Here is an interesting revelation from former Sioux Jonathan Toews on the difference between college and playing in the NHL. Seems that college is harder to score when you're being hooked and held up and down the ice. It is easier to make plays when you don't have people draped all over you.

Plenty of hype follows Oshie to St. Louis

Oshie admits he's nervous about coming to camp. It has nothing to do with his talent and everything to do with him not being familiar with the NHL game.

"I feel good, but I haven't skated with the big guns yet," Oshie said. "They told me to expect a faster game. The game is a lot different than it is in college. Once I adapt I should be OK. I think I'm just wondering if I will be able to keep up and be able to contribute."

It's not as if Oshie isn't clued in to the NHL game. One of his good friends is Chicago's Jonathan Toews, a former UND teammate. Oshie stayed in touch with Toews, the second runner-up for the Calder Trophy this past season, by picking his brain about the pro game.



"He's been one of the best college hockey players in the country. He has taken his team to the Frozen Four twice in a row as one of the best players on that team. Those are the things that build the expectation and I think he has those expectations for himself. We definitely have them, but it does come down to how he does in September."

Toews told Oshie that he found it to be easier for faster, skilled forwards to make plays in the NHL because of the restrictions on clutching and grabbing, which don't exist in the college game.

"At the college level, clutching and grabbing is a good play for a defenseman," Oshie said. "Johnny Toews was talking to me about how much easier it is to make plays (in the NHL) because you don't have guys all over you. In college, guys were all over him and that's why he didn't put up the big numbers."

The new rules that were proposed earlier this spring have now been approved by the NCAA ice hockey committee. Seriously, I will believe it when I see it because; it is just like any other rule or law. A governing body can make all the rules they want to, however, for the new rules to be affective, they need to be enforced or the new rules will be useless. I am thinking the latter is going to happen in the WCHA. While some people don't like it when people refer to the WCHA as being the Western Obstruction League (copy right PCM), or complain about the officiating in the WCHA is very poor and is not working anymore. The WCHA and the NCAA hockey have become less watchable. The brutal reality is that the obstruction in the WCHA is so bad that it has caused the WCHA to become the Neutral Trap Zone league or the no scoring league. I don't go to a hockey game to watch teams obstruct, hack and slash the opposition's star players up and down the ice I come to watch fast paced exciting action with a lot of hard hitting and an occasional scrap.

Ok, the rules are on the book but the 64,000.00 question is; will the WCHA leader ship be able to put the new rules into action. I believe it can not happen until the WCHA leadership gets out of this incorrect/incoherent mind set that the status quo in the WCHA is half the reason scoring is down last year? A player no matter how skilled he is can not score with a gorilla I mean an opposing player is draped all over him. The laws of physics won't allow it. An offensive player must be allowed to move freely without being obstructed. Obstruction by the rules books is not allowed and needs to be called.

Lastly, I think the officials in the WCHA are the worst in division one hockey. Personally, I do not believe that the WCHA has enough qualified or quality officials to be able to have two competent officials to ref each game. So it is time for the WCHA to get on board or prepare to hear more complaining and complaints from the fans in the WCHA.

NCAA approves changes to rules

Brad Elliott Schlossman Grand Forks Herald

Published Friday, July 11, 2008

The rules changes in college hockey are now official. There will be two referees and two linesmen on the ice next season and they have been instructed to be stricter in protecting the puck carrier from obstruction, the NCAA announced Thursday.

Not allowing a team to change lines after icing the puck. If a defensive-zone team knocks the net off, it won't be allowed to change, either.

- Icing will be waved off if the referee determines a pass is attainable by a player on the attacking side of the red line. "Attainable" is defined as a pass on the ice and within a stick-length of the player.

- The NCAA is recommending, but not requiring, all arenas to increase the size of the offensive zone. It is asking arenas to move the goal line 11 feet from the end boards. It is currently 15 feet away. The NCAA wants the offensive zone to be 64 feet.

"The committee believes game officials have held a strong standard of obstruction fouls away from the puck carrier in recent seasons," the NCAA stated in a release. "In reviewing how the game is being called at other levels, it has become apparent that more emphasis needs to be placed on the puck carrier and allowing players to showcase offensive creativity and skill."

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association set a scoring futility mark for the fourth consecutive season in 2007-08. But several changes have been made to try to change that trend. Others are:

Adding an "embellishment" penalty.

- Clarifying pucks that go in off of skates. They are to be allowed unless it is controlled, kicked or guided into the net with a skate. If the player is in the act of stopping, it is OK. When in doubt, a goal will be disallowed.

- Delaying an offsides whistle if the goalie plays the puck. In the past, the whistle was automatically blown right away.

- Forcing all players, including backup goaltenders, to wear helmets on the bench

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Fighting Sioux senior to be Joe Finley has consistently been the Sioux's +/- (plus minus) leader his three seasons at UND, however, much like his former team mate Brian Lee, Finley has gotten the ire of a good number of Sioux fans. Why? I don't know why? Heck Brian Lee was so bad that he ended up playing for the Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I guess that is why we are fans and not general managers.

This is merely speculation but I suppose maybe big Joe just isn't tough enough for some Sioux fans. It is possible that Joe just doesn't score enough goals or isn't a fast enough skater. I guess Joe isn't going to be able to satisfy a fair number of Fighting Sioux hockey fans, no matter what he does on the ice. So Goon's World is going to hand out some leafy spurge to the Sioux fans that don't appreciate Joe Finley, the Sioux will be better with Joe Finley in the line up.

I personally am happy as hell that Big Joe is coming back to the Fighting Sioux for one more season, it is not every day that a player plays four years for their college team when they are a high end draft choice, but hey I will take it. Contrary to what some of the hockey geniuses say UND is a better team with big Joe. SJHovey sums it up best on USCHO.COM so mascots beware big Joe is coming back for his senior season.

Any UND fan who is not overjoyed with having Joe return is a fool, imho. You don't lead the team in +/- without playing extremely good defense. Even if he's not constantly punching someone's lights out, i.e. Commordore or Greene, just having someone of that size out there can be intimidating and important. I believe that Joe's play is directly responsible for the outstanding play we saw out of Genoway last year.

I also firmly believe that Chay's late season injury affected him more than we thought in the playoffs. After his return neither his puckhandling nor shot was as effective as before the injury and lead to some problems for that defensive pairing.

The two of them will be the best defensive tandem in the WCHA this coming season, bar none.

Rewind to last spring; in retrospect the season ending debacle in Denver was painful to watch as Fighting Sioux fans, however, teams don't lose 6-1 because of one player. Teams lose 6-1 because they lost as a team; colectively as a group the Fighting Sioux did not play well and lost. So because the team did not play very that day and you can not single out one player to blame on the lost, the Fighting Sioux all played bad. Lets just hope that bad taste still lingers in their mouths.

Go Fighting Sioux...

After all the complaining about the Wisconsin Badgers getting into the national tourney last spring with a sub .500 record, you could just about predict this rule change was coming down the pike.

Personally, I thought it was kind of weak that the Badgers made the tourney with a sub .500 record but after the Badgers made the tourney based on the selection criteria the NCAA had set forth, I wasn't as upset about them making the tourney. Add to the equation that the Badgers beat the Pioneers and almost beat the Sioux for the regional championship made it appeared in at least my opinion that the Badgers deserved to participate in their own regional.

Hockey committee changes selection criteria

July 01, 2008

The Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee is recommending that teams must compile a record of .500 or above in the regular season to be considered for championship selection.

The change reflects policy in other Division I sports, such as men's and women's soccer, softball and women's volleyball. The ice hockey committee endorsed the change at its annual meeting last month after a general discussion about last year's championship, in which a team with a sub-.500 record was selected for an at-large bid. After garnering feedback from the coaches association and conference offices, the committee decided that requiring a .500 record for selection would be best for the sport and the future of the championship.

The change will go before the Division I Championships/Sport Management Cabinet for a final decision in September.

The committee also recommended to the cabinet that all six hockey conferences – College Hockey America, Atlantic Hockey, ECAC Hockey, Hockey East Association, Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association – receive automatic bids to the championship. College Hockey America does not meet standards for an automatic bid, since it falls below minimum sports-sponsorship requirements with four teams, but the committee decided that for the good of the sport and the championship, it would continue to provide automatic qualification to the winner of College Hockey America's postseason tournament. The decision will be reviewed by the cabinet in the fall.

In other discussions, the committee:

•Will recommend Midwest and West regional sites for 2010 and 2011 to the Championships/Sport Management Cabinet this summer.

•Selected game times for the 2009 Frozen Four. Semifinal games will be at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Eastern time, April 9. The championship game is at 7 p.m. Eastern time, April 11.

•Decided timeouts at the championship will be two minutes from whistle to puck drop.

•Selected Steve Cady, senior associate athletics director at Miami (Ohio), as committee chair.

It has been a crazy day for signings on the free agent market. There have been quite a few former college hockey players moving around and signing free agent deals. First off; former Miami star and power forward Ryan Jones will not get a chance to play for the Minnesota Wild, big shock here. I think this might come back to haunt the Wild.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Marek Zidlicky is on the move.

The Minnesota Wild acquired the 31-year-old defenceman from the Nashville Predators on Tuesday for prospect Ryan Jones and a second-round draft pick.

Zidlicky had spent his entire NHL career with the Predators.

The former Czech Olympian had five goals and 43 points in 79 games with the Preds last season.

Jones was a fifth-round pick in 2004 by Minnesota. He was the leading scorer for Miami University of Ohio last season before signing a pro contract and playing four playoff games with Houston of the American Hockey League.

"Ryan Jones is a big and powerful young forward that adds size and skill to our organization," said Nashville GM David Poile.

It looks like T.J. Oshie will never get a chance to play with former Minnesota State University Mankato star and now probably former St Louis Blue player David Backus. Backus has been signed to a nice offer sheet by the Vancover Canucks.

Vancover 7/1/2008 -- The Vancouver Canucks are the first team out of the gate in the restricted free agent market signing forward David Backes to a three-year $7.5 million offer sheet.

The St. Louis Blues have seven days to match the offer or he goes to Vancouver. The Blues would then receive a second-round pick as compensation.

Backes, 24, was selected by Blues 62nd overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

In 121 games with St. Louis, he has 23 goals and 54 points.

In the been there and done that category; former Wisconsin Star Curtis Joseph is going back to the Toronto Maple Leafs again.

SPORTSNET.CA -- Toronto Maple Leaf fans can expect at least one familiar face next season. Sources are telling Sportsnet that goaltender Curtis Joseph has agreed to a one-year deal with his former club.

Joseph spent four solid seasons with the Leafs, from 1998-2002 but left via free agency when he signed with the Detroit Red Wings.

In nine appearances with the Calgary Flames last season, Joseph went 3-2 as a back-up to Miikka Kiprusoff.

Former Badger Rene Bourque is headed to the Calgary Flames.

SPORTSNET.CA -- The Calgary Flames have acquired left winger Rene Bourque from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional second round draft choice, the team announced Tuesday.

"Rene is a young player with size who will play in our top nine forwards," Flames general manager Darryl Sutter said. "He will be an important part of the remaking of our left side along with other young players already under contract."

Bourque, a native of Lac La Biche, AB, completed his third season with the Blackhawks in 07-08, recording 24 points from 10 goals and 14 assists. The 6'3", 213lb winger has notched 75 points in 183 career NHL games. Bourque was originally signed as a free agent by Chicago on July 29, 2004 following a four year career with the University of Wisconsin (WCHA). He played his first year of professional hockey in 04-05 with Chicago's AHL affiliate in Norfolk where he established team highs in goals (33), assists (27) and points (60). For his efforts, Bourque was named to the AHL All-Star Game and was the recipient of the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's most outstanding rookie

The Edmonton Oilers have been really busy today as they made their third trade in past few days sending former Clarkson and Carolina star Eric Cole to the Oiles.

THE CANADIAN PRESS -- The Oilers acquired winger Erik Cole and centre Gilbert Brule in separate trades on Tuesday.

Cole arrives from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Joni Pitkanen. The 29-year-old Cole had spent his entire career in Carolina and helped that team to its seven-game Stanley Cup win over the Oilers in 2006.

Brule was drafted sixth overall by Columbus in 2005 and has yet to develop into a consistent NHL player. He comes to Edmonton in exchange for rugged winger Raffi Torres.

The Oilers have made three trades in a matter of days. They acquired defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky from Los Angeles on Sunday in exchange for forward Jarret Stoll and defenceman Matt Greene.

Cole had 22 goals and 51 points in 73 games for Carolina last season. He leaves the Hurricanes with the third-best franchise total in goals (129) and sixth-best total in points (280).

Brule is coming off a year in which he had just one goal and nine points in 61 games for the Jackets.

Torres had been with Edmonton since 2004 and was limited to just 32 games last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a game in December.

Pitkanen lasted just one season with the Oilers after coming over in a trade from Philadelphia last summer. He had eight goals and 26 points in 63 games.

Fomer UNH goaltender Ty Conklin is getting a new deal to play in Detroit.

DETROIT -- Also Tuesday, the Red Wings agreed to terms with goaltender Ty Conklin on a $750,000, one-year contract.

Former Saint Cloud State star and ex-Pittsburgh Penguin Ryan Malone got a huge deal with the Tampa Bay Lighting. Ryan Malone was acquired via trade with Pittsburgh - June 29; Signed a seven-year, $31.5 million contract on June 30

Joe Finley's hand shake dance partner has officially signed with the Boston Bruins today. The former 1st round draft choice of the Phoenix Coyotes Blake Wheeler joins former Gopher teammate Phil Kessel on the Bruins roster. It will be interesting to see if Wheeler can make the Bruins roster or if he will play in the Providence Bruins. It is going to be tough; the Bruins second year head coach Claude Julien has shown little patience for one dimensional players.

Boston, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced Tuesday that the club has signed forward Blake Wheeler to an entry-level contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Wheeler, a Plymouth, Minnesota native, has spent the last three seasons playing for the University of Minnesota. In his 2007-2008 season, he led the team in scoring with 15-20-35 totals in 44 games, and was named to the third team, All-WCHA. Originally drafted in the first round (5th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, he will forego his senior season to enter the NHL. He did not sign with the Coyotes and became an unrestricted free agent.

The 6-4, 215 pound 21-year-old leaves the Gophers with career 42-54-96 totals in 127 games. In the 2006-2007 postseason, he earned the Tom Mohr Playoff MVP Award after tallying four goals and one assist. As a freshman, he recorded 9-14-23 totals at Minnesota, skating alongside fellow Bruin Phil Kessel. In 2005-2006 he also skated for the USA in the IIHF World Junior Championships, where he played in all seven games and scored two goals against Finland.

Before attending the University of Minnesota, Wheeler spent one season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, and led the team in scoring by notching 19 goals and 28 assists in 58 games. .

Wheeler is expected to attend the Bruins Development Camp which will be held July 8 -July 12 at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, MA.

The Grand Forks Herald, WDAZ and a certain sports writer in Fargo that writes for he Forum couldn't rush fast enough to get the news out that Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie and Mike Radja from UNH were cited for disorderly conduct on the weekend of December 30th 2007. The media was falling all over themselves trying to get this story out in the news paper and on the evening news. It was disgusting how these young men were tarred and feathered before this case ever went to trial. One could say that the media has egg on their face.

Fast forward to present day. I will be the first to admit that it's a legitimate news story when one the area's sports star is caught doing something wrong, however, it's also a news story when the charges against the accused are dropped. Seriously folks why did the press take it's time finally getting the news out? I knew about this story a month ago and the paper is just deciding to let us know one month later that the charges against T.J. Oshie were dismissed. Oh yeah; the charges against UNH star Mike Radja were dismissed as well on June 9th, 2008. To add injury to insult the Grand Forks Herald buried the story on page 6 of section A, I guess they felt it wasn't worthy of being a front page news story. Disgusting!

Disorderly conduct charge against Oshie dismissed

Herald Staff Report

Published Tuesday, June 24, 2008

A misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct against former UND hockey player T.J. Oshie was dismissed last month, according to court documents.

Oshie and Mike Radja, a hockey player from New Hampshire, were arrested in the early morning hours of Dec. 30 and charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly urinating in an elevator in a building at 100 N. Third St. in downtown Grand Forks, according to court documents. The two were part of a group of people trapped in the elevator.

The charge against Oshie was dismissed May 23, as part of a "compromise," according to the court file. According to the North Dakota Century Code, a misdemeanor charge can be resolved through compromise if the injured person -- in this case, the property owner -- has legal remedy through a civil action, or if they say they've been compensated for whatever injury was incurred. A compromise isn't possible under statute if the offense was against a judge or a law

enforcement officer, if it was committed with the intent to commit a felony or if it's a case of domestic violence.

The charge against Radja was dismissed June 9, according to court records.

Oshie, who signed a three-year deal with the St. Louis Blues in May, was one of 10 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists as a UND junior and was named a first-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

There was a lot said about Tiger Woods saying that no one watches hockey. Nothing like telling everyone what is on your mind or how you feel about something.

JULIUS MASON: Mr. Woods, Julius Mason here. We're joined by about 75 of your closest friends and I think off the top of their head they have one burning question for you, Detroit or Pittsburgh tonight? In the Stanley Cup finals. (Laughter.)

TIGER WOODS: That's pretty good. I don't really care, let's talk about the Dodgers. (Laughter.)

JULIUS MASON: Politically correct as always and that's what we ?

TIGER WOODS: I don't think anybody really watches hockey any more. (Laughter.)

While I was disappointed with Tiger Woods for making those silly statements about hockey, I do believe Tiger is a world class athlete has earned the right to speak out. For most of us Tiger Woods is a role model and based on that fact I did expect maybe just a little more from him. Come on Tiger the Dodgers suck and are just about as bad as the Kings in my opinion.

Personally I have a lot of respect for Tiger Woods whether he makes these silly comment or not. Face it; there is no denying the fact Tiger is the best golfers to ever lace up a pair of golf shoes, Tiger is the Wayne Greztky of golf. Bum knee or not he is one of the best athletes in the game of golf right now, the game of golf will suffer because of his absence. Few if any other golfers come even close to being as talented or as athletic as Tiger. Yes golfers are athletes. Very few of are probably even worthy of carrying his bag on the course.

Tiger will probably go down as one of the best the game of golf will ever know. In my opinion, no one can match Tiger's metal toughness or talent on the golf course. Not Phil, Sergio Ernie or Jack. That being said it was a mistake for Tiger to disrespect the game of hockey. Maybe we should send the Boggey man over the boards after him. Not!

Of course then ex-Boston Bruin Mike Milbury then responded by calling Tiger a Wuss.

You know what? I'm gonna change the name now. It's gonna be Tiger Wuss. Here's a guy that took about three months to get over a simple arthroscopic surgery. You look at [Pens forward] Ryan Malone. His face exploded with a slap shot last night - he's back out in 10 minutes!

"Keep your yap shut, Tiger, or I'll send a couple of wingers down there - [Pens forward] Gary Roberts - to tidy you up a little bit, meat head."

Now we find out that Tiger Woods was hurt more than he lead on. Tiger Woods announced today that he is done for the rest of the 2008 season.

Woods explained why today when he revealed he will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee that he injured 10 months ago.

He also suffered a double stress fracture of his left tibia two weeks before the U.S. Open, ignoring doctors' advice to take six weeks off to let it heal. And he still won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, going 91 holes over five days on a knee that was getting worse.

"Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee," Woods said on his Web site.

The Bruins have won the Blake Wheeler sweepstakes and will sign him to a professional contract on the 1st of July. Yeah OK, good for Blake Wheeler. Personally I am happy for Blake but I don't ever see him playing in a Claude Julien system. If Brandon Bochenski isn't good enough to play for the Bruins how in the heck is Wheeler going to make the line up on a regular basis? Coach Julien is a task member that has no patience for players that don't work hard and give 100 percent on each shift. Just for the record Blake Wheeler wasn't half the player Brandon Bochenski was in college.

Blake Wheeler, the highly-sought winger from the University of Minnesota, has advised his agent to finalize terms of a contract with the Bruins, a two-year deal that won't be made official until July 1, in keeping with NHL bylaws that govern the movement and signing of unrestricted free agents.

"More than 20 NHL teams were interested in Blake, and this was a very tough decision,'' said Wellesley-based agent Matt Keator, who also represents Boston captain Zdeno Chara. "And ultimately it came down to a few things for Blake, but mostly that he was comfortable with where the Bruins were headed as an organization — how this year they brought along kids like David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Mark Stuart. They've done a good job of developing kids, and he wants to continue along that line.''

Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli, reached via email, wrote that he was pleased that Wheelers chose the Bruins. "Of course, '' added Chiarelli, "we can't sign him until July 1, but we look forward to getting him in the mix. Any time you can get a young player of Blake's caliber with that blend of size and skill, you are very fortunate.''

Wheeler, 21 years old and 6 feet 4 inches, 220 pounds, was drafted No. 5 overall by the Coyotes in 2004 and long has been considered a potential power forward in the NHL. Just over a month ago, in the wake of his junior season with the Golden Gophers, he announced that he would turn pro and intended to exercise the right to be a free agent if he could not come to contract terms with the Coyotes.

Only in rare instances do college players become free agents. But Wheeler, because he played a year of junior hockey before joining UMinn, was eligible to exercise his right to become UFA prior to July 1, because four years had lapsed since his draft day. Once officially a free agent as of June 8, he began to field bids from around the league, and just last week cut down to four teams — believed to be the Bruins, Canadiens, Rangers, and either the Devils or Wild.

<-Read the rest of the story here ->

A couple of season's ago the Fighting Sioux experienced a mass exodus of players as they lost an unprecedented 5 underclassmen ( Travis Zajac, Jordan Parise, Matt Smaby, Drew Stafford and Rastislav Spirko). Fast forward to this offseason; it would appear the Sioux losses stand at two players (Taylor Chorney and T.J. Oshie). While the two players we lost are big contributers it would appear that the losses are not going to be as bad as it could have. So I guess you can say that Fighting Sioux fans got some great news today as it was announced that Joe Finley plans on coming back to UND for his senior season. While Finley fans will be excited to know we get big Joe for one more season; I am sure there will be a few of the haters will say that big Joe is nothing more than a goon, he has slow foot speed, plus minus numbers mean nothing or a is just a pylon. The haters are just going to have to get over it.

Finley plans to return

Brad Elliott Schlossman Grand Forks Herald

UND's goaltenders, who have a combined one college start under their belts, got some help Tuesday night.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association plus-minus leader Joe Finley said he called UND coach Dave Hakstol to say he plans to return for his senior season.

Finley, a defenseman who was a first-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals, has led the Sioux in plus-minus the last two seasons and led the league with a plus-24 rating as a junior.

The Edina, Minn., native also contributed offensively. He scored four goals and added 11 assists last year, more than doubling his output from his first two seasons.

In case you're wondering why I am excited to see big Joe return to the Fighting Sioux, here are some of the high lights from Big Joe career at UND.

Big Joe scoring against the Denver Pioneers...

Big Joe making Alex Kangas look like a silly.

Big Joe introduing himself to Jacke Skille...

Former Fighting Sioux Taylor Chorney made the Hot List, not to be confused with the hot or not list. Sounds like Hockey East has a few awesome recruits coming in. I only included the ones that are relevant to college hockey and the WCHA.

The Hot List: Combing through the combine

1. Colin Wilson, C -- Boston U. Terriers (Hockey East): You can read my draft combine blog for the gory details, but Wilson essentially owned the day, powering through drills and doing it all with a confident grin. If anyone helped his draft stock, it was Wilson. Draft eligible in 2008.

6. Jimmy Hayes, RW -- Lincoln Stars (USHL): The Boston College commit had a fantastic combine, which should help his draft status. Currently pegged as a late second- or third-rounder, expect him to go a bit higher now. Draft eligible in 2008.

7. Alex Goligoski, D -- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL): While the Big Pens duel Detroit for the Stanley Cup, the Baby Pens are taking on Chicago for the Calder Cup and Goligoski is front and center. Though his team is down 2-0 in the series, the defenseman has already set an AHL record for most points by a blueliner in one post-season with 26, including points on all six Wilkes-Barre goals in the final so far. Drafted 61st overall by Pittsburgh in 2004.

9. Taylor Chorney, D -- North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA): Technically, Chorney's NCAA days are done. The standout defenseman has been confirmed for the Edmonton Oilers development camp on the weekend and a signing is imminent. Drafted 36th overall by Edmonton in 2005.

10. Aaron Ness, D -- Roseau Rams (Minn. HS): Ness showed just how fit a 5-foot-10, 170-pound teenager can be at the draft combine and likely quelled any fears NHL teams had about his size. The University of Minnesota commit can skate and stickhandle with the best of them and is likely a mid to late first-rounder. Draft eligible in 2008.

13. Tim Kennedy, LW -- Michigan State Spartans (CCHA): Another new Sabres signee, Kennedy led the Spartans in all major offensive categories this season. The 5-foot-9 winger also led State in scoring the previous year and is originally from Buffalo, so now he gets a homecoming. Drafted 181st overall by Washington

I have seen this article a few places and the rule changes don't surprise me. What does it mean for WCHA fans? In the WCHA the Rules will change on paper but the status quo is not going to change. You will see no changes except that fact that there are now two men in strips wearing the orange band.

In other words, the fans in the WCHA are going to see two officials calling the same horrible game the same way they did last season before the rules were changed. If you think I am wrong, fine! I am here to tell you that you have been for warned.

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee mandated the use of the two-referee, two-linesman system for all levels of NCAA hockey this season.

The decision was part of an emphasis for the committee on allowing players to "use their speed and skill to create scoring opportunities."

All rules proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets July 2 via conference call.

"The committee strongly believes that having one officiating system for all levels of college hockey is the right decision," said John Harrington, secretary-editor of the committee and outgoing head coach at St. John's. "In today's game, two referees and two linesmen are necessary to properly enforce our rules."

I personally think in the WCHA the extra officials could be a serious detriment to the game of college hockey, especially in the WCHA. Maybe the other leagues can do it but I don't expect much from the WCHA. I am being serious folks. Present day the leadership in the WCHA can't seem to find enough competent officials for one official per game, how in the hell are they going to be able to find two competent and qualified to refs to have two per game? Not with current WCHA leaders Greg Shepherd and Bruce McCloud in charge of the league. The first thing they need to do is admit there is a problem and they see no problem from their perspective. The leagues can not double the work force in the WCHA without seriously damaging the integrity of the games in the WCHA. Maybe the CCHA will loan us a few of their league officials.

Protection of the puck carrier and faceoff protocols were identified as the committee's points of emphasis. The committee believes officials have properly handled obstruction away from the puck, but believes the puck carrier must be afforded more opportunities to make offensive plays.

In the area of faceoffs, the committee will continue to emphasize the administration of the line change procedure and increase the enforcement of interference and obstruction fouls immediately after a faceoff.

Yeah ok! The league officals are now going to enforce the obstruction because they got an memo from the NCAA rules committee. I don't believe it. I mean seriously, the WCHA didn't call the obstruction last year; what makes anyone think they will improve with two officials on the ice?

The committee forwarded several major proposals intended to enhance the game:

* Goals scored by kicking. In the aftermath of the controversy in last April's NCAA championship game, where a Notre Dame goal was disallowed, the committee spent a considerable amount of time discussing goals that are scored with the use of the skate. To make this rule as clear as possible, the group proposed adjustments to its rules that will allow all goals scored as a result of deflections. This will include deflections off an attacking player who is in the act of stopping, provided neither skate is used to direct the puck into the net. Pucks that are directed or kicked with the skate moving toward the goal will not be allowed.

* Shootout. Last year, the committee said it was moving towards eliminating ties from college hockey. But after considerable time for feedback from coaches, there was little consensus on what the change should be, or if there should be any. Thus, the committee voted to maintain the traditional game structure (60 minutes, followed by a five-minute overtime), but will allow interested conferences to use shootouts at their discretion. This will in no way alter national rankings or the NCAA championship selection process.

* Icing. The committee approved a proposal dealing with icing. The rule will not allow a team that ices the puck to change its on-ice personnel.

* Faceoff locations. Starting next season, all faceoffs will be conducted at one of the nine faceoff spots.

A full listing of the committee's proposals will be distributed to the NCAA membership for comment. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel will consider these changes and membership feedback before final implementation.

I like the icing rule that will make the NCAA more like the NHL. Also expect push back from the WCHA league office, as the league commish and head of officials don't see any problem with the status quo and will not enforce the rules as they are written. Expect the status quo to remain the same.

Others take on the issue

Blog that Yost Built

Western College Hockey

Mlive.com

Here is a rumor that is gaining some traction on the Internet. All I can say if Mark Parish it has been nice knowing you. The Wild GM can not continue to flounder around and he has to make some decent moves to keep the Wild in the hunt. I can only dream of the possibilities or Gabby and Oli on the same line.

Jokinen talks may be heating up

By Brian Biggane

(read the whole article right here)

With the league holding its General Managers meetings in Detroit today, there are reports that several teams are lining up to talk to Jacques Martin about Panthers captain Olli Jokinen.

Eklund reports on hockeybuzz.com that Calgary, Minnesota and Vancouver could be among the frontrunners in offering what he terms "MAJOR packages to get Olli to move north."

We wrote back in early April about the Calgary and Vancouver rumors. Of course, Mike Keenan and Jokinen still have a fondness for one another and the Flames are likely to lose their top center if Daymond Langkow becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1. Jokinen would certainly be considered an upgrade on Langkow and finally give Jarome Iginla a top center to play alongside.

Vancouver is only a few weeks into the regime of new GM Mike Gillis, but major moves are anticipated. And remember, Scott Mellanby just became a consultant to Gillis. Mellanby and Jokinen played together and the two have a mutual admiration.

Minnesota is a newcomer to the mix but after a couple of playoff disappointments there's a sense the Wild want to make changes. Brian Rolston is headed for UFA status and GM Doug Risebrough may want to make a statement to convince him to stick around.

So what might be coming the other way? Calgary has an excellent blueline and might be willing to offer a high-end guy who could play alongside Jay Bouwmeester, thus perhaps enticing Bouw to sign that long-term deal Martin has been dangling for months. Vancouver may have soured on the Sedin twins; there were rumors Martin tried to get both for Jokinen at the trade deadline. Minnesota? Start with Mark Parrish, throw in a first-round draft pick and you're in the ballpark.

Sounds like there might actually be something to this story. I found this on-line tonight and as it appears that Barry Melrose might very well be the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Lighting. This has the possibility of being a interesting story and Melrose would add a lot of color, mullets and flair to the Tampa Bay organization.

Melrose Place? Drama Surrounds Bolts' Coaching Spot

By CARTER GADDIS and ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

John Tortorella's tenure as the Lightning's coach will end when Oren Koules is approved as the team's new owner next month, according to a source close to the Lightning.

For more than a month, speculation has centered on ESPN commentator and former Los Angeles Kings coach Barry Melrose as a replacement if Tortorella does not coach Tampa Bay in the final season of his contract.

The Toronto Star reported Friday that Melrose will be paid $2 million annually.

Melrose, who has worked at ESPN since 1996 and last coached in the NHL in 1995, gave a soft denial Friday during an appearance on ESPN's "SportsCenter."

"This is no different than any of the last 10 years," said Melrose, who was seen in Koules' company Monday in Detroit during the Stanley Cup finals. "I've been contacted by a handful of clubs every year since joining ESPN. My desire to coach again has never been a secret, but I love what I do at ESPN. ... I want to coach again in the NHL. But nothing's going on. Uh, I work for ESPN and I'm very happy working for ESPN."

Tortorella, who replaced Steve Ludzik as Lightning coach in 2001 and guided the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 2004, declined to comment through a team spokesman Friday.

At the end of this past season, Tortorella discussed the possibility of stepping down with General Manager Jay Feaster after the Lightning failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Feaster rejected the notion, and Tortorella, the all-time leader in NHL victories among American-born coaches, went on to coach Team USA in the World Hockey Championships.

(Read the rest of the story here)

The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Anssi Salmela this the same guy that David Backes beat the snot out of during he 2008 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships. It makes me wonder if Backes and Salmela will take another dance this next season? Gary Betteman announced this past winter that "every team will play every other team at least once."

Hopefully next time Salmela gets into a fight on the ice he will learn to drop his stick.

Devils sign defenseman Anssi Salmela New Jersey Devils May 30, 2008, 12:24 PM EDT newjerseydevils.com -- The Devils today signed defenseman Anssi Salmela to his first North American contract. The announcement was made by Devils' President/CEO/ General Manager Lou Lamoriello. As per club policy, no further terms were disclosed.

Salmela, 23, recorded 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points while appearing in all 56 games with Tappara (Fin.) in 2007-08. Among defensemen, his 16 goals scored were tops in the Finnish League. Salmela returned to Tappara this past season after spending nearly two years with the Pelicans (Fin.).

The 5-11, 190-lb. defenseman previously played two-plus seasons with Tappara beginning in 2003-04. Salmela's Finnish League totals show 36 goals and 42 assists for 78 points and 208 penalty minutes in 226 appearances. His European teammates included former Devils' forward Janne Ojanen (Tappara) and current prospect Vili Sopanen (Pelicans).

Internationally, Salmela represented Finland at the 2004 World Junior Championship and, most recently, the 2008 World Championship in Quebec City, Que., and Halifax, N.S.