HBIC YIR - Part One

Time certainly has flown this year as we're two days away from recycling those 2010 calendars hanging on walls and posted on desks. Hockey has seen some great things this year, and we've also lost some icons that made the sport much better with their presence. We've seen players emerge as superstars and we've seen superstars fall to below-average play. All of this is actually a statement about the game - it's fluid, and it's constantly changing and evolving through each shift, each game, and each season. Today, HBIC looks back on the first six months of the year, and the important stories that came from January to the end of June.

January Highlights

• January 1: We start every year off right with the NHL's Winter Classic, and the January 1, 2010 game was certainly memorable as the Philadelphia Flyers visited the Boston Bruins in historic Fenway Park. What a great day of hockey!
• January 2: Switzerland's World Junior Championship team pulls off a massive upset as they defeated Russia 3-2 to beat the Russians for the first time in history at the WJC.
• January 5: The 2010 World Junior Championship is decided in overtime as American John Carlson ends Canada's streak with his goal to give Team USA the gold medal. Great game, and a very impressive showing by America's best young hockey talent.
• January 21: If you've been following this blog, you know I'm a big fan of Frank McClelland's newest equipment invention. January 21 was the first time I was lucky enough to speak to Frank and bring to light what would eventually be his Skate Fenders product. A very interesting story to see how the plastic skate guards got started!
• January 23: I arrive in Minneapolis for the US Pond Hockey Championships, and the weather was very un-winter for the tournament. Strange weather is nothing new on the prairies, but January is rarely a month known for rain. Great uniforms seen at the tournament, and a few great stories!
• January 25: I express my disappointment with the NHL's stance on protecting its players after a major incident in the QMJHL.
• January 29: I bring to light the story of Alton White, the first professional black hockey player to record 20 or more goals in a season as well as the first professional black hockey player to record a hat trick in a professional game. Since it happened in the WHA, no one seems to care that he doesn't get this recognition. But I do.

February Highlights

• February 5: The hockey world stops for a few moments to grieve the loss of Brendan Burke, Brian Burke's son. Brendan worked as student manager for the hockey team while attending the University of Miami (Ohio), but made headlines when he announced to the world that he was a gay man. And I still believe in my words: "Being gay doesn't change who he is or how much respect I have for him. Nor should it change you."
• February 13: Phil Hecken of Uni Watch Blog and I take a look at what each team will be wearing at the Olympics. Some uniforms are good. Others are not.
• February 14: I discuss some of the ways that women's hockey at the Olympics can fix blowouts between the elite teams and the rest of the field. I still feel that getting more women involved from the other countries will make the game stronger.
• February 21: Team USA plays a much more complete game in the round-robin at the Olympics and beats Canada soundly. I'm hard on Canada and praise the Americans. And this will only set up the inevitable.
• February 28: The Goal. Need I say anything more? I take a look at the 2010 Winter Olympics as a whole, and celebrate "The Goal.

March Highlights

• March 4: Frank McClelland returns with some updates on his Skate Fenders. I'm truly a fan of Mr. McClelland's and LSSU's work, and this product is something that players should really look into for their own health.
• March 11: HBIC renews its commitment to the Vancouver Olympics by giving the sport of sledge hockey as much coverage as possible. I really like this sport, and there have been some excellent games as of late as a number of countries have improved in this sport.
• March 18: One of the countries that has improved? Japan. They defeated the heavily-favoured Canadian squad by a 3-1 score in the semi-final to earn a berth in the gold medal final. If you haven't seen a game of sledge hockey in your life, you're missing out.
• March 21: The 2010 Women's Frozen Four wrapped up in style as there were some incredible games played by the NCAA women. Congratulations go out to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs who captured their fifth NCAA Championship!
• March 30: The 2010 CIS Men's Hockey Championship wrapped up, and the Canadian collegiate champions are the Saint Mary's Huskies! Canadian collegiate hockey, while not as prolific as NCAA hockey, is certainly one of the places where NHL teams can find some hidden talent. There are lots of good players studying across Canada!

April Highlights

• April 4: The Alberta Pandas, the women's CIS hockey team, pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in the history of the CIS as they defeated the McGill Marlets in the CIS Championship game to be called "Canada's best".
• April 5: Columbus Blue Jackets' forward RJ Umberger calls out the Washington Capitals, and makes a prediction for the playoffs about the Capitals' chances of going all the way. A number of people wrote Umberger off, but read his comments. Hockey players know hockey.
• April 10: The Boston College Eagles defeat the Wisconsin Badgers and capture the 2010 NCAA Men's Hockey Championship. The win was a great effort for a team that many didn't pick to win the championship, but the Eagles captured their fourth championship!
• April 18: I'm fairly harsh towards Hockey Canada and the effort put forth at the World U-18 Championships. I like Canadian hockey, but I hate lack of effort.
• April 27: The NHLPA decides to change the Lester B. Pearson Award to the Ted Lindsay Trophy. More hockey history is being killed, and I'm not happy about it.
• April 30: In the same fashion I criticized Hockey Canada's efforts in the U-18 Tournament, I rip the Washington Capitals for their lack of hard work. Another exit far too early in the playoffs, and the Capitals spend more time on the golf course.

May Highlights

• May 3: The KHL crowns a champion as Ak Bars Kazan won their second KHL Championship in consecutive seasons. While there are still major differences between the NHL and KHL, it appears that Kazan is becoming the "Detroit Red Wings" of the KHL.
• May 7: I found a great article in Popular Science from 1935 about the game of hockey! It's a very good read with lots of pictures, but it goes to show that some magazines were covering hockey before it was popular!
• May 14: A reader by the name of Chelsea sent me a great email about head trauma suffered by hockey players. She makes some excellent points in her email, and there are several NHL players who echo her sentiments.
• May 23: The Czech Republic snaps the Russian's 27-game winning streak at the World Championships, and captured the World Championship title! Jaromir Jagr's reason for winning? "They had stars and we had guys who play in the Czech Republic, but this shows that talent doesn't matter - you have to work hard." Hard work, kids. I can't say it enough.
• May 25: I still have no clue as to what happened to the Charlie Conacher Memorial Trophy that was awarded annually to an NHL player. Any ideas?
• May 28: Damian Cox goes absolutely loopy with his suggestion that the Chicago Blackhawks change their logo because it's offensive. Cox stirring the pot? Nothing new.

June Highlights

• June 1: A fabulous video from the National Film Board of Canada shows off a ton of Quebec Nordiques history. This video is amazing!
• June 7: More videos are posted, this time of the WHA in all its spectacular glory. I really wish I had more WHA video. Note this foreshadowing. It will come in handy next week.
• June 9: The Chicago Blackhawks are your 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Champions. They dispatched the Philadelphia Flyers in six games to capture their first Stanley Cup in 49 years. To the victors go the spoils!
• June 14: The AHL's Hershey Bears stand atop the pile of AHL teams as they capture the 2010 Calder Cup as AHL Champions! The Bears defeated the Texas Stars in six games to capture their second consecutive Calder Cup. Well done, Bears!
• June 22: In what seems like a crime against humanity, the Hockey Hall of Fame finally allowed women to be eligible to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Women's hockey has its detractors, but the pioneers of the sport deserve their kudos as much as the men.
• June 28: More amazing hockey video is found through the National Film Board of Canada's website as we see the UBC Thunderbirds heading to China to help grow the game in the Communist country. This is another amazing video that shows how significantly-different cultures can work together to grow the game.

So there are the highlights from the first six months of HBIC's 2010. I really had a great time writing this year, and the interactions with you, the readers, are what makes this so rewarding. I love reading other opinions and ideas, and I encourage you to continue to email, comment, friend me on Facebook, and whatever else you to do to send me your hockey thoughts.

More tomorrow as we review the year that was from July to December!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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Sweet Home Alabama

Despite me being back in the saddle here at HBIC, I am proud to bring another reader's article to you today. I don't get a lot of opportunities to cover NCAA hockey since the only games that are broadcast in my area are UND Sioux games. I'm not complaining about those, but there are a large number of teams that I'd really like to see on TV thanks to the power of the Internet and word-of-mouth marketing. Today, Mr. Aaron Duncan brings to us the story of one team that has seen its ascension into Division-I NCAA hockey come with its fair share of hurdles and obstacles.

Aaron is a major sports fan. He has a major collection of baseball caps, loves the beauty of the 6-4-3 double-play, and appreciates the game of hockey at the collegiate level. Today, Aaron brings to us the story of the University of Alabama-Huntsville hockey program. Honestly, it's quite an intriguing look at a collegiate program where one wouldn't suspect a top-flight hockey program exists. Here's Aaron!

If you’re like me, the first place you think about when you think of ice hockey is Huntsville, Alabama. Wait... Alabama? Ok, let me re-phrase that, the last place you think about is Huntsville, Alabama. As odd as that seems, the University of Alabama in Huntsville is home to the Chargers, an NCAA Division-I ice hockey program, and a pretty good one at that.

Collegiate sports have always fascinated me more than the pros, and hockey is no exception. My first exposure to NCAA hockey was with various teams in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, but, living in southeast Missouri, teams like North Dakota and Minnesota seemed so far away and non-accessible. I began to study the other conferences looking to see if there were any teams closer to home, but did not find a "home team". I did find one interesting geographic anomaly and that was the UAH Chargers. As I began delve deeper into the Chargers story, I began to realize how easy it is to become a sentimental fan of these underdogs.

The UAH program began as a club team in the Southern Collegiate Hockey Association in 1979 and won the SCHA championship their first three year in existence. The Chargers obtained NCAA varsity status in 1985, and competed in Division-II until the NCAA closed it after the 1986-87 season. This development forced the program to move up to Division-I. UAH operated as an independent team at this level until the reinstatement of Division II for the 1992-93 season. It was during this period that the Chargers developed a serious rivalry with the Bemidji State University Beavers. The two teams fought it out for the NCAA title for several years in a row, with the Chargers winning their first national championship in 1995 and followed up with another title in 1998.

The NCAA again shut down Division-II at the start of the 1998-99 season forcing the Chargers to move to Division-I again as an independent. The following season, UAH joined with Army, Air Force, Bemidji State, and Niagara to form the College Hockey America conference. Again, the Chargers continued to win, making six appearances in CHA Tournament finals and winning the conference championship twice. Due to this, they also earned two trips to the NCAA Division-I tournament, including this past season. They have even been awarded the right to host the 2012 “Frozen Four Tournament” in Tampa, Florida.

Sadly from this point on, the fate of the UAH program is in question. The CHA ceased operations at the end of the 2009-2010 season with four teams leaving for other conferences. Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji State have joined the WCHA, while Robert Morris and Niagara are joining Atlantic Hockey. UAH made an application to join the CCHA conference but, by a vote of acclimation, were denied entry and this is where things start to get troublesome.

The CCHA commissioner, Tom Anastos, issued the following statement in a news release, "The league completed its due diligence of the application for membership submitted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville with careful consideration and discussion of various issues. At this time we have chosen to maintain our membership at its current level The CCHA will remain focused on maintaining and strengthening our existing members to ensure the conference’s continued success and long-term viability." This is a long winded way of saying nothing so speculation as to their intent is wide spread.

While searching various blogs and articles on the matter I have come across a few theories for the UAH denial. The first theory is that it would be cost prohibitive for the smaller conference teams to have to travel to Huntsville for games. The CCHA just lost Nebraska-Omaha to the WCHA. This is a team with a similar distance from the majority of its former CCHA members as the Chargers would be if accepted into the conference. Perhaps the CCHA is wanting to see how finances are across the conference without the travel expenses they have had in the past. It is even rumored that UAH had offered to help offset the additional travel expense to the other teams, but if that’s the case, it did not help their bid for membership.

Another theory is that the CCHA is holding out for a possible Big-10 hockey conference. If six of the Big-10 teams are active in a varsity sport they would be able to organize under the Big-10 name. This would also pull teams from the WHCA. Of course, after the last round of NCAA conference adjustments this did not come to play, but could still be a future possibility.

The theory that seem to currently have the most strength is that the CCHA is holding out for Penn State, who are working on moving their men’s and women’s programs up from the club level to Division-I. Now I personally find this hard to stomach if it is the case. To turn away an established program with a competitive record behind them and proven facilities for a higher-profile name that doesn’t have any experience at this level is complete nonsense.

Probably the most emotional of theories is that it is simply a matter of regional clique. Like it or not, many in the ice hockey community look down on any organization that forms in the south. I have noticed this even as high as the NHL where teams like Florida, Phoenix, and Dallas have a hard time getting the same respect the northern teams do. I think this line of thought is more an emotional knee-jerk reaction than actual fact.

As it stand now, the Chargers will be operating as an independent which will be very difficult this day and age. Without conference backing, it will be difficult to schedule games. They will have play teams during available non-conference times. There will also be a serious lack of media coverage and available scholarships. This will seriously hurt their chances in recruiting talent. These factors will make it very difficult - if not impossible - to maintain operations without a conference home in today’s economy.

So what we are faced with is a hockey program with 25 years of winning experience and a proven fan base that is on the verge of extinction due to outside factors they have little to no control over. A conference, the CCHA, that could come out of this with "egg on their face" should the UAH program fold, and the reputation of collegiate hockey, who face the possibility of their host team for the Division-I tournament closing down prior to the event, are in serious jeopardy of looking like a second-rate outfit rather than the highest standard of American developmental hockey. It’s sad and infuriating, but at the present we have little choice but to wait and see. I hope and pray that the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers are able to find a home soon. It would be a true shame to see so much hard work and pride just vanish for no better reason that pure politics and money.

Wow! What an excellent article! Thank you, Aaron, for your passionate look at UAH hockey!

Let's get to the meat of this article: the existence of UAH hockey. Should they have a team in the CCHA? Yes. Very much so. But, as Aaron pointed out, this is not the case. The history that the Chargers have written in the NCAA's various Divisions would put them on the same level as that of Maine, Boston College, and Denver, yet they have little to show for their efforts. And, as Gross Misconduct's 2009 article states, this move to exclude UAH could be "the first domino to fall in what could prove to be a herd-thinning situation in college hockey".

I want you all to click this link which will take you to the "Save UAH Hockey" page. The link is the "How to help" section, and the authors give a ton of excellent suggestions to show that UAH hockey is more than just some random collegiate sport. It means a great deal to the University of Alabama-Huntsville, the community, its fans, and the people that work for, with, and around the team.

Thanks again, Aaron, for bringing this to my attention, and I really hope that the UAH team will exist in 2012 to host the Frozen Four. I'll do my part, and help the team out by following the suggestions on the linked page. I hope you will as well!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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From Walk-On To MVP

Every year in hockey, there are a number of excellent stories that seemingly slip below the radar in terms of their importance not only in the scope of the game, but to the millions of kids and teenagers out there who are toiling as hockey players. The player to the left, Shawn Hunwick, is entirely one of those great stories that doesn't get a lot of fanfare, but really needs to be told so that everyone has a greater appreciation for what he has accomplished. And his accomplishment might just prompt one of those kids who doesn't get a scholarship to keep plugging away at what he or she loves.

Shawn Hunwick was born on April 9, 1987 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The diminutive kid played one season in the North American Hockey League with the Alpena IceDiggers where he posted a respectable 17-9-2 record with a 3.06 GAA in 2006-07. Not bad for a goaltender who only stood at 5'7", making him shorter than most goaltenders by today's standards. And certainly small by Michigan head coach Red Berenson's standards.

However, Hunwick stayed true to his passion, and eventually earned a spot as a walk-on goaltender with the NCAA's Michigan Wolverines in 2007-08. While he saw action only in practice, he was beginning to turn heads on the ice. As Ryan Kartje of The Michigan Daily found out, his teammates believed in him as much as they did in starter Bryan Hogan in terms of carrying the team.

While it's foolish to believe that all walk-on players get a chance to play in the spotlight, there are a select few where it seems that fate smiles upon them. Being thrust into the limelight isn't easy for anyone, let alone a player who had just 20 minutes of action in three seasons of being part of the team, but this was the reality that Shawn Hunwick faced.

February 25, 2010 saw Bryan Hogan kick out a leg to make a save against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. While the save was of the routine nature, the result certainly was not. Hogan couldn't get back to his feet after pulling a groin muscle, and the hearts of all Wolverine fans sank. The 19-16-1 Michigan Wolverines had struggled up to that point, but losing their top goaltender only appeared to be impending doom for the remainder of the season.

Twenty straight NCAA men's hockey tournaments appeared to be coming to an end, and it was the worst season in Berenson's 26-year tenure as head coach. The kid with "ugly pads", as reader Sammy B. described them, was skating from the bench to the blue paint in the crease as the crowd let out a collective moan. I'm sure hearing that didn't make Hunwick any less nervous as he took over as the starter in a Michigan net.

If the young man was feeling his nerves, he certainly didn't show it against Notre Dame. Hunwick picked up his first NCAA win in a 4-0 shutout of the Fighting Irish. The second game of the two-game set went in South Bend, Indiana on February 27, and a couple of soft goals hurt the Wolverines as they lost 5-3. Hunwick was 1-1, and the Wolverines were the seventh-ranked team in the CCHA at 20-17-1 as the conference playoffs were about to begin.

Hunwick showed his resolve in helping the Wolverines knock off Lake Superior State in two games by scores of 5-2 and 6-0 to open the CCHA tournament. Michigan State was up next, and Hunwick again stared the odds down as Michigan knocked off their rivals by scores of 5-1 and 5-3. In four of the biggest games that any NCAA goalie will play in, Hunwick had only given up six goals while posting a 4-0 record with one shutout. Fans in Ann Arbor, Michigan began to believe. However, their biggest test still laid in front of the Wolverines.

Miami (Ohio) University, who boasted the CCHA Player of the Year in goaltender Cody Reichard, were the next foe standing in Michigan's path. Miami-Ohio was the top-ranked hockey program in the country, and had dismantled teams all season long on their way to being ranked #1 in the nation. Clearly, Hunwick's luck, and Michigan's Cinderella story, had to come to an end at the hands of the best team in the nation, right? 8,000+ fans in the Joe Louis Arena hoped it wasn't over.

Five Michigan goals, including three in the third period, put Reichard on the Miami-Ohio bench, and the Wolverines skated to a 5-2 win. The improbable had happened, and now Hunwick had everyone associated with the University of Michigan believing that the Wolverines' run was no fluke.

What a lot of people didn't realize was that if Michigan had lost any of their previous games, their run to the NCAA's Frozen Four Tournament was over. Losing to the RedHawks wouldn't have been a surprise, but the disappointment of not going to the big dance would have been painful. Instead, the Wolverines saw opportunity, grabbed it, and never let go against the top team in the nation. And because of that, they stood one win away from the most improbable run in college hockey in recent memory. And with a walk-on goaltender backstopping them to the CCHA Finals.

Northern Michigan stood between the Wolverines and destiny, and it appeared that neither team wanted to give the other an inch at Joe Louis Arena in front of 17,063 fans that were mostly pro-Wolverine.

Louie Caporusso put the Wolverines up 1-0 with 19.4 second to play in the second period while on the powerplay. Matt Rust had lost his stick while cycling the puck in the Wildcats' zone, and returned to the bench to retrieve another one. However, Caporusso jumped onto the ice and into the play. He received a pass from defenceman Brandon Burlon at the top of the right face-off circle, and ripped a wrist shot past NMU netminder Brian Stewart on the blocker side.

Caporusso struck again on the powerplay 8:53 into the third. Just seconds after hitting the goalpost himself with a shot, Caporusso deflected a Steve Kampfer shot from the high slot past Stewart to put the Wolverines up by a pair of goals.

Less than a minute later, NMU's Andrew Cherniwchan grabbed a loose puck just outside the crease as Hunwick was down, and he flipped the puck over Michigan's goaltender to make it a 2-1 game at 9:47 of the third period.

Including that shot, Hunwick only faced three shots in the third period as Michigan literally carried the play through the final frame. While Michigan outshot NMU by a 35-18 margin, Hunwick was called on to make some rather remarkable saves. NMU, however, could not get another puck past Hunwick, and the Wolverines - with their walk-on goaltender - won the game 2-1 to capture the CCHA Championship!

Because of his efforts through the CCHA tournament, Shawn Hunwick was named as the CCHA tournament's MVP. That's right: a kid who had only played 20 minutes in the previous three seasons, and only started one game in his NCAA career, was named the MVP of the CCHA tournament, and led his team to an improbable berth in the NCAA Frozen Four tournament.

While this seems like a fairy tale, it is entirely true, and it should be inspiration to every hockey player out there. Shawn Hunwick's storybook season isn't over just yet. Michigan will square off against Bemidji State on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the opening round of the NCAA Frozen Four tournament.

The amazing season that Michigan is having might just be hockey's best story of the year. And the main character of that story is a kid who has no hockey pedigree, no hockey scholarship, and what appeared to be no chance of playing for the Wolverines this season at all. Instead, Shawn Hunwick has become an inspiration for every hockey player out there who thinks they may not have a future. And Shawn Hunwick is the player that could still lead his team to an NCAA Championship.

Win or lose on Saturday, Shawn Hunwick will always be an inspiration to me for simply playing a game he loves. When given the chance, he has run with it, showing some incredible goaltending along the way.

The best part about Hunwick's story is that the ending is still unwritten, but the pen is in his hand. And that's what every kid wants: a chance to write his or her own fairy tale. Congratulations, Shawn, and HBIC is rooting for you this weekend!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

***Big thanks to Sammy B. for prompting me to research this story a little more. If you have a story that you'd like to see published, please feel free to email me with your story ideas!

Also, big thanks to James H. who caught my inglorious error on Miami-Ohio's school name! Stick tap to James and Sammy!***

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Epic Women's Final

To say that the final of the 2010 NCAA Women's Frozen Four today was a great game might be the understatement of the year. Today's game could rival the Canada-USA matchups that the women are used to seeing, and it was an absolute delight to see both Cornell and the University of Minnesota-Duluth laying it all on the line for collegiate hockey's biggest prize. While there has to be a loser at the end of the game, neither of these teams lost today if they were looking to attract fans to the women's game. But we'll get to the game in a second.

In case you may have missed it, the top-eight women's collegiate teams squared off on March 12 and 13 for the right to be called the nation's best team. The top-four teams were ranked, and the remaining teams were selected from the best teams around the country.

Elite Eight

Fourth-ranked Harvard drew Cornell in the first round on March 12, and the two teams met at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cornell jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period as Catherine White and Karlee Overguard scored markers for the Big Red. The Cornell onslaught continued in the second period as Laura Fortino, Melanie Jue, and Chelsea Karpenko paced the Big Red to a 5-0 lead midway through the period. Harvard got one back on the powerplay as Randi Griffin notched a goal, but Cornell quickly restored the five-goal lead when Kendice Ogilvie found the back of the net to make it 6-1. Leanna Coskren made it 6-2 in the third period, but Cornell advanced with a dominating performance, upsetting the fourth-seed in the tournament.

Top-ranked Mercyhurst drew Boston University in their opening game on March 13. Mercyhurst had the home-ice advantage as the game was played at the Mercyhurst Ice Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. Cassea Schols and Bailey Bram got the home squad out to a 2-0 lead after one period. Vicki Bendus added another early in the third period to give Merchyhurst the 3-0 lead before Tara Watchorn got Boston University on the board with a powerplay goal. However, Bailey Bram added her second of the game as insurance, and Mercyhurst advanced on a 4-1 victory.

Second-ranked University of Minnesota-Duluth faced off against New Hampshire in their opening game, and, like Merchyhurst, had a home-ice advantage as this game took place at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Jocelyne Larocque opened the scoring for the Bulldogs early in the first period, and UMD had the 1-0 lead. UNH's Micaela Long capitalized on a defensive zone turnover by UMD, and her goal tied the game 1-1. Rookie Jessica Wong scored the game-winner on the powerplay early in the third period, and the Bulldogs would advance on the 2-1 victory.

Third-ranked University of Minnesota matched up with Clarkson, and had home-ice advantage as they took to the ice at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Brittany Francis scored the only goal of the first period, but her marker gave the Golden Gophers the early lead. Emily West made it a two-goal lead late in the second period, and it appeared the Gophers might be in the driver seat. However, Melissa Waldie and Juana Baribeau scored third period goals for Clarkson, and this game was headed for overtime. With 3:09 to play in the overtime period, Emily West scored her second of the game for the game-winner, and Minnesota advanced to the Frozen Four weekend.

Frozen Four

Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota played host to all of the Frozen Four games, and the state of Minnesota had two teams left in the tournament. However, one of those teams would be eliminated after Friday's games, so the pride of Minnesota was on the line.

We'll start with top-ranked Mercyhurst who drew Cornell after the Big Red upset the Harvard Crimson in the opening round. Cornell played aggressively to open the first period, and were rewarded with the only goal of the frame when Laura Fortino buried a shorthanded rebound goal after teammate Karlee Overguard was stopped on a breakaway.

Mercyhurst's Kylie Rossler tied the game midway through the second period after a goal-mouth scramble that saw the puck cross the line. Meghan Corbett put Mercyhurst ahead when she ripped a loose puck into the back of the net just three minutes later, and they had a 2-1 lead.

Karlee Overguard evened the score for Cornell when she fired a rebound home on the Big Red's first shot of the period at 7:06. Neither team could notch another in regulation time, so it was off to overtime to determine a winner.

At 13:14 of overtime, what seemed like the impossible happened. Catherine White poked home a loose puck on a rebound off of Amber Overguard's initial shot. While the ladies celebrated, the officials went to a review to determine whether or not the puck had actually crossed the line. Minutes later, the celebration was official as White's goal stood, and Cornell advanced to the Frozen Four Final.

The all-Minnesota semi-final was a battle of bitter conference rivals. The second-ranked University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs faced off against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers with a trip to the final on the line.

UMD opened the scoring when Laura Fridfinnson wrapped the puck around the net and found some space. The 1-0 lead would last throughout the period, but it appeared this game may take on a very physical look as both teams didn't give an inch on the ice.

Emmanuelle Blais made it a 2-0 UMD lead at 12:55 of the second period as she deflected a Laura Fridfinnson shot past goaltender Noora Raty. Sarah Erickson cut the deficit to one goal when the Golden Gopher used a low slapshot to get the puck past Jennifer Harss after beating the defencemen. UMD led 2-1.

However, Blais and Fridfinnson teamed up to restore the two-goal lead with less than a minute left. Fridfinnson intercepted a pass near center ice and broke into the Gophers' zone. She left a drop pass for Blais in the slot, and she made no mistake as she went high on Raty's left side that the goalie couldn't stop. With Blais' second of the game, UMD was back on top by a 3-1 score.

Minnesota's Emily West scored with 54.3 seconds remaining in the third period to cut the lead to 3-2, but it was too little, too late for the Gophers. The UMD Bulldogs laid claim as the best team in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and they advanced to Sunday's final to face the upstart Cornell Big Red.

Frozen Four Final

The University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, the second-ranked team in NCAA women's hockey this season, played the Cornell Big Red for college hockey's top prize. Cornell had been underdogs in each of their previous games, and this game would be no different. UMD was looking to capture its fifth NCAA Championship in ten years.

Melanie Jue opened the scoring for Cornell with about six minutes to play in the second period. Her redirection of Lauriane Rougeau's slapshot from the point found its way through Jennifer Harss to give the Big Red a 1-0 lead.

UMD evened the game just 18 seconds into the third period on the powerplay. Emmanuelle Blais's initial shot was blocked by Rougeau, but Blais picked up the loose puck and fired a rocket past goaltender Amanda Mazzotta to tie the game at 1-1.

UMD took their first lead of the final with 5:18 remaining when Julie Rasmussen pinched in from the point and took a cross-ice feed from Saara Tuominen. Rasmussen's one-timer found the back of the net, and it appeared the Bulldogs were in control of the game.

However, Cornell's never-say-die approach paid off again for them. With 3:30 remaining, Cornell tied the game. Laura Fortino's shot from the high slot rang off the post, and the puck ended up loose in the crease. A scrum ensued, and Melanie Jue found the loose puck just outside the crease. Her backhander couldn't be stopped by Harss during the scramble, and the game was tied at 2-2.

The first overtime period solved nothing, despite both teams having excellent chances. The second overtime period was inconclusive as well, but both teams saw glorious opportunities in the fifth period. However, the golden goal would be scored in the sixth period of hockey.

At the end of a powerplay in the third overtime period, Tara Gray fired a slapshot from the point as the penalized Cornell player raced back into the play. Two UMD players were standing on the doorstep as the blast made its way towards the net, and rookie Jessica Wong got a stick on the blast to redirect the puck past Mazzotta with 33.6 seconds remaining!

With the victory, the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs are your 2010 NCAA Women's Hockey Champions! Congratulations to the Bulldogs on their fifth national title in the last decade, and to Emmanuelle Blais who was named as the tournament's MVP! Blais, a senior, finishes her NCAA career with 73 goals and 72 assists in 145 career games, and the Lasalle, Quebec native will undoubtedly look to crack Canada's roster in the future!

Another player who will be looking to crack Canada's roster in future years will be this year's Patty Kazmaier Award winner. Mercyhurst's Vicki Bendus, a native of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, was selected as the top woman in college hockey this season, beating out New Hampshire's Kelly Paton and Minnesota's Noora Raty. Bendus tied for the scoring lead in Division-I women's hockey with 65 points, scoring 28 goals and adding 37 assists. Congratulations to Vicki Bendus on a great season!

With that being said, the NCAA Men's Frozen Four Tournament is gearing up as we're only 18 days away. This year's Frozen Four event takes place in Detroit, Michigan, and the interactive bracket is here. The University of Miami-Ohio is the top-ranked team, the University of Denver is ranked second, the University of Wisconsin is ranked third, and Boston College rounds out the top-four teams. There are a number of excellent teams in this tournament, and my darkhorse pick looks like the University of North Dakota Sioux.

However, as seen in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, and the Women's NCAA Tournament above, anyone can beat anyone else in a single-elimination tournament, so the Frozen Four could be wide open as to who will win it all. It should be good, though, and I'm looking forward to a phenomenal event!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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Lots Of Chatter

There have been a number of stories that have been reported today from the various leagues across North America. Some deal with future events, some deal with relocation of teams to new cities and new leagues, and some are just cool stories. There was a suspension and a trade today, so we need to cover the business side of the game as well. With all the stuff that's been going on, let's get cracking on a busy day in the hockey world. I'll try to elaborate as much as possible on each story.

• Kari Lehtonen is now part of the Dallas Stars. Lehtonen lost his status as the top goaltender in Atlanta with the emergence of Ondrej Pavelec. Combine that with inconsistent play and a penchant for injuries, and the Thrashers gave up on him. Coming back to Atlanta from the Stars will be highly-touted defensive prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round pick. Not a bad deal for the Thrashers, but you have to wonder what may happen with Marty Turco and his UFA status approaching.
• Goaltender Ray Emery's hip may need surgery to correct his woes, and this has the Flyers worried with only Michael Leighton to man to the crease. With Turco's status in the air at this point, the talks may heat up between Dallas and Philly for the goaltender.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins have expressed interest in hosting the 2010-11 NHL All-Star Game in the brand-new Consol Energy Center slated to open next season. They have also expressed interest in hosting the NCAA's Frozen Four tournament with Robert Morris University. This would an excellent opportunity for the NHL and the NCAA to get into a market that will be buzzing due to the hockey activity.
• Team Canada breathed a huge sigh of relief today when it was announced that centerman Ryan Getzlaf's sprained ankle showed no significant ligament or muscle damage. There was talk of Getzlaf possibly missing the Winter Olympics with his injury, but it appears that he will be ready to go by the time the men's hockey tournament begins. Honestly, I'd take Getzlaf over Jeff Carter or Vincent Lecavalier at this point in the season any day of the week.
• The NHL will expand its kickoff weekend in Europe for the 2010-11 season by sending six teams to three European cities. The Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes will square off in the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic in what appears to be the best matchup. The San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets will tangle in the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. And in what seems like a poor choice of teams right now, the Carolina Hurricanes will meet the Minnesota Wild in the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland. The 'Canes and Wild will play October 7 and 8; the Jackets and Sharks will play on October 8 and 9; the Bruins and 'Yotes will play on October 9 and 10.
• The AHL's Albany River Rats appear to be on the move. According to reports, a press conference scheduled tomorrow will announce that the River Rats are moving closer to their NHL affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes, by moving into Charlotte, North Carolina. There's also word that the team will change their name from "River Rats" to "Checkers". There's no word on any other franchises moving into Albany at this time, but it seems that anything can happen in the AHL.
• Speaking of which, the Edmonton Oilers announced today that they are resurrecting their AHL franchise. The Edmonton Road Runners, who have been suspended for a couple of years now, will move to Oklahoma City for the 2010-11 season. Indications are that the management team of the former Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL will be brought onboard, and that the franchise will hold a "name the team" contest before the start of the next season. Edmonton's agreement with the Springfield Falcons will end as a result of this decision.
• Anaheim now sits as the only NHL franchise without an affiliate for the 2010-11 season in the AHL. Springfield could be a destination for this one season, but the Ducks already walked away from the Portland Pirates due to the immense distance between the teams. I think Springfield will be temporary, but only the Ducks know what they will do for the upcoming season.
  
• Down Goes Brown, an incredibly funny and smart blog, turns two years-old. Get over there and wish Sean some good wishes. And read his stuff. You won't be disappointed.
• Great story from the hockey world as Wendel Clark lends his name in helping the Chase McEachern Hockey for Heart Tournament in Alliston, Ontario. Chase was an 11 year-old boy who was diagnosed with an atrial flutter which caused him to be monitored whenever he played sports. He started a campaign to raise funds for schools and public places to purchase AEDs, or automated external defibrillators. Unfortunately, Chase lost his battle after collapsing in gym class. Anyone who raises $10,000 gets to participate in the game against the pros headlined by Clark in one of 14 Ontario communities! If you'd like to donate to an excellent cause, please head over to the Hockey For Heart website and give what you can. Your dollars will be a life-saver. Literally.
• Today's a big day in hockey history as well. Back in 1966, the NHL decided to double the size of the NHL by admitting six new expansion teams in their own division. The newly-formed West Division contained the California Seals, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues. The main motivation was money as the NHL looked to gain bigger television contracts like the NFL and MLB, but another factor that was growing behind the scenes was the rising of a rival hockey league. Of course, this expansion led to the NHL becoming the dominant hockey league on the planet, so this date in history is quite important.
• In a rather unfortunate story, the IHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks, the league's top team thus far this season, has announced that they will cease operations at the end of this season, ending a 50-year run of professional hockey in Muskegon. The Lumberjacks average only 2835 fans - good for third in overall attendance - but nowhere near the IHL's leader in the Fort Wayne Komets who average 8080 people per game.
• But with every dark cloud comes a silver lining. Indianapolis businessman Josh Mervis has announced that he will bring a USHL team to Muskegon for the 2010-11 season. The USHL features players ranging from 16-20 years of age. The new USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks was a franchise owned by the Mervises that was dormant for the last four years after closing its doors in Rochester, Minnesota. With Dubuque, Iowa joining the USHL next season as well, the USHL will feature 16 teams.
• Lastly, there's a new button on the right. I've decided that I need to keep up with the rest of the hockey world, and I've joined the Twitter revolution. This does not mean that I will "tweet" with reckless abandon, however. I simply post information that I find funny or relevant or both. If you want to get onboard with HBIC's Twitter movement, click the button on the right.

That's all for tonight, kids. I have a pile of work to do still, so I'm out. Drop me an email, "tweet" me, or leave a comment. I'll answer them all if possible!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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