Wednesday Morning Coffee

• As Brad Schlossman first reported on his UND hockey blog, former Sioux defenseman Mike Commodore has signed with the AHL's Texas Stars. 
• With 14 points (7G, 7A) over his last ten games, Jonathan Toews seems to have found his scoring touch. Toews currently ranks in the NHL's top 10 in goal scoring (T-8th with 14), face-off percentage (4th at 59.6%), plus-minus (T-9th at +18), and takeaways (T-1st with 35). He also leads the league in jersey sales. Add it all up, and does it equal a Hart Trophy?
• TJ Oshie, out of the St. Louis Blues' lineup with an upper-body injury, is expected to return to action by this weekend.
• Might Buffalo Sabres winger Drew Stafford be a trade target of the Detroit Red Wings?
• Chay Genoway had several familiar faces to greet him upon his arrival in Hershey.
• Two North Dakota commits have helped their teams advance to the second round of the BCHL playoffs.  Wade Murphy and the Penticton Vees made their way to the second round with a four-game sweep over Salmon Arm, with Murphy chipping in a goal and two assists. Adam Tambellini and the Surrey Eagles won their first-round match-up with Langley three games to one. Tambellini recorded seven points (6G, 1A) in the first round series, including a hat trick in last night's series clinching victory. Surrey begins second round play Friday while Penticton has a week and a half off before beginning play in the Interior Conference Finals March 29.
• North Dakota recruit Christian Evers will be taking part in the NTDP Evaluation Camp beginning this weekend, and Russ Bitely offers his notes on the camp's participants. East Grand Forks players Tanner Tweten and Tye Ausmus will also be attending the camp.

Friday Morning Coffee

• Danny Kristo, Corban Knight, and Rocco Grimaldi earned All-WCHA honors this season, and as a team UND placed 11 players on the All-Academic Team. A contingent of WCHA bloggers, writers, etc. also voiced their collective opinions on who the best of the best were during the 2012-13 WCHA regular season.
• Chay Genoway was traded to the Washington Capitals organization yesterday. He will report to the Capitals' AHL affiliate in Hershey.
• TJ Oshie is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
• Since Evan Trupp's trade to his hometown Alaska Aces (ECHL), the former Sioux winger has found the scoresheet in every game he's played. He has two goals and four assists in three games since joining the Aces.
• Mario Lamoureux (Ontario) continues to lead all ECHL rookies in point production with 59 points (25G, 34A) in 64 games. He is currently riding a seven game point streak during which he has amassed 10 points (4G, 6A).
• Brock Nelson (Bridgeport - AHL) is on a five game point streak during which he has produced eight points (2G, 6A). He currently leads all Sound Tigers with a 0.85 points per game average, and don't be surprised if he earns a late-season NHL call-up.
• A Chicago Tribune writer offers his reasoning as to why Jonathan Toews is the Chicago Blackhawk's first-half MVP.
• The Minnesota's GM recently discussed the impact of the Wild's newly acquired superstars Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. And if the Wild ever need an emergency Zamboni driver, Parise might just be their guy.
• A few months ago The Hockey News featured former Sioux standout goaltender Darren Jensen in its Backchecking segment.

Thursday Morning Coffee

• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA casts its spotlight on North Dakota captain Andrew MacWilliam, who head coach Dave Hakstol calls "a true throwback."
• Goon's World put together a feature on UND freshman Drake Caggiula, who had a big three goal series against Colorado College last weekend.
• The Hockey Writers have released their NCAA Women's Hockey Week 10 Recap, and they have North Dakota ranked No. 4 in the nation. UND junior Michelle Karvinen was also named the week's 2nd Star after her two goal, five assist weekend against RIT.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs' official website took a look at Matt Frattin's torrid goal scoring pace. As of this morning Frattin was the Maple Leaf website's lead story.
• The Edmonton Oilers' weekly notebook feature's former Sioux centerman Chris VandeVelde and the newest member of his family.
• Aeros.com did a short video interview with Houston Aeros defenseman Chay Genoway.
• TSN has an updated "Craig's List," which is scout Craig Button's player rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft. The initial list included Button's top 30 draft-eligible players, but the update has been expanded to the top 75. North Dakota recruit Keaton Thompson maintained his No. 24 ranking, while Luke Johnson made his debut on the list at No. 74.

Rankings and Features, Part 1

A number of players have been featured in an assortment of offseason rankings, series, lists, etc. Here is the first installment of a complete rundown:

• The Edmonton Journal's Cult of Hockey ranked Chris VandeVelde #25 among Edmonton Oiler prospects.
• Top Shelf Prospects says UND centerman Corban Knight is a prospect to keep an eye on within the Florida Panthers organization. TSP also calls Colorado's Brad Malone a super sleeper prospect while ranking Brock Nelson #2 among New York Islanders prospects.
• CSN Washington says Zach Parise, TJ Oshie, and Drew Stafford should all be under consideration for Team USA, assuming NHL players are allowed to participate in the 2014 Olympics.
• Oshie was also featured in Rant Sports' 20 Players in 20 Days series.
• Brian Lee was featured in the Tampa Bay Lightning's Boys of Summer series.
• The Pipeline Show's One to Watch series featured Dillon Simpson for the Edmonton Oilers, Rocco Grimaldi for Florida, and former Sioux and current Western Michigan forward Mike Cichy for the Montreal Canadiens.
• Chay Genoway checks in at #19 in First Round Bust's rankings of the top Minnesota Wild prospects.

Genoway Signs Two-Year Extension With Wild

A second former Sioux restricted free agent-to-be has re-signed with his current team. A day after Brian Lee was extended by Tampa Bay, defenseman Chay Genoway re-signed with the Minnesota Wild. Genoway appeared in one game with Minnesota last season, but had a very nice rookie season with the AHL's Houston Aeros.

Aside from contract length, terms of the deal have yet to be released. It will be a two-way deal with a base NHL salary of at least $850,500 per year (that number is based on the NHL CBA, which stipulates qualifying offers for players making more than $660,000 but less than $1 million must include a 5% raise from their previous salary). Here is the updated Sioux NHL free agent list:

PLAYER	2011-2012 TEAM	STATUS	NEW TEAM	SIGNING/CONTRACT DETAILS
Jason Blake	Anaheim	UFA
Taylor Chorney	Edmonton	UFA
Mike Commodore	Tampa Bay	UFA
Matt Frattin	Toronto	RFA
Chay Genoway	Minnesota	RFA	Minnesota	2 Years, 2-Way Contract
Brian Lee	Tampa Bay	RFA	Tampa Bay	2 Years, $2.3 Million
T.J. Oshie	St Louis	RFA
Zach Parise	New Jersey	UFA
Chris Porter	St Louis	UFA
Chris VandeVelde	Edmonton	RFA
Matt Watkins	Phoenix	UFA

Signings & Offers

Tampa Bay defenseman Brian Lee, who was set to become a restricted free agent, signed a two-year, $2.3 million contract extension yesterday. The Lightning acquired Lee from Ottawa in a deadline deal that gave the former Sioux a fresh start, and he performed well enough in Tampa Bay for Steve Yzerman and company to keep him around for a couple more seasons. Here's a video clip of Lee delivering a big hit against Montreal after coming over from the Senators:


Lee was one of five former Sioux NHLers set to become restricted free agents (RFA) this offseason, and all five of those received qualifying offers from their respective organizations (in short, a qualifying offer is a contract offer that prevents a player from becoming an unrestriced free agent). In addition to Lee, TJ Oshie (STL), Chris VandeVelde (EDM), Chay Genoway (MIN), and Matt Frattin (TOR) have all received qualifying offers, and it would be a surprise if any of them were signed away from their current teams. Media outlets have reported that Genoway has signed a one year, two-way extension with the Wild, but thus far details of such a signing have not been confirmed by the Wild. Here's an updated look at all the former Sioux free agents who played in the NHL last season:

PLAYER	2011-2012 TEAM	STATUS	NEW TEAM	SIGNING/CONTRACT DETAILS
Jason Blake	Anaheim	UFA
Taylor Chorney	Edmonton	UFA
Mike Commodore	Tampa Bay	UFA
Matt Frattin	Toronto	RFA
Chay Genoway	Minnesota	RFA
Brian Lee	Tampa Bay	RFA	Tampa Bay	2 Years, $2.3 Million
T.J. Oshie	St Louis	RFA
Zach Parise	New Jersey	UFA
Chris Porter	St Louis	UFA
Chris VandeVelde	Edmonton	RFA
Matt Watkins	Phoenix	UFA

Of course the big free agent prize is Zach Parise, who says New Jersey will be given fair opportunity to re-sign their star winger, even though it appears unlikely an extension would be agreed upon before he becomes an UFA on July 1st. After clearing some cap space, the Pittsburgh Penguins have jumped into the ring and are expected to make a strong push to acquire Parise's services

In a non-North American transaction, former Sioux standout Rastislav Spirko has signed with the KHL's Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. This will be Spirko's second season in the Russian elite league after having spent last year with Lev Poprad, where he poduced 18 points (10G, 8A) in 53 games.

2012 Sioux NHL Free Agents

Though the Stanley Cup Final is still a week or two from concluding, NHL free agency is looming on the horizon. Of the 17 former Sioux to skate in the league this past season, 11 will enter free agency this offseason unless extended by their current teams.

Perhaps the biggest trophy in the unrestricted free agent (UFA) pool is New Jersey captain Zach Parise, who is busy trying to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup. His services will be courted by a number of teams if he and New Jersey are unable to agree upon a new deal.

Also worth keeping an eye on will be St. Louis Blue TJ Oshie, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent (RFA). Oshie is coming off his best year as a pro after signing a one-year deal as a RFA last summer and St. Louis would very much like to re-sign him this offseason, perhaps to a long-term deal.

Matt Frattin saw his first full professional season end prematurely in the AHL's Western Conference Finals, but the Toronto front office was impressed with his play this season and will look to lock up his services.

Here's the full list of NHL free agents, which will be updated as contracts are signed:

PLAYER	2011-2012 TEAM	STATUS	NEW TEAM	SIGNING/CONTRACT DETAILS
Jason Blake	Anaheim	UFA
Taylor Chorney	Edmonton	UFA
Mike Commodore	Tampa Bay	UFA
Matt Frattin	Toronto	RFA
Chay Genoway	Minnesota	RFA
Brian Lee	Tampa Bay	RFA
T.J. Oshie	St Louis	RFA
Zach Parise	New Jersey	UFA
Chris Porter	St Louis	UFA
Chris VandeVelde	Edmonton	RFA
Matt Watkins	Phoenix	UFA

Sioux in the Pros: AHL Playoff Links

The AHL conference quarterfinals kick off tonight, and as many as 10 former Sioux could see action in the hunt for the Calder Cup. Here are a few article and preview links:

• AHL Conference Quarterfinal Preview (PDF)
• Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Brock Nelson) vs. Connecticut Whale
• St. John's IceCaps (Jason Gregoire, Jake Marto) vs. Syracuse Crunch (Matt Smaby)
• Houston Aeros (Chay Genoway) vs. Oklahoma City Barons (Chris VandeVelde, Taylor Chorney)
• Toronto Marlies (Matt Frattin) vs. Rochester Americans (Corey Fienhage, Joe Finley)
• Rochester Democrat and Journal: Amerks Will Face a Tough Team in Toronto
• Edmonton Journal: Barons OK Opening AHL Series on the Road
• Hartford Courant: Whale-Bridgeport Series Preview
• Houston Chronicle: Aeros Get New Life After Squeaking Into the Playoffs
• Toronto Star: Marlies Ready for Opneing Round Against Rochester Americans
• The Oklahoman: Defense Back to Full Strength as Barons Begin AHL Playoffs at Houston 
• Syracuse Post-Standard: Crunch Have to Turn-off St. Johns' Power in Playoff Series
• The Connecticut Post: Young Sound Tiger Defensemen Need to Rise to Playoff Intensity
• The Connecticut Post: Whale at Sound Tigers Game Day
• St. John's Telegram: IceCaps Ready to Put Their Best Skate Forward
• St. John's Telegram: Crunch Time for IceCaps

Fighting Sioux Honor Roll 2011-12

Here's a running post of honors earned by Fighting Sioux past and present for their performance during the 2011-12 season. This post will be updated as honors and awards are announced:

Former Sioux:

• Chay Genoway, Houston Aeros (AHL): Houston Aeros Man of the Year 
• Brent Davidson, Boras (Sweden): Boras HC Defenseman of the Year
• Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils (NHL): New Jersey Devils Team MVP
• Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL): NHL All-Star (DNP, Injured)
• Aaron Schneekloth, Colorado Eagles (ECHL): All-ECHL First Team
• Aaron Schneekloth, Colorado Eagles (ECHL): ECHL Defenseman of the Year
• Brandon Bochenski, Barys Astana (KHL): Eastern Conference All-Star
• Hunter Bishop, Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL): Hamilton Bulldogs Co-Man of the Year

2011-12 Fighting Sioux:

• Dave Hakstol: Inside College Hockey National Coach of the Year
• Dave Hakstol: Inside College Hockey WCHA Coach of the Year
• Brock Nelson: College Hockey Weekly 2nd Team All-American (West)
• Brock Nelson: College Hockey News All-CHN 2nd Team
• Brock Nelson: Inside College Hockey 2nd Team All-American
• Brock Nelson: All-WCHA 3rd Team
• Brock Nelson: Inside College Hockey WCHA Breakthrough Player of the Year
• Brock Nelson: WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team
• Brock Nelson: NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team
• Danny Kristo: College Hockey Weekly Honorable Mention All-American (West)
• Danny Kristo: NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team
• Ben Blood: College Hockey Weekly Honorable Mention All-American (West)
• Ben Blood: All-WCHA 3rd Team
• Ben Blood: NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team
• Aaron Dell: WCHA Final Five Most Valuable Player & All-Tournament Team
• Derek Forbort: WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team
• Andrew MacWilliam: WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team
• Mario Lamoureux: WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team
• Brad Eidsness: WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year
• 11 Players named to the WCHA All-Academic Team

Wednesday Evening Post

It is time to disperse some links prior to hitting the Road to the Final Five:

• Fighting Sioux associate head coach Cary Eades was inducted into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame last weekend during the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament. It's a very high honor for the former three-time state champion head coach of the Warroad Warriors, and congratulations are in order.
• Inside College Hockey recently named Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol its WCHA Coach of the Year in its year end awards. Brock Nelson was also named the WCHA Breakthrough Player of the Year.
• According to one blog, Corban Knight and Rocco Grimaldi are among the Florida Panthers top prospects.
• Jocelyne Lamoureux was named one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which is awarded annually to the top player in women's college hockey. The winner will be announced this weekend during the Frozen Four in Duluth.
• Brad Schlossman's Weekly Wednesday Update is full of good stuff today.
• Travis Zajac has been cleared to resume hard skating, and New Jersey Devil GM Lou Lamoriello says their top centerman should return sooner rather than later.
• The Hockey News recently conducted a poll of NHL players in order to determine the league's Top 50 players. Zach Parise came in at #29 (too low in my opinion, should be in the top 15) while Jonathan Toews is ranked #5. 
• Toews remains sidelined with concussion symptoms as he's learning to cope with the complexity of his head injury. There is a possibility that he could return by the weekend, but if there is any certainty when it comes to dealing with concussions, it is that there are no certainties.
• As for Parise, he recently moved into eighth place on New Jersey's all-time scoring list by registering his 400th career point, while there is more speculation that he could return home to Minnesota should he become a free agent this summer.
• Mike Commodore is looking to revitalize his career in Tampa Bay, and he says he likes Florida so much that if Tampa Bay does not re-sign him this offseason, he might just stick around anyway.
• Commodore's new Lightning teammate, Brian Lee, is also making an impact for the Bolts.
• Matt Greene and a few of his Los Angeles King teammates discuss some of the more common hockey player problems.
• TJ Oshie has taken over St. Louis' team scoring lead, and he looks to be due a nice pay raise this offseason.
• ESPN recently ran an outstanding feature on Phoenix Coyote head coach Dave Tippett and his unique situation out in the desert. Tippett currently sits on 398 career victories.
• Hockey Wilderness says Chay Genoway is the Houston Aero that has shown the most improvement over the course of the season.
• The Edmonton Oilers' Future Watch recently profiled Chris VandeVelde.
• Kyle Radke of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (CHL) was recently placed on season-ending Injured Reserve.
• Fighting Sioux recruit Chris Wilkie was invited to USA Hockey's NTDP tryout camp.
• Recruit Drake Caggiula and the Stouffville Spirit (OJHL) tied their Divisional Final playoff series with Newmarket at two games apiece tonight. Caggiula has been outstanding in the postseason, registering 14 points (5G, 9A) in seven playoff games. He has had multiple points in six of the seven games.
• Being the Final Five is upon us, we'll leave you with a nice little interview of final Five superstar and current Bakersfield Condor (ECHL) Evan Trupp:

Running Down the Sioux in the Pros: NHL & AHL

Today's offering is a rundown of how some of the former Sioux in the NHL and AHL have been faring. Tomorrow's post will feature the ECHL and overseas professionals, while Thursday will cover Sioux recruits. 

NHL:

• Jonathan Toews has been red-hot as of late, putting up a stat line of 8G-8A-16 Pts and a +8 in Chicago's last 9 games. For the season, Toews has 25 points (13G, 12A), a +9, 4 GWG, and a 61.5% face-off percentage. He leads Chicago in goals, points, and game winners while dominating in the face-off circle. Blackhawk head coach Joel Quenneville says Toews is better than ever, perhaps because the little things Toews continues to work on are adding up to a lot. The Captain has earned his respect the right way, one analyst has him in the early lead for the NHL's Hart Trophy, and earlier this month CBC featured him in their Open Ice Gameday segment.
• Drew Stafford and Buffalo have not had the start to the season they were hoping for, and that has the Sabres alternate captain looking to regain his scoring touch.
• TJ Oshie is tied for second on the St Louis Blues with 15 points (6G, 9A) in 23 games. Oshie, who also has a +6 rating, has been playing very well recently on a line that also features Alex Steen and former Minnesota State Maverick David Backes. The Blues are 7-1-2 in their first 10 games under new coach Ken Hitchcock.
• Zach Parise has had a frustrating start to his season statistically, though he and his coach feel he's been playing good hockey as he returns from last season's knee injury. Parise, who has never made it out of the first round of the playoffs with the Devils, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and potential trade speculation has been swirling after he recently met with members of his management team. There's no hiding Parise's desire to win a Stanley Cup Playoff championship, but will he continue his pursuit of The Cup as a Devil?
• Travis Zajac continues rehabbing from his preseason Achilles injury, and it is anticipated he will begin practicing with his teammates when the Devils return from their current roadtrip. Also, Zajac was recently named as one of the 50 greatest players in the history of the British Columbia Hockey League, and younger brother Darcy (Albany-AHL) recently discussed what it was like growing up in the Zajac family.
• Matt Frattin continues to earn his ice in Toronto as a member of the Maple Leaf's All-WCHA "Kid Line."
• Joe Finley, who has been playing well for the AHL's Rochester Americans, recently signed a multi-year NHL two-way contract with Buffalo. Finley is expected to give the Sabres additional depth and size on their blueline, if and when he is called up to Buffalo.

AHL

• Chay Genoway is the leading point producer among Houston's defensemen with 11 points (1G, 10A) in 19 games. Genoway's 11 points, which have all come in the last 13 games, rank second among the AHL's rookie d-men.
• Brad Malone and the Lake Erie Monsters have gone 5-0-0-1 over their last six games, and Malone has been a big reason why. He has 8 points (3G, 5A), 2 game winners, and is a +5 during the Monsters' hot stretch, and he was recently featured in a short Q&A.
• Ryan Duncan (4G, 7A) and Matt Watkins (4G, 7A) are each tied for second among Portland Pirates with 11 points. Watkins, who was recently featured by the Portland Daily Sun, has been especially hot of late, producing 7 points (3G, 4A) and a +5 over his last 4 games. The Pirates have won six of their last seven after a bit of a slow start.
• Corey Fienhage has joined Jake Marto and Derrick LaPoint as former Sioux who have received in-season promotions from the ECHL to the AHL. Fienhage began the year with Gwinnett of the ECHL, but was called up by the Rochester Americans last weekend. He's played in one game with Rochester thus far.

Week 5 Recap: Sioux Swept, Frattin Scores, Chorney & Commie Debut, Etc.

The Fighting Sioux ventured into Mariucci Arena last weekend poised to cool down the hottest and highest scoring team in the WCHA, and while North Dakota and Minnesota engaged in two games that maintained relevance until the final horn, the Gophers came away with a weekend sweep and four conference points. The hot goaltending of Kent Patterson and a stingy team defense earned Minnesota a 2-0 shutout victory on Friday, while a late third period rally Saturday night saw the Gophers pull out a 3-2 victory, completing the first Minnesota sweep of North Dakota since December of 2005. A few observations:

• First and foremost, the reason Minnesota swept this series was because they are a very good team that played some very good hockey. They received consistently outstanding goaltending from Patterson, and their overall team defense and penalty killing units are vastly improved over the past few years. While North Dakota was able to generate several quality scoring chances each night, they were unable to apply sustained pressure in the offensive end, and even when they did get their best opportunities, Patterson was still very difficult to beat.
• Aaron Dell was outstanding in goal, flashing the form that made him the best statistical goalie in the WCHA last season. He made several huge saves to keep the Sioux within striking distance on Friday, and he served up much of the same Saturday as the teams engaged in another low scoring affair. Defensively, there were too many odd-man opportunities for comfort, but many of the defensive concerns we had over the course of the first month are being corrected.
• There appeared to be some nervousness out there for the Fighting Sioux this weekend. Danny Kristo did not look like his usual self, nor did Nick Mattson, and Derek Forbort really seems to be struggling to find his game. Overall, there seemed to be a number of guys pressing.
• Rocco Grimaldi scored his first collegiate goal Saturday night after being unable to play Friday due to a nagging lower body injury. His goal was a true goal scorer's goal, and when he is fully healthy he is going to add an entirely new dimension to the Sioux offense. The upcoming off week will hopefully aid in his return to full health, but as we look ahead I wonder what role his potential participation in the World Junior Championships will play on his health over the course of the season. The WJC's can be a grind, considering the selection camp, travel, game schedule, etc. so if he is indeed named to the Team USA roster hopefully he will be fully recovered in order to best handle the tournament's rigors.
• Overall, the Fighting Sioux find themselves in an unfamiliar spot as they currently sit in 11th place in the WCHA standings with a 1-5 record. They continue to show signs of improvement, as the goaltending and defensive corps are becoming the backbone of the team everyone expected them to be from the outset. Offensive depth continues to be a concern and the return to full health by Grimaldi and Brendan O'Donnell will certainly help in that area. While I'm sure the guys are itching to get back onto the ice to get the bitter taste of the sweep out of their mouths, perhaps the bye week will serve as an opportunity to regroup and focus on making a strong run into the holiday break in order to get into position for a strong second half push up the standings.

 Sioux in the Pros:

• Matt Frattin (Toronto-AHL) and Chay Genoway (Houston-AHL) faced one another for the first time as professionals Sunday night, and Frattin's two goals (including his first as a pro) helped the Marlies earn a 6-2 victory. In three games with the Marlies Frattin has three points (2G, 1A). Genoway recorded an assist in Sunday night's game, and he finished the week with two assists in three games. Frattin's first professional goal can be seen below:

• The Portland Pirates (AHL) defeated Manchester 4-1 Sunday night, and former Sioux had a hand in three of the four goals. Ryan Duncan and Brett Hextall each scored while Matt Watkins earned an assist.
• Jake Marto made his AHL debut Sunday with the St. John's IceCaps. He was returned to the ECHL's Colorado Eagles Monday, however. He was an emergency fill-in for the injury depleted IceCaps.
• Brad Miller had one goal and one assist in three games last week for the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL). Miller, Gladiator teammate Corey Fienhage, and Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado) all rank among the Top 20 ECHL defensemen in scoring.
• Mike Commodore (Detroit) and Taylor Chorney (St. Louis) each debuted for their new NHL teams Friday night. They are the 10th and 11th former Fighting Sioux to skate on NHL ice this season, and they were both in the lineup Saturday night as well.
• Among the other former Sioux highlights, New Jersey's Zach Parise had three points (1G, 2A) in three games, Chicago's Jonathan Toews had three points (1G, 2A) in four games, and St. Louis Blues forward TJ Oshie had three points (2G, 1A) in two games.

Sioux Recruits:

• Jack Rowe of Cedar Rapids (USHL) made his RoughRider debut Saturday night after missing the first month or so of the season due to injury. He was held pointless after logging three shots on goal, and he should be available to play this coming Friday when Cedar Rapids visits Fargo to take on the Force.
• Luke Johnson of the Lincoln Stars remained out of the lineup last weekend due to injury.
• A host of other Sioux recruits had the weekend off from regular season action as they prepare for an assortment of international competitions. For more on that, check out my international tournament summary from last week.

Week 4 Recap (Part 2): Genoway, Malone Get First Pro Goals & Injury Updates

Below is the weekly recap of former and future Sioux:

• Brad Malone (Lake Erie-AHL) and Chay Genoway (Houston-AHL) each scored their first goals as professionals last Friday night. Malone's goal came in a 2-1 Monster victory over the Toronto Marlies, while Genoway's helped the Aeros defeat San Antonio 4-2. Genoway had a big week in total as he recorded five points (1G, 4A) in three games, helping the team to a 2-0-1 record over the weekend.
• Corey Fienhage had a goal and an assist for Gwinnett (ECHL) as the Gladiators went 2-1 during the week.
• A trio of former Sioux had a nice weekend for the Colorado Eagles (ECHL). Aaron Schneekloth (1G, 2A) and Jake Marto (0G, 3A) each had three points while Michael Forney added two assists in helping the Eagles to a  2-1 weekend record.
• Like many of the goals he scored as a Sioux, Darcy Zajac scored the gritty game winner in the Albany Devils (AHL) 3-2 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs Saturday night.
• Travis Zajac resumed skating last week as he continues rehabilitation following Achilles surgery. He also paid a surprise visit to New Jersey Devils practice earlier this week. The Devils have had to shuffle their lineup a bit due to injuries, and Zach Parise has been at the center of the changes.
• Jason Blake hopes to be a fast healer as he recuperates from the tendon injury he suffered to his left wrist. If cancer can't keep him out of the lineup, expect Blake to make a complete recovery for the Anaheim Ducks.
• Detroit's Mike Commodore has been cleared to play after sitting out the past month with a knee injury. Though the Red Wings defensemen have played well during the early stages of the season, expect Commodore to see the ice soon.
• Taylor Chorney has yet to play this season, but he has waited patiently and his chance could come Friday.
• Matt Frattin, who has played well for Toronto but has been unable to score, was assigned to the Leaf's AHL affiliate. Expect him to be back with the Leafs later this season as he rediscovers his scoring touch.
• The Colorado Springs Gazette published a nice piece on the recently retired David Hale, a Springs native.
• The Mayor's Manor caught up with Matt Greene to see what he's learned thus far about this year's LA Kings squad. That's a heckuva gash on his forehead that wound up requiring 54 stitches.
• Jack Rowe (Cedar Rapids-USHL) has yet to play this season as he recovers from offseason surgery, but he has begun practicing with the RoughRiders. Hopefully he will be on the ice Veteran's Day weekend when CR visits Fargo to take on the Force. That's an off week for North Dakota so it would be a great opportunity to see the Sioux recruit in action.
• Luke Johnson (Lincoln-USHL) sat out last weekend as one of several Lincoln Stars players dealing with injuries. No word thus far in regard to the extent of the injury. Johnson is off to a tremendous start, having notched at least one point in each of his six games.

Sioux NHL Links & Rookie Camp Updates

Here are some links pertaining to former Sioux as we head into NHL training camps:

• New Jersey Devil Zach Parise reiterates that his one-year deal does not signify that he's intent on leaving the Devils following the season.
• In a Fire & Ice post, Parise discusses the upcoming season, including more on this contract situation and returning from last season's knee injury that kept him out of the lineup almost all year.
• Fellow Devil Travis Zajac discusses the uncertainty involved in recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.
• Coming off his most productive offensive season, the Buffalo Sabres' Drew Stafford discusses a new component of his offseason regimen and the Sabre organization's busy summer.
• According to Senators Extra, Brian Lee isn't getting enough credit for his solid play down the stretch for the Ottawa Senators.
• Senshot proposes a new defensive pairing for the Senators, based on Lee's improved late season play.
• St Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong discusses his team heading into the upcoming season, including what he considers to be TJ Oshie's best offseason as a Blue. On a Blues sidenote, it's nice to see former MSU Maverick David Backes earn the Captainship for St Louis. I've always admired his play and it's nice to see him being rewarded.
• The Edmonton Journal's Cult of Hockey chronicles Chris Vandevelde's place among the Edmonton Oiler's young forwards. It was fun to watch the development of Vandevelde down the stretch last season as he started earning ice time in all situations.
• Jonathan Toews and Steven Stamkos comment on Toews defeating Stamkos in TSN's Franchise Faceoff final. They each also comment on why they should be picked first in a fantasy hockey draft. I love Toews' answer. The Q&A session was part of the NHL's two-day player media tour that took place last week. Zach Parise also took part.

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Chay Genoway scored a goal for the Minnesota Wild, but it wasn't enough as the Wild fell to the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 yesterday in each team's opener in the Traverse City rookie tournament. Corey Fienhage notched an assist for the Sabres. Buffalo's next game is today at 1:30 against Columbus while the Wild face Detroit this evening at 5:30.

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Matt Frattin and the Toronto Maple Leaf's rookies defeated David Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 yesterday in the Maple Leaf's rookie tournament. The game was streamed on the Leafs official website with a half hour delay, and the quality was pretty good. Frattin seemed to be pressing early but played well in the second and third periods. I also thought Toews had a solid game, though neither player ended up in the scoring column. Also, former Wisconsin Badger defenseman Jake Gardiner looked very sharp for the Leafs and his two goals certainly displayed his strong skating and puck protection skills. The Leafs play again tonight, but Frattin will not be in the lineup. The Blackhawks were back on the ice taking on Ottawa at 1:00 this afternoon.

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Yesterday marked the first practice at the Winnipeg Jets' rookie training camp. Jason Gregoire, who will be battling for a full time NHL gig, is appreciative of the fan support the Jets received for their first practice.

Former Sioux News, LaPoint Signs, NHL Rookie Camps, Links, Updates, Etc.

Former Sioux Ryan Johnson has accepted a try-out with the Detroit Red Wings. The faceoff and shot blocking specialist spent the latter portion of last season with the Chicago Blackhawks and would be a nice addition to Detroit's penalty killing unit if he can crack the roster.

Derrick LaPoint has signed with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. LaPoint, a former Florida Panther 4th Round draft pick, became a free agent August 15 after failing to come to terms on an entry level deal. The Royals are the ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, as first reported by the Grand Forks Herald's Brad Schlossman, Andrew Kozek has signed on to play with the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia Hockey League. Also in Asia is Former Sioux Darcy Mitani, who plays for High 1 and is the league's all-time leader in Assists and Points.

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A few weeks ago Matt Frattin was confirmed to take part in Toronto's rookie tournament. Several additional former Sioux will also be taking part in NHL rookie camps and tournaments beginning next week as the NHL's preseason starts to rev up. Chay Genoway will suit up for the Minnesota Wild's entry (Full Roster) in the Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament while Corey Fienhage will be playing for Buffalo. The MSG Network will be broadcasting the tournament's New York Ranger games (J.T. Miller will be playing), and depending on the standings after pool play, maybe we'll have the opportunity to catch the Wild or the Sabres take on the Rangers.

The Vancouver Canucks will be hosting the 2011 Young Stars Tournament. The Winnipeg Jets will be part of the tournament and while no Jet roster has been released, I'd expect Jason Gregoire to be part of the lineup.

Brett Hextall will be attending the Phoenix Coyotes rookie camp while Brad Malone is on the Colorado Avalanche training camp roster.

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According the to the Edmonton Journal Dillon Simpson is part of a deep pool of Oiler defenseman prospects while Sioux commit Jordan Schmaltz makes this Top 5 list of the top U.S.-born 2012 draft prospects.

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Here are a couple of updates from previous posts:

Sioux Commits in Fargo taking on the Force:

Date		Opponent	Sioux Commit	Sioux Schedule
Thu, Oct 20	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	@ Wisc. 21st & 22nd
Fri, Nov 11	vs	Cedar Rapids	Jack Rowe	No Game - Off Week
Fri, Nov 18	vs	Lincoln	Luke Johnson	No Game
Sat, Nov 19	vs	Lincoln	Luke Johnson	@ BSU 19th & 20th
Fri, Dec 09	vs	Team USA - 18	S. Matteau, M. Koules	vs. Neb-Omaha
Wed, Dec 28	vs	Lincoln	Luke Johnson	No Game
Fri, Jan 06	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	No Game
Sat, Jan 07	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	Clarkson @ Winnipeg
Thur, Jan 26	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	vs Wisc. 27th & 28th
Sat, Apr 14	vs	Lincoln	Luke Johnson	No Game

Road Game On-Sale Dates:

Series	Game Date	Tix On-Sale	Tickets/Details
Home Games	-	Sept. 10	Tickets
Wisconsin	Oct 21/22	Sept. 22	Tickets
Minnesota	Nov 4/5	Oct. 5	Details
Bemidji St	Nov 19/20	Sept. 17	Tickets
Alaska-Anchorage	Dec 2/3	Sept. 26	Tickets
Clarkson @ Winnipeg	Jan 7	TBD	Tickets
St Cloud St	Jan 20/21	Sept. 12	Tickets
Minnesota-Duluth	Feb 10/11	Sept. 26	Tickets
Denver	Feb 24/25	Sept. 10	Tickets
Final Five (St Paul)	Mar 15/16/17		Tickets
NCAA Regionals	Mar 23/24/25
Frozen Four (Tampa)	Apr 5/7

Prospect Development Camps, Pt. 2

Here's an update on the Sioux presence at the ongoing NHL prospect development camps:

Zane Gothberg is currently at the Boston Bruins development camp and it seems as though the B's like to mix things up and have some fun at camp, as cooking lessons and paint ball competition are a couple of the off-ice activities the players take part in. Here's a quote from the latter article concerning "The Great Zane's" paintball skills:

The first person of the day to be eliminated after being shot was goaltender Zane Gothberg. He walked off the course blinded by the splatter of paint that covered half of his protective mask.

This could be, ironically, a good sign. Being a goaltender, Gothberg is used to having small objects being projected at him at high speeds. It’s just his nature to get in the way of it.

This article features Gothberg's outlook on the camp, while this one profiles the three goaltenders at Bruins camp.

Here is a blog post containing a video interview with Gothberg.

From the reports I've read, Gothberg has been sharp at times and, even by his own admission, has struggled at times. This is to be expected from a young goaltender stepping in to face the kind of high-end talent he's facing. Bruins camp wraps up tomorrow with a scrimmage.

Phoenix Coyote camp ended today, and here's what one Phoenix fan blogger had to say about former Sioux Brett Hextall:

Yes, we all know his Dad. But Brett is a different beast. He’s tough and smart with the puck, but I’m pretty sure he’ll score more goals in his rookie year than his Dad’s entire career. Brett seems like he’ll be the one that takes big hits for plays and blocks shots. I don’t know how to explain it other than he seems like a worker (along the Fiddy/Korps/Winnik vein). Again, he’s not huge but it seems like he’s got a lot of heart and UND turns out a lot of smart players.

Fittingly enough, 2:00 into the video below is an interview with Hextall, who just wants to be a guy that opponents hate:



Michael Parks is at Philadelphia Flyers camp, which concludes tomorrow with a scrimmage. Not much has been said about Parks performance at camp, but this blogger thought "he brought a tremendous amount of speed to the drills," and we all know Speed Kills.

I caught some highlights of some of the Toronto Maple Leaf camp scrimmages, and I'm happy to report that Andrew MacWilliam is being his usual physical self.

Two camp time and roster updates from the previous development camp post:
Minnesota, July 12th-17th (Former Sioux Chay Genoway)
New Jersey, July 11th-July ? (Current Sioux Derek Rodwell, Former Sioux Darcy Zajac)

I haven't come across much else concerning the Sioux campers, but there are several camps on-going and several more yet to begin. I'll continue to post updates as more comprehensive evaluations and reports become available.