Time for the NHL to go to the hybrid icing like the NCAA

Time for the NHL to reconsider their stance on the touch up icing. This could be prevented if the NHL adopts the Hybrid Icing, like the NCAA currently has. I think it's a no-brainier. Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen hits leg first into the end boards racing for the puck, Pitkanen is then taken off the ice on a stretcher.

UND’s Hakstol: “regionals pinnacle of our season and should be played in a great atmosphere.”

und v. usa (Photo credit: intersubjectiv)

This past weekend, UND played in the NCAAWest Regional tourney in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  If you watched the games you will see that the games were sparsely attended,just like I had predicted.

So the NCAA wants the teams to play in empty arena’s posing as quite mausoleums during prayer time.

Come to think of it, I have probably been to churches that are louder than last week’s West and Midwest regionals.

The announced attendance for Friday’s game between Niagara and UND was 2289 and for Saturday’s game, the announced attendance was 1918 fans.

Seriously!

If mathematically challenged, that’s a grand total for 4207 fans to see the NCAA West Regional hockey games for the weekend. My words, “that’s pathetic.” The NCAA should be ashamed. There are high school hockey tourneys in North Dakota that have more people attend them then this regional.

Today was the last press conference of the year for UND hockey head coach Dave Hakstol was asked about his thought on the NCAA tourney being played in building with atmospheres like last weekend’s regional in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

“The pinnacle of our season should be played in a great atmosphere,” Hakstol said. “I think the players that are involved in the national tournament deserve that. “I think It’s something that has garnered a fair amount of discussion over the last couple of year, but no action.” We have to fix things. We’re not doing this the right way at the regional level – to play in front of… I saw a stat within out program we had 5500 people on a live chat, and there was maybe 1500 people in a building watching a great hockey game between Yale and North Dakota on Saturday night. That’s not right. That’s the pinnacle and that’s the spotlight of our season. Yeah, we have to change things. Certainly, I would like to work towards doing that, sooner, rather than later. The best regionals that I have been involved in, that I can remember, atmosphere wise, was here, in 05-06, where we hosted, competitive environment. The regional in Minnesota; last year at the Xcel Energy Center; in front of 10,000 people, we came up one game short. Great atmosphere to play in, spotlight event, the way the national tournament game should feel. Third one would have been; at the Kohl Center, where the University of Wisconsin hosted. We had the good fortune of coming out of that regional. That was a tough game, there was about 15,000 people cheering against us and 1,000 of our fans with us, but that was atmosphere, and that’s the stage that our national tournament should be played on, we need to get back to one shape or form. “

It’s pretty clear that the UND’s head coach would rather play in a raucous, loud arena filled with passionate fans, even if they’re another fan bases’  than an empty arena, in a nameless town with empty seats posing as fans for the sake of having a regional championship at a neutral site, in an empty building on Saturday in March.  I agree.

Cross-posted at the Hockey Writers-Combine.

Danny Kristo News

Hamilton Bulldogs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is some Danny Kristo news that I found on a Montreal Canadian's blog, I had to use Google Translate because most of us "don't" speak french. [click for the link]

Season that second-round pick in 2008 and ends in the NCAA if we are to believe his remarks in an interview with Radio-Canada, Kristo wants to take his career in the organization of Canadians. Negotiations have even begun. We guess he will join the Hamilton Bulldogs to finish the season there.

In 38 games this season in North Dakota, Kristo has 51 points, including 25 goals. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker awarded to the player by college excellence in the United States.

And do not go into a criminal because at age 21 and he offered beer to his teammates 18, 19 years in a party

Related articles

• UND's Knight, Kristo among Hobey Baker Award Top 10 finalists (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• 2012-2013 Hobey Baker Award Preview (thehockeywriters.com)
• Stoykewych shocks UND in OT. (getrealhockey.com)
• UND Hockey: What Happened, day 2 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Union's Shayne Gostisbehere gets a five minute major for a shoulder-to-shoulder hit

First off, the hit was a little late as the ref was blowing the whistle, however, this doesn't appear to be a hit to the head. Barry Melrose opens his mouth and proves he knows little about hockey. The puck is at the forwards feet.

To me it looks like Union's Shayne Gostisbehere got a five minute major for a shoulder-to-shoulder hit. Guess who, WCHA on-ice officials Marco Hunt and Derek Shepherd officiating again. This officaiting crew is absolutely brutal, these two guys get the calls wrong, more times than they get it right, if I had to bet, it was Marco Hunt that made the call on this play as well, notice Derek Shepherd has already made the call on the Quinnipiac's Connor Jones, who was called for tripping.

I do agree, maybe it's time for the NCAA to review contact to the head calls. Seems like some of the officials are having one heck of a time getting the call right.

Maybe NCAA needs to video review contact to head calls. #UnionHockey 1, #QUHockey 5. #ECACHockey #NCAAHockey
— Ken Schott (@slapschotts) April 1, 2013

Funny you should mention that coach Jackson

Also, in his post-game presser, ND coach Jeff Jackson says something must be done about 1st-2nd rd NCAA sites. No atmosphere here or GR.
— Mike Eidelbes (@INCH) March 30, 2013

Funny that he should mention that, but I think I have been saying that all season long. I think I might have wrote about it as well.

Related articles

• NCAA hockey attendance 'adequate' (toledoblade.com)
• UND Hockey: What Happened, day 2 (thehockeywriters.com)

(Video) UND's No goal against Yale

When I first saw this goal, I had a feeling that it wouldn't count. I am not sure why it took seven-plus minutes to review this play, it's either there or it's not there. If you're a UND fan, you kind of feel bad for Connor Gaarder, because he went 15 games without scoring a goal and had four goals all season long, three in one game against the Boston University Terriers.

I would contend that this long review was a momentum killer, because going into the review, UND had the momentum as well.

When the review took seven-plus minutes, I had a bad feeling and I kind of knew that UND was not going to get the goal. I don't know, from past experience. If UND get's to a 2-0 lead over Yale, it's a different game. It's a tough ending to a pretty decent season.

DU fires George Gwozdecky

Grade-A source says George Gwozdecky did not resign. Forced out, terminated, for lack of NCAA success and failure to come to terms 4 ext
— Mike Chambers (@MChambersDP) April 1, 2013

I have to say that I am in an utter state of shock. I can't imagine not seeing Gwoz behind the DU bench next season or standing on the dasher. People that watch college hockey, know that George Gwozdecky is the face of the Pioneer program.

Gwozdecky vs. DU. He told me 2 weeks ago an extension was coming. Blow-up 2day at school in mtg. Only coach to win 20 games last 12 years
— Mike Chambers (@MChambersDP) April 1, 2013