to be traded from the Spitfires.

A survey by The Hockey News found that 38 percent of skaters leaguewide are wearing visors this season, up from 35 percent in 2003-04 and 24 percent in 2000-01.

Kurt Kleinendorst, former Assistant Coach with the New Jersey Devils, is now coaching his son Kollin and the Millburn High School hockey team in New Jersey.  The Millers, a private school, were knocked off in overtime in the Kelly Cup Championship semifinals last year with Kleinendorst behind the bench.

There is a very nice story on the AHL website about Erik Westrum and his father.


Quick Quotes:

"It's not just that he's got great wheels; he's so smart and he's always right there in your face.  He was always one of the toughest players I had to play against when he was with Minnesota. It's great to have him on our side now." 

- John Michael Liles on Avalanche teammate Antti Laaksonen. (Denver Post)
 
"We're not used to that. In college you prepare all week to play a couple of games on the weekend. It's a little different to get on the bus and travel four hours, play, then travel four hours back, but that's the lifestyle. You've got to adjust to it if you want to play in this league."

- Barry Tallackson on adjusting to a new game schedule in the minor leagues. (Albany Times Union)
 
"They don't bring in too many non-nationals because it costs them money.  I basically want to perform well and show what hockey in the USA is like for the people there because they haven't brought in many people from the states before. I would like to do really well in the league with this opportunity. I'd obviously like to move up into the Elite league."

- Adam Bossey on playing with the Groningen Grizzlies in the Netherlands (State Press)

Quick Take:

It used to be that hockey was the last bastian of traditionalism in sport.  Hockey sweaters were traditional colours, not fancy, just classic.  That began to change in the 80's with the expansion era and the evil monster named 'Teal" crept into league fashion.  Recently teams have added glow-in-the-dark embellishments to hockey jerseys.  It turns out that was only the beginning of the fashionizing of hockey. 
 
Wayne Gretzky once used an aluminum stick but most players still preferred wood for its control, and even with metal shafts, the blades were still all natural.  Wood is now old school and few players use it for their twigs, favoring the fancy new composite numbers. 
 
I understand progress and I understand that the new composite sticks are lighter and allow for greater velocity on shots but since when did they have to look fancy?  First it was the Synergy stick, which was visible for its bold colouring.  Other companies follwed suit, including the Naegele's own Mission with it's bright blue stick.  But this year a very disturbing trend has hit hockey sticks, 'bling'.  Yes, that's right, hockey players across North America and Europe are sporting sticks with shiny and sparkly embellishments that can only be called 'bling.'  If you're not careful in the brighter arenas you can now be blinded from the reflection off a hockey stick instead of just from the wives' big rings.
 
Since when did hockey players like to make a statement with their hockey stick that didn't have anything to do with how they used it on the ice?  I'm sorry, the sparkly, reflective metallic embellishments that have been added to sticks this year have to go.  Hockey sticks are not an accessory, they are a tool, and it's how they are used, not how they look that is important. Score 50 goals and you'll sell thousands of sticks for your endorser, you don't have to resort to decorating the darn twig with sparkly stickers and paint jobs to make it appealing to consumers.
 
I've conceeded the loss of wooden sticks to hockey culture.  I've accepted composites as part of the 'new world' of hockey.  But call me old school if you want, hockey sticks should just not have 'bling'!  What's next, hockey skates with sequins and LED displays? 
 
The only bling in hockey should be Lord Stanley's Cup.

Adam Berkhoel was recalled to the Atlanta Thrashers due to injuries to both Kari Lehtonen and Mike Dunham.  He made his NHL debut on Saturday night against the New York Rangers, a 5-1 loss. He was reassigned to the Chicago Wolves on Monday.

Jeff Taffe has been traded to the New York Rangers from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Jamie Lundmark.  Taffe had been a healthy scratch for most of the season and the Coyotes had been looking to trade the former Gopher since the preseason.  Taffe, a first round pick, was part of the trade that sent Keith Tkachuck to the St. Louis Blues and was signed by the Coyotes following his junior year with the Gophers.  Taffe isn't set to join the Rangers until Thursday.

Brandon Bochenski scored his first NHL goal on Saturday as the Ottawa Senators.
 
Erik Westrum, reassigned to the Wild's affiliate in Houston, is the third leading scorer in the AHL after four games.  Westrum has four goals and 5 assists for the Aeros.

Steve Gainey, the son of former North Stars coach Bob Gainey is currently ranked seventh in AHL scoring for the San Antonio Rampage with three goals and five assists in six games.

Mark Cullen and Toby Petersen are also ranked in the top 20 scorers in the AHL.

Wyatt Smith is still sidelined with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers with a hairline fracture in his foot. 

Matt Koalska is listed as the second-most penalized player on the Sound Tigers team so far this season, with 12 PIMs in four games.  He also has a goal and an assist.

Keith Ballard had a team-high 22:45 minutes in ice time in the Phoenix Coyotes' first road win, a 2-0 shutout against Jordan Leopold and the Calgary Flames.  Leopold had 24:10 minutes on the ice for the Flames.

Paul Martin was sidelined with the New Jersey Devils after suffering a back contusion; a deep bruise, thanks to a monster hit by Ryan Hollweg of the NY Rangers on Saturday.  He is expected to be out two to three games.  Erik Rasmussen also missed practice over the weekend due to several bruises.

Jon Francisco underwent an MRI on his foot following an injury suffered during a preseason ECHL game against the Trenton Titans earlier this week.  Francisco is expected to be a leader on the Reading Royals this season.  Francisco's wife Bridget, his Minnesota High School sweetheart, is expecting their first child in November.

Gopher recruit Jay Barriball was named United States Hockey League offensive player of the week.  Barriball, who has committed to the University of Minnesota, began playing with the Sioux Falls Stampede last week and recorded two goals and an assist in his second game, the Sioux Falls' 3-1 win over the CHicago Steel on Saturday.  Barriball will play about six games with the Stampede but is expected to return to play for the Academy of Holy Angels this fall when hockey season begins.  At the conclusion of the Minnesota High School season Barriball will return to Sioux Falls to complete the season.

Barriball's Stampede, coached by former Gopher Kevin Hartzell, will host Juan Berenguer night this Friday.  Fans can sign up to hit a pitch off the former Twins reliever, just wiffle balls, during intermission.

Edina's Trent Palm, a defenseman currently playing for USA Hockey's NTDP in Ann Arbor, is considered one of the nation's top college recruits.  Among the schools interested in Palm is the University of Minnesota.  Palm has made visits to East Coast schools but definitely has the Gophers as his first choice, should they tender an offer.

In the upcoming movie 'North Country' hockey plays a prominent role.  Several local youth hockey players from Minnesota and the Iron Range are featured and Woody Harrelson's character also plays.  Harrelson worked under the tutelege of a local coach to help with his hockey skills for the film. 

Former Wild defenseman Andy Sutton has been suspended four games by the NHL for his hit to the head of Darcy Tucker, driving him into the glass, while playing for the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Nashville Predators remain unbeaten in the NHL this season with a record of 5-0-0.  The Ottawa Senators are also unbeaten.

Bret Hedican's grievance against the Carolina Hurricanes, that he should have been paid his salary during the lockout since he was injured, has yet to be heard and no date has yet been scheduled for the hearing, according to the NHLPA.  Hedican is seeing at least part of his more than $3 million salary.

Geno Parrish has signed with the ECHL expansion Stockton Thunder.  Parrish was originally slated to play with the Texas Wildcatters after playing in Germany last season, but Hurricane Rita forced the 'Catters to suspend operations this year.

Thomas Vanek is still looking for his first NHL goal.  The former Gopher star has four assists with the Buffalo Sabres and skates on their top line with Daniel Briere and JP Dumont.  He played against childhood idol Mario Lemieux earlier in the week, something Vanek called 'a dream come true' in a recent newspaper story.  According to news reports Vanek almost scored his first NHL goal against Lemieux's Penguins, skating into the Pittsburgh zone and shooting the puck straight into the end boards, maneuvering around the defender, collecting the puck on the comeback and ripping the shot.  Unfortunately he rang the far-side post with the 8-foot shot. (Some info from Buffalo News). 

The Fresno Falcons of the ECHL are unbeaten in preseason action.  There are currently four Minnesota players on the Falcons' roster.  The ECHL season begins on Friday.

Justin Maiser has been reassigned to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL by the St. Louis Blues.

Tom Preissing has a goal and an assist for the San Jose Sharks this season.  He has played in four of their six games and is expected in the lineup against the Wild on

A back injury to Boston defenseman Jiri Slegr will likely mean more ice time for Bruins rookie Andrew Alberts. 

Ben Eaves, who had surgery to clean up some scar tissue on his already surgically-repaired knee, took part in his first practice with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins since surgery.  Eaves was the Penguins’ sixth choice (131st overall) in the 2001 NHL draft and played parts of last season with the club. 

Brandon Roberts has signed to play with IJshockey Club Utrecht in the Netherlands.  He previously played for Colorado College.


Hockey & Hurricanes - Now it's Wilma

After the Mississippi Sea Wolves and the Texas Wildcatters had their seasons ended by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, respectively, now its the Florida Everblades' turn.  The Everblades are located in Naples, which is under an evacuation recommendation due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Wilma, which was upgraded to a Category 5 storm on Tuesday.  Games scheduled for the 'Blades on Friday and Saturday have been rescheduled.  It was to be the opening weekend for the Florida team which includes five Minnesota players.


Quick Quotes:

"It's hard for us to find that line between what we can and can't do as a checking line.  It's frustrating at times. You grow up playing hockey and doing certain things, but now you don't know what you're allowed to do." 

- Jamie Langenbrunner on adjusting to the new NHL crackdown on rules (Star Ledger)

"I had a lot to prove coming into this year, and I was motivated to get my game back.  I knew I had a long way to go in June to get my body back to where I needed it, just a lot of hard work. I feel good, and maybe it has paid off."

- Bret Hedican on recovering from injuries to return to form with the Carolina Hurricanes this season (News & Observer)

"Geno is an exceptional, offensive-minded defenseman who will also help us out quarterbacking the power play.  I expect him to perform as one of the top defensemen in the league, as he has been before."

- Stockton Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki on Geno Parrish.

"I've never been a big believer into winning awards. I take a lot more pride into winning games and playing well. Everything else happens on its own. My goal is to be here in Buffalo and establish myself as a go-to player as the season goes on. I don't follow my stats or anything like that."

- Thomas Vanek on being in the shadow of other highly touted rookie of the year candidates Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin (Buffalo News).

I hope I can bring a little quickness to the team.  I’m probably the smallest guy here, so just some quickness and energy.”

- 5'8" Ben Eaves on playing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  (Times Leader)

“He's going to be a leader for us.  He's going to be a guy we rely on. Monday night at the exhibition game, he was blocking pucks, diving, penalty killing, working hard. Great person and a very, very quality player. We're going to rely on him heavily.”

- Reading Royals head coach Karl Taylor on Jon Francisco. (Reading Eagle)

Quick Facts has learned that Michael Forney of Thief River Falls has received a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers to play next season, 2006.  Forney had 27 goals and 30 assists last season for Thief River Falls. 
 
Forney is also being pursued by the University of North Dakota who want him to spend a year in the USHL playing for Sioux Falls prior to joining the team in 2007. 

Wayzata's Kevin Wehrs has given a verbal committment to attend the University of Minnesota and become a member of the Golden Gophers Men's Hockey team for the 2007 season.  Wehrs told Assistant Coach Mike Guentzel last Wednesday that he had accepted Head Coach Don Lucia's offer of a full scholarship.  Lucia made the offer when Wehrs made his official visit to Minnesota on October 9th.  Wehrs had also received tenders from Saint Cloud, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Mankato, New Hampshire and Boston University.  "I've always dreamed of being a Gopher!  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to wear the Maroon and Gold and attend the U of M," said Wehrs of his committment.
 
Erik Westrum has been named to the AHL Executive Committee for the Professional Hockey Players Association, the union that represents minor league hockey players.
 
Hill Murray's Brian Arrogoni is the scoring leader for the Upper Midwest High School Elite League with 25 points (8g, 17a).  Second is Breck's Jordan Fulton with 24 points (10g, 14a).  Gopher recruit Jay Barriball is also a top scorer with 6 goals and 10 assists and fellow recruit David Fischer leads all defensemen with 2 goals and 7 assists.

Not many noticed, but newly acquired Wild centerman Randy Robitaille's name was misspelled on his sweater when he came out for warm-ups on Wednesday night.  His name read "Robitailla" mistakenly.  Equipment man Tony DaCosta was likely tasked with the speedy stitching to correct the jersey as the 'A' was replaced with an 'E' in time for the opening faceoff.

That was Alexander Daigle who quickly retrieved the puck from behind Dan Cloutier when Matt Foy scored his first career NHL goal.  It took a long time for the scoreboard to reflect the accomplishment for Foy and the rink announcer failed to recognize it when announcing the goal.
 
Anthony Blumer has been added to the roster for the Quad City Mallards of the UHL leaving the Amstel Tijers in Amsterdam.

Jake Brenk was traded to the Pensacola Ice Pilots from the Greenville Grrrowl for financial considerations.

Justin Maiser was reassigned to the ECHL Alaska Aces from the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.

Sean Curry was recalled to the Providence Bruins from the ECHL Florida Everblades and signed to a professional tryout agreement.

Barry Tallackson, Andy Murray and Mark Cullen nominated for AHL player of the week honors but the week one award went to former Hobey Baker winner Peter Sejna of the Peoria Rivermen.

Former Badger goalie Bernd Brückler has signed a professional tryout contract with the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack.

Former UND standout Jeff Panzer has signed to play with SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland.

Andrew Jasicki of New Brighton, who last played with the University of Wisconsin-Stout, has signed to play with FC Barcelona in Spain.

Darby Hendrickson has two goals and an assist in five games with Red Bulls Salzburg.

While it isn't exactly the lauded Beanpot tournament, Minnesota's WCHA hockey teams now have a trophy for which to compete, the DQ Cup.  The winner of the DQ Cup will be determined on a point system in six head-to-head contests between University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State-Mankato. The winner of each qualifying will receive five DQ Cup points, while the loser will receive zero points. If any of the qualifying games should end in a tie, both teams will receive two points. A tiebreaker system exists if there is a tie for the highest number of total points at the end of the DQ Cup schedule.

There are currently 26 former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey players playing professionally worldwide this season, a number that may expand to 28 when final minor league rosters are finalized.

There aren't very many Jewish players in the NHL but kudos to the Washington Capitals for allowing Jeff Halpern to sit out Wednesday night's game in observance of the Yom Kippur holiday.

Both Bret Hedican and Sean Hill scored their first goals of the season in the Carolina Hurricanes' 7-2 trouncing of the Washington Capitals Wednesday night.

World Hockey Association Corp. is now a publicly traded company and is listed as ticker symbol WHKY.PK.  Trading on the stock began trading on the OTC Pink Sheets on September 23rd, 2005.  The stock opened at $2.00 and remains there. The new incarnation of the league is as a Junior developmental league.  According to Ricky Smith, training camps have been held in Toronto, Ontario and Tampa Bay, Florida, in preparation for this years up coming season.  League play will reportedly begin in mid October. Smith now owns all the old WHA logos, including that of the St. Paul Saints.  Bobby Hull is still involved with the league as well.

Congratulations to Adam Hauser and his wife Cindy on the birth of their first child, a baby girl, born September 29th, right at the end of training camp.  Callie Ann Hauser weighed in at 8 pounds, 22 ounces and was 22 inches long.  All are doing well and settling into Manchester for the start of the AHL season where Adam is the starting goalie for the Monarchs.  Hauser is the #3 goalie for the LA Kings.
 
Former Wild defenseman Brad Bombardir has been signed by the AHL Springfield Falcons, the farm team of the Tampa Bay Lightning, to a professional tryout contract.
 
Besides Alexander Ovechkin, Zach Parise was the most acquired rookie on Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey.  Rookies could not be added to rosters until October 9th.

Tim Jackman was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes from the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Jackman will play with the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL and will be a depth forward for the Coyotes.

In AHL action this week Matt Koalska, playing left wing, notched his first point of the season, a goal, the game winner, as his Bridgeport Sound Tigers knocked off the Norfolk Admirals 7-5 Friday.  But the Tigers fell to the Ads in the rematch, 6-5 Saturday.  Koalska had an assist in the Saturday loss.  Dustin Byfuglien scored his first two professional goals in Friday's loss for the Ads.  Mark Cullen had two goals and an assist in the Friday loss but notched three assists in the win for the Ads on Saturday.  Cullen is second in league scoring thanks to his performance in the two games against the Sound Tigers, scoring a total of two goals and four assists. . . BJ Abel scored two goals as the Calder Cup Champion Philadelphia Phantoms beat the Binghamton Senators 4-3 in overtime on Saturday.  Grant Potulny had an assist in the loss for the B-Sens. . . Barry Tallackson, wearing number 24, opened the scoring for the Albany River Rats just 46 seconds into the second period of their Saturday game versus the Syracuse Crunch but the Crunch won the game 5-3.  Tallackson also earned an assist in the loss.  Mark Hartigan and Andy Murray each had a goal for the Crunch. . . Despite 7 shots on goal Junior Lessard's Iowa Stars were shut out by the Omaha Knights 1-0 on Saturday. . .Adam Hauser was in net as the Manchester Monarchs fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday 4-3 in Manchester's first game of the season.  Hauser stopped 33 of 37 shots.  Jake Taylor had an assist for the Pack. . .Adam Berkhoel earned a win for the Chicago Wolves this week, with a 2.0 GAA and .952 save percentage. . .Erik Westrum has a goal and four assists in two games for the Houston Aeros.  He was named alternate captain for the Aeros.
 
Prior to the start of the Hartford Wolf Pack's home opener former Gopher Ken Gernander was honoured in a ten-minute ceremony celebrating his career with the NY Ranger's farm team.  His #12 sweater was then retired and raised to the rafters of the Hartford arena, next to that of former Whaler Gordie Howe, and is the first jersey retired by the Wolf Pack.  Gernander's family, more than 20 of them, from Coleraine, were in attendance and he was presented $12,000 worth of scholarships for his children and has his jersey retired.  Gernander reportedly broke down in tears several times during his thank-you speech.  Among Gernander's legacies are that he is the all-time points leader for American players in the AHL and owns the all-time franchise records in most categories and is the all-time playoff games played leader in the league. The team gave the now-assistant coach Gernander the best gift, however, a win.

Hartford Courant hockey beat writer Bruce Bertlet has written an excellent story on former Gopher Ken Gernander and the ceremony celebrating jersey retirement on Saturday.  Read it here.

The Minnesota Wild were reportedly close to an agreement with the Texas Wildcatters, who are located in Beaumont, but due to Hurricane Rita their arena is unavailable and they were forced to suspend operations this season.  The Wild and their AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, will send players to the CHL Austin Ice Bats and other ECHL teams this year.

If fan message boards are any indication, there is not a lot of love lost for new Wild television play-by-play man Dan Terhaar.  After three games fans have expressed disappointment that Terhaar mispronounces players' names, and posters have berated him for misidentifying players.  They have also complained that he didn't seem to recognize penalties.  Terhaar is the third television broadcast voice for the Wild.  Bob Kurtz remains the fan favourite 'voice' of the Wild.

Dion Phaneuf of the Flames levelled Antti Laaksonen on Monday night's Avs home opener with a Scott Stevens-esque hit in the third period, causing the former Wild Ironman to leave the ice, shaken and stirred.  Laaksonen had scored a goal, assisted by Kurt Sauer, before the hit.  Late in the third, the Avalanche were beating the Flames in their home opener in a similar manner as the Wild had done just a few days prior,  Colorado up 7-3 late in the third with Eric Svatos notching a hat trick.  Just after returning to the ice from the Phaneuf hit, Laaksonen was levelled again, this time with a cross check to the back by the Flames' Shean Donovan, causing him to fall into the boards.  Donovan was given only an interference penalty on the play.


Quick Quotes:

"I saw that Keith scored a goal, nice to see the college guys do well."

- Gopher coach Don Lucia on the first night of NHL action and Keith Ballard scoring his first NHL goal.
 

Keith Ballard scored a goal in his first NHL game with the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday night against the Vancouver Canucks.  Ballard scored during a 4-on-4 late in the third period to spoil Dan Cloutier's shutout bid and to help the Gretzky-led Coyotes make their 3-2 loss to Vancouver close.  The former Gopher blueliner skated to the slot and whipped a shot to the corner off a pass from Mike Johnson.  Ballard also had several key blocked shots, earning the respect of his teammates for sacrificing his body taking several shots off his chest.
 
Ballard leads an online poll on the Phoenix Coyotes' website as the rookie who has impressed the most so far.  Ballard leads with 41.7% of the votes.  Next on the list is goalie David LeNeveau with 26.8% of the votes.
 
David Tanabe was the preseason leader in ice time for the entire Coyotes team.  In the opener against the Canucks he led again with 23:44 in ice time.  

Benilde St. Margaret's grad Andrew Alberts made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.  Alberts wasn't recruited by colleges after playing with Troy Riddle at Benilde, so played a year in the USHL for the Waterloo Hawks for two seasons.  The 6'4" 218 pound native of Eden Prairie finally got an offer from Boston College and had considered an offer from the UMD Bulldogs.  He was eventually drafted by the Bruins in the 5th round of the 2001 draft.  Alberts benefitted from signing with the Providence Bruins after completing his college eligibility last spring, a decision that many have attributed to his success in being able to crack the NHL roster as a rookie.  Alberts' parents were unable to attend his first NHL game but were watching the game on television in Minnesota. Alberts played six minutes and was even on the night in the Bruins' 2-1 loss to Montreal on Wednesday. (some info from Boston Globe)

Paul Martin had an assist on Zach Parise's first NHL goal in the NJ Devils' season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Martin also made a great play to knock the puck of Sidney Crosby's stick on a breakaway play.  Zach Parise had the goal and an assist and prompted chants from the crowd of "Parise's Better" with regard to his more highly touted rookie opponent, Crosby of the Pens.  Parise's parents were in town for his first game.
 
Brandon Bochenski notched an assist in his first NHL game with the Ottawa Senators as they beat the Maple Leafs in a shootout.  Bochenski was a starter on a line with Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley, the league's most productive line in the preseason.

Josh Langfeld, signed to a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks, has been unable to participate in preseason play due to a deep bone bruise knee injury.  He remains with the team, however, and is expected to play soon.

Wild castoff Antti Laaksonen scored a goal for the Avalanche in their loss 3-4 to the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.  Laaksonen banked the shot off Igor Ulanov for the tally.

Matt Koalska's season debut with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers was nothing to write home about.  The Tigers dropped the first game of the season 8-1 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  Koalska was in the box on a hooking penalty for Eric Christensen's second goal of the night; he went on to score four of the Pens' eight.  Matt Hussey scored the first goal for the Pens in the rout.

The developers of a computer game, NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2005, ran a simulation of the entire NHL season and predict that Ryan Whitney will score the game-winning goal in the last game of this year’s Stanley Cup finals, lifting the Pittsburgh Penguins to a four-game sweep of the Dallas Stars.  EHM includes the latest league rule changes (including the NHL CBA) as well as the latest rosters (up till the end of August).  It is the only game available that has the new NHL salary cap and it has more licensed leagues than any other Ice Hockey game on the market, including European hockey leagues.

While the Minnesota Wild's chilly pre-game party for the home opener will feature Mick Sterling & the Stud Brothers, the Toronto Maple Leafs have brought in the Barenaked Ladies for their welcome back celebration, and have bumped their start time to 8:00 pm to accomodate the party.  BNL will make an appearance at Xcel on December 8t h, however, as part of their Barenaked for the Holidays tour.

All teams will give fans replica Stanley Cups at home openers this season.  It was an initiative by the NHL marketing minds, hoping to signify to the fans that all teams now have a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Adam Berkhoel has been reassigned to the Chicago Wolves by the Atlanta Thrashers.

Tom Reimann has been signed by the ECHL Utah Grizzlies.

In the 1999-2000 season, David Tanabe became the first NTDP alumnus to play in the NHL. Tanabe was one of only four 1999 first-round draft picks to play in NHL that season.   He paved the way for Keith Ballard and Jordan Leopold, the other two Minnesota players on opening day rosters for NHL teams this season.  Wisconsin's Ryan Suter was also part of the Blues' roster.


Quick Quotes:

“It was a play where I worked my way in deep and they (Vancouver) just forgot about me.  The pass came right to me and I just tried to get it high over the shoulder and it went in.”

- Keith Ballard on scoring his first NHL goal (Phoenix Coyotes)
 
''It was definitely a goal of mine.  It was a long training camp and it was a long rookie camp to go through as well. It's been a long time coming but I'm glad I have the opportunity to maybe play."

- Andrew Alberts on making the opening night roster for the Boston Bruins. (Boston Globe)
 
"It was more of a blur than anything.  I just had a couple of whacks at it and when it went in it was just excitement. It was an unbelievable feeling."

- Zach Parise on scoring his first NHL goal.  (Bergen Record)
 
"With all the hype with Sidney, and rightfully so, we think we have a pretty good hockey player on our club as well.  So, it was nice for him to get his first [goal] in his first game."

- Devils coach Larry Robinson on Parise (Bergen Record)
 
"I did hear them.  I was kind of chuckling to myself. I'm not going to stir the pot. He's an awesome player. He played well. I wasn't trying to go out and make a point. I wasn't trying to draw any comparisons." 

- A grinning Zach Parise on the Continental Arena's fans chanting "Parise's better" (Newark Star-Ledger)

Its official, Keith Ballard has made the final roster for the Phoenix Coyotes.  The Coyotes have put Brad Ference on waivers and reassigned former UND blueliner Matt Jones to San Antonio meaning Ballard will start the season in Phoenix. 
 
The Phoenix Coyotes finally won a preseason game, and it was former Wild defenseman Zybenek Michalek, traded for Erik Westrum, that scored the game-winner. 
 
Rumored to be on the trading block for the Coyotes is former Gopher center Jeff Taffe, who struggled in the preseason.  Taffe missed the second half of the year last season after undergoing facial reconstructive surgery to repair a broken cheek and orbital bone.  The injury occurred after a fight which was a retaliation for a questionable Taffe hit on Aeros goaltender Josh Harding in AHL play last season.  Taffe has yet to regain his scoring touch and seemed a step slow in games.

Adam Hauser was reassigned to the Manchester Monarchs over the weekend.  Hauser will be the starting goalie for the Kings' AHL club this season.

After an impressive training camp Barry Tallackson was assigned to the Albany River Rats over the weekend.  Tallackson impressed head coach Larry Robinson and would likely be a primary recall, especially if Lamoriello is forced to make more salary cap moves.
 
Darby Hendrickson has a goal and an assist in three games with Red Bulls Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Nick Angell has an assist in two games with the Bofors Bobcats to go with his two minor penalties, an elbowing and a kneeing call, in two league games after a nine-game preseason.

Kelly Fairchild has three goals and six assists in 8 games with Eisbaren Berlin in the Deutche Eishockey Liga.

Ryan Kraft has a goal and five assists in 9 games with the Kassel Huskies of the DEL.

Andy Hedlund has two goals and five assists in 9 games with the Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL.  Hedlund plays with Mike Pudlick who has a goal and two assists.

Former Wild Defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn has decided to retire after finishing training camp with the Colorado Avalanche.  Leschyshyn gave a respectiblility to the Minnesota blueline and was a true leader their inaugural season, he will be missed by the NHL as a character player and one of best stay-at-home blueliners.

The Minnesota Golden Gopher Recruiting Class of 2006, brought to you by the letter 'F'.  So far the following players have verbally committed to the U, Ryan Flynn and David Fischer.  Reportedly the Gophers are also interested in Michael Forney and Jordan Fulton.  Cade Fairchild is also considered a definite Gopher prospect.

Bryce Lampman has been paired on the blueline with Jake Taylor for the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Wyatt Smith suffered a hairline fracture of his foot in camp with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers so is being rested.  It is not expected to sideline him for an extended period and he should be ready for the start of the regular season.

Erik Westrum has three goals in two preseason games with the Houston Aeros since being reassigned to the Wild's farm team.

John Pohl scored with just 30 seconds left in a preseason game against the Rochester Americans, helping the Toronto Marlies to a 4-3 shootout win.

As expected, Matt Hussey was reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL over the weekend.  Though he was impressive in camp he is a depth forward and expected to be a leader for the Baby Pens.

Peter Mueller made his Everett Silvertips regular season debut in their home opener against Prince George.  He tallied an assist in the win for the Tips.  Mueller was suspended for one game for what has been termed 'illegal body language' in Everett's preseason finale versus Seattle.  Mueller is expected to be a top-ten pick in ne