Blais Takes Penrose Award as Coach of the Year
For the second time in his seven years at the helm of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Dean Blais has been named the Spencer Penrose Award recipient as the nation’s top collegiate hockey coach.
Men’s D-I: North Dakota
The Day After: Roche Goes Wild
Just a day a after participating in the 2001 NCAA championship game, North Dakota sophomore defenseman Travis Roche was in the line up for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Roche (7) upends Boston College’s Brian Gionta in North Dakota’s 3-2 OT loss in Saturday’s title game. “We have signed a young free agent who should develop … Read more
Almost A Miracle
It would have been the Miracle of Albany, but North Dakota’s stirring rally in the 2001 NCAA title game came up just short. Todd D. Milewski writes how the Fighting Sioux fought and lost, but still can hold their heads high.
High Expectations
When you’re the defending national champions, the bar is set high. But North Dakota is used to that pressure — the Sioux deal with it almost every year. Todd D. Milewski reports.
The Other Goaltender
The goalie at one end of the ice had earned just about every possible accolade this year: CCHA Player of the Year, CCHA best goaltender, CCHA Tournament Most Valuable Player, All-CCHA Tournament Team, All-CCHA first team and Hobey Baker Award finalist. As just a sophomore, he’d set an NCAA career shutout mark with 18, 10 … Read more
‘The Guy That Carries Our Team’
So says UND coach Dean Blais, of Hobey Baker finalist Jeff Panzer. Todd D. Milewski reports.
Top UND Recruit Pleads Guilty to Felony
North Dakota’s athletics director said he will talk to the school’s hockey staff after learning prized recruit Brandon Bochenski pleaded guilty to one count of felony aggravated forgery in Anoka County, Minn., on Feb. 26. “I would like to talk to our hockey staff and make sure [Bochenski’s felony] is common knowledge,” UND athletics director … Read more
Commentary: Blais Deserves a Few Breaks
According to Todd D. Milewski, if anyone deserves a few breaks, it’s North Dakota coach Dean Blais.
The Hobey War
The Hobey Baker Memorial Award won’t be handed out until Friday, April 6, but the identity of the winner may be decided this weekend. Dave Hendrickson reviews three of the top candidates in the context of the NCAA regionals.
All in the Family
From the Sutters, Howes and Patricks, to the Stastnys, Ferraros and Kariyas, hockey seems to have more family ties than any other sport, with ubiquitous father-son and brother combinations. For plenty of evidence, look no further than North Dakota, home of the Fighting Sioux and five prominent pairs.
Walsh Jersey Auction Raises $11G
The on-line auction of special North Dakota jerseys bearing the name “Walsh,” in honor of Maine coach Shawn Walsh, has raised $11,055. The Fighting Sioux wore the jerseys for their Oct. 13 game with the Black Bears and donated them to raise money for the Coaches Foundation. The charitable organization, set up to serve as … Read more
Special Walsh Jerseys to be Auctioned On-line
The North Dakota jerseys worn during its Oct. 13 game with Maine — each bearing the name “Walsh” in honor of Black Bear coach Shawn Walsh — will be auctioned online at Hockeyeastonline.com to benefit the Coaches Foundation.
North Dakota’s Blais to Miss Showdown
North Dakota coach Dean Blais left his team at the Bank One Badger Hockey Showdown in Milwaukee to be with his daughter, who is in a hospital in Rochester, Minn.
WCHA Suspends Assistant Referee
WCHA assistant referee Jay Kleven has been suspended indefinitely by the league for two calls made during the Minnesota-North Dakota games last weekend in Grand Forks.
Season Preview: North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Yes, North Dakota lost a few important players, and the Sioux are somewhat smaller this year, but Dean Blais may be looking at his team’s situation a little drastically: “We’re rebuilding this year.” Blais has a great poker face, but that’s line’s easy enough to see through. Offensively, Lee Goren, Jason Ulmer and Peter Armbrust … Read more
Poll: NCAA Champion Sioux Top Pick In WCHA
The defending NCAA champion North Dakota Fighting Sioux have been tabbed by the coaches of the WCHA as the conference’s preseason favorite. The Fighting Sioux received six first place votes and a total of 77 points in the annual polling.
Commodore Signs Deal with Devils
Mike Commodore, a stalwart defenseman on this year’s North Dakota national championship team, has signed a three-year contract with the defending NHL-champion New Jersey Devils. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defenseman had one more year of eligibility remaining, but decided he couldn’t pass up on the Devils’ offer. According to the Grand Forks Herald, Commodore received a … Read more
Going Out On Top
A few weeks ago, when told associate coach Scott Sandelin was going to be leaving at the end of the season to take the coaching job at Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota players said they’d just have to win the national title to give Sandelin a proper sendoff. How prophetic. Sandelin joined head coach Dean Blais behind … Read more
Straight Outta Hollywood
Was there any chance anyone could pry the national championship trophy out of Peter Armbrust’s grasp? “No, not a chance in hell,” Armbrust said. “This thing is staying right here.” The University of North Dakota senior is one of a select few players who can say his last collegiate memory will be piling on the … Read more
Finding His Way
Like most youngsters with any hockey ability, Lee Goren had dreams of the National Hockey League. And, for a Winnipeg native, the standard route to the NHL is normally thought to be through the Canadian major junior system. So Goren, like so many of his friends, went off to the WHL and the Saskatoon Blades. … Read more