Tuesday reading: Engelstad, CC seniors, Kerdiles, commits, web poll

As part of its NCAA deal, the Ralph Engelstad Arena removed some Sioux references (though certainly not all). Courtesy GOON’S WORLD.

The seven CC seniors have stepped forward into the leadership roles nicely through the first two weeks of the season.

Badgers freshman Nic Kerdiles will serve his suspension and stay at Wisconsin, easing fears he would bolt for the WHL.

Bemidji State adds a commit while Minnesota added two. Here is the weekly WCHA web media poll:

Team	Pts	Previous	Record	High	Low
1)	Minnesota (9)	141	1	3-1-0	1	2
2)	Denver (3)	131	3	2-0-0	1	3
3)	North Dakota	123	2	1-1-0	2	4
4)	Minnesota Duluth	96	4	2-2-0	4	8
5)	Michigan Tech	87	8	2-2-0	3	9
6)	Colorado College	80	5	3-1-0	4	10
7)	St. Cloud State	72	7	2-2-0	4	9
8)	Nebraska Omaha	67	6	2-2-0	4	10
9)	Minnesota State	52	10	2-0-2	5	11
10)	Wisconsin	46	9	0-2-0	6	12
11)	Bemidji State	24	11	1-1-0	9	12
12)	Alaska Anchorage	17	12	2-1-1	10	12

Representing Name Publication Twitter

Alaska-Anchorage, Taylor Hall College Hockey News @thall907
Bemidji State, Troy Mills The Beaver Pond
Colorado College, Joe Paisley, Paisley Hockey @Paisleyhockey
Denver, Mike Chambers, Denver Post @MChambersDP
Michigan Tech, Tim Braun, Tech Hockey Guide @TBraunTHG
Minnesota, Dan Myers, Minnesota Hockey Magazine @1DanMyers
Minnesota Duluth, Bruce Ciskie, The Ciskie Blog @BruceCiskie
Minnesota State, Chris Dilks, Western College Hockey @ChrisDilks
Nebraska-Omaha, Matt Semisch, Radio Free Omaha @matthewsemisch
North Dakota, Eric Burton The Hockey Writers Combine and Goon’s World @goon48
St. Cloud State, Jeremy Larson, Husky Hockey Time @jclarson02
Wisconsin, Andy Johnson, Bucky’s 5th Quarter @andyjohnsonB5Q

Weekend reading: Kitchener settles, Bachman, Eidsness, Grimaldi

The Michigan Daily student newspaper printed a clarification about its story when it quoted an anonymous source that OHL Kitchener offered to pay Wolverines signee Jacob Trouba $200,000, ending the lawsuit. The Rangers do plan to sue the anonymous source once they find out who that is.

Here is a review of former Tiger Richard Bachman, pictured, and predicts his future with the Dallas Stars for the upcoming  2012-13 season.

Former North Dakota goalie Brad Eidsness retired to attend law school this fall. Congratulations to him.

The USA National Team Development Program team that competes in college exhibition games and in the USHL was announced. Only the three goalies and one defenseman are not committed to a college program.

North Dakota’s Rocco Grimaldi was interviewed recently on The Pipeline Show.

Wednesday reading: L. Sweatt, UNO, PSU, Sioux, DU, Niagara

Here is a solid USHL feature on former Tiger Lee Sweatt and his decision to retire from hockey at age 26.

Talk about a new hockey arena for Nebraska-Omaha has quieted down despite reportedly having the funding lined up.

The Penn State fan blog outlines its coverage plans including the Air Force games.

A lawsuit concerning the Sioux nickname is thrown out of court.

A famed DU hangout with a colorful, if not exactly safe, history is up for sale.  The Niagara coach received a contract extension.

Hockey East hired a longtime NHL linesman to be director of officials.  A former BU player pleads guilty.

Thursday reading: NCHC, Gophers, UND, rules, expansion, UAH

Here is the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference web site. Here is a Denver Post profile of commissioner Jim Scherr.

Zach Budish will serve as Minnesota’s captain next season.

The NCAA announced rule changes for next season. Puckato explains here.

The roster for the 2012 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Sept. 29 was announced. No future Tigers made the list (several players remain uncommitted) but a number of WCHA and future National Collegiate Hockey Conference players did.

Goon’s World ran across a graphic that shows the number of championships won by Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. UND fans will enjoy it.

Former UNO player Jayson Megna signed with Pittsburgh. He announced he would leave Omaha last  Friday.

Bleacher Report’s Al Daniels put some thought into this blog post, although it is all wishful thinking or conjecture. He names Cincinnati, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, and Syracuse as five schools that would be good expansion sites for college hockey.

Illinois and Indiana have been mentioned as possible Big 10 additions by others but remember, for every men’s program, a women’s team must be added, with the exception of Syracuse (CHA). I suspect the next expansion will have to follow the Penn State model —  hockey-loving booster willing to donate $90-100 million to fund both genders’ programs and build an arena.

Other programs I have read or heard mentioned include Arizona State, Stanford, Vanderbilt and St. Louis. Anyone heard of others?

Regardless, it looks like Division I will lose a program soon after it gains Penn State. There was talk before Paul Kelly left College Hockey Inc. about a travel exemption for road games at Alabama-Huntsville (like the two Alaska schools) to give that program a fighting chance at drawing opponents for home games. Even that may not be enough.

The 2012-13 schedule remains unannounced but sources indicate only Minnesota State-Mankato, USA U-18 and two Division III schools are scheduled to play in Huntsville so far. Without some home ticket revenue, the Chargers will lose too much money to survive. The new-look WCHA, which had some members criticize the NCHC for leaving because of money and ignoring ” the good of the sport,” should move forward on admitting the program as soon as possible.

Weekend reading: Stuart, Haula, PSU, North Dakota, Denver

Former Tiger Mark Stuart gets high praise as one of the NHL’s top 10 shutdown defensemen by Bleacher Report.

Minnesota’s Erik Haula ran afoul of the law recently. Fallout from the misdemeanor will be handled internally, coach Don Lucia said.

The North Dakota beat writer gives his take how Penn State hockey could be affected by the NCAA sanctions against the football program.

Former UND goalie Jordan Parise, brother of the more famous Zach, has seen his professional career go in a different direction.

A former Denver captain is back home playing for the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. Luke Salazar is headed to Norway.

Wednesday reading: UND, Mankato, SCSU, Niagara, Penn State

The future of North Dakota goalie Aaron Dell remains up in the air.

With a new TV contract comes a change at play-by-play announcer for UND.

The Mankato assistants will stay on under the new head coach.

Former St. Cloud State captain Garrett Raboin is back as a new assistant coach.

Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky “excited to move on” from Sandusky scandal.

The Niagara AD takes a job at Virginia Commonwealth.

The 1991-92 Lakers were inducted into the Lake Superior State Hall of Fame.

The Syracuse women made a head coaching hire.

Monday reading: Mankato, UND, Air Force, pro decisions

In college hockey news, here is a roundup of recent Mankato program news.

UND’s Joe Gleason did well at the Chicago development camp.

The Gazette’s Frank Schwab continues to work his butt off. Here is an update on the three Air Force players in NHL camps this summer.

Some college players talk about the challenge of deciding when to turn professional. Former Badgers defenseman Justin Schultz, pictured, knows that all too well.

Tuesday reading: Prosser, Rau, UND, UMass, Berenson

Here is where former Tigers Nate Prosser and Chad Rau, pictured,fit into the Minnesota Wild’s depth chart.

Grand Forks Herald columnist Tom Miller points out that all eyes will be on the performance of the major sport coaches at North Dakota as the Sioux nickname controversy fades. The major contract extensions will put added pressure on them to produce championship teams.

UMass makes its coaching hire official.

Michigan coach Red Berenson signed a contract extension hrough the 2015-16 season.

Wednesday reading: Stoykewych, CCHA, UND, UMass, Mankato

CC sophomore defenseman Peter Stoykewych is mentioned as one to watch at this week’s Jets’ prospect development camp.

Bleacher Report rates Colorado Springs as one of the top 10 non-NHL cities in the United States.

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association unveiled its final logo, pictured, recently. I think it looks good.

Here is a list of the former North Dakota players competing in European leagues.

The UMass coach search appears to have settled on USHL coach Mark Carlson after two college candidates turned the school down last week. Here is a look at the program’s needs from the writer that first broke Carlson was the top candidate.

Three MSU-Mankato players are headed to NHL development camps, including one targeted by Oshawa of the Ontario league.

Speaking of the OHL, the Kitchener organization is suing the student-run Michigan Daily for $1 million for an article alleging Jacob Trouba was offered $200,000 to skip out on North Dakota and play for the Rangers. Here is the MD article.

Boston University announced its 2012-13 schedule.

The RIT women’s coach received a contract extension, which will make him the first  in NCAA history to play at the Division I and III level and coach at both divisions on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Tuesday reading: SCSU, Fejes, Slavin, Bjugstad, Crabb, Duluth

St. Cloud State’s logo reportedly played a role in landing a Canadiens fan as a commit.

Incoming freshman forward Hunter Fejes showed the Coyotes why they drafted him in the NHL franchise’s recent development camp.

2013 defenseman signee Jaccob Slavin also did well in the Carolina camp.

Minnesota’s Nick Bjugstad will decide over the next couple weeks after an impressive showing at the Panthers’ development camp according to the team’s new beat writer:

“Panthers prospect Nick Bjugstad firmly denied that the Panthers had made him any contract offers or that he had turned down any (that a source told me yesterday). He will talk to his family about his decision in the coming days and hopes to decide over the next two weeks. Bjugstad has looked like a man among boys at this camp.”

Alex Ovechkin may be the most famous Washington Capital, but the depth of the organization springs, in part, from the U.S. National Team Development Program where four players, including former Tiger Joey Crabb, got their starts.

The Wisconsin State Journal points out Mike Eaves‘ connection to the top three  NHL free agents.

Former Denver player Drew Shore is in a battle for one of the three open forward spots with the Panthers.

Former Minnesota-Duluth standout Mason Raymond re-signed with the Canucks on Monday.

Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky, a former CC standout, was interviewed by the Pipeline Show. Here is the info as edited by a PSU fan blog with links to the full audio.

The Quebec junior league will find it harder to lure Americans away from the NCAA.

North Dakota women’s coach Brian Idalski received a contract extension with a base salary of $116,777.