Friday Morning Post

• The UND men take on USA Hockey's NTDP Under-18 team Saturday night in an exhibition tilt. Here are the game notes from each squad: North Dakota and Team USA
• The UND women, meanwhile, are on the road for the first time this season as they are in St. Cloud to take on the Huskies. Here are each school's game notes: North Dakota and St. Cloud State
• Brock Nelson picked up his first career NHL goal earlier this week, and one look at his family tree will show you that his hockey success shouldn't come as a surprise.
• Defenseman Brian Lee's (Tampa Bay-NHL) knee injury rehab is progressing nicely, though he still appears to be a few weeks out from returning to action.
• Darcy Zajac is expected to be out of the Albany Devil lineup for an extended period after suffering an upper body injury.
• Matt Greene is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this coming summer, but the Los Angeles Kings are looking to re-sign their alternate captain.
• Zach Parise scored his fifth goal of the season last night in Minnesota's 3-1 victory over Minnesota-Duluth alum Justin Faulk and the Carolina Hurricanes. Parise and Faulk became friends and workout partners this past summer, and they hope to become teammates in February.
• NHL.com says North Dakota recruit Nick Schmaltz is following in his older brother Jordan's footsteps.
• It's been a bit of an up and down start to the season for Fargo (USHL) goalie Cam Johnson, but he's using his helmet artwork in an attempt to summon the Force.
• Much has been written and said regarding NCAA committed recruits shunning the college game in order to play major juniors. Here's a look at the issue from a Canadian prospective.
• And here is the latest edition of Through These Doors:

Thursday Morning Coffee

I haven't had much time to get any former Sioux and/or recruit "update" posts up over the past couple of weeks, so some of this stuff may be old news to many of you, but regardless...

• Monique Lamoureux earned WCHA weekly honors for the second consecutive week after a strong weekend against Minnesota-Duluth.
• Jonathan Toews is still undecided about heading overseas as the NHL lockout threatens the 2012-13 season. Toews, who has only recently begun feeling 100% healthy after the concussion he suffered last season, was ranked as one of the top 10 players in the NHL by CBS's Eye on Hockey blog. Zach Parise, meanwhile, came in at number 30.
• The Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) signed veteran defenseman Mike Commodore to a professional tryout contract. Commodore, who has yet to suit up for the Bulldogs, feels his NHL career would be over if he were to sit out the entire season due to the lockout.
• UND recruit Adam Tambellini has been on a hot streak lately, including picking up a rare six pack. One of the contributing factors to his streak may have been his World Junior A Challenge snub. He is currently sixth in the BCHL in scoring with 31 points (16G, 15A), trailing league-leader and fellow North Dakota recruit Wade Murphy (13G, 20A) by just two points.
• NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft, and recruits Keaton Thompson (No. 5) and Luke Johnson (No. 8) are among the top-ranked USHLers on the list. Thompson is ranked no. 22 overall by International Scouting Service and he was featured by scout Craig Button in TSN's scouting report video series. Meanwhile, Tambellini and Murphy are among a group of BCHLers to receive mention from Central Scouting. Tambellini is listed as a B-skater and Murphy jumped up to a C-skater after not appearing on the preliminary watch list.
• Darcy Zajac recently took part in a Q&A as the Albany Devils (AHL) prepared to play the first of its four regular season tilts in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
• Evan Trupp scored a beary big goal last weekend.
• Brock Nelson and Nino Neiderreiter have developed some nice chemistry for the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. They were both first round draft picks of the New York Islanders in 2010, and Lighthouse Hockey recently took a look at Nelson's emergence as a force in the AHL. Nelson currently has 14 points (7G, 7A) in 17 games.
• Matt Frattin has returned to the Toronto Marlies' lineup with a vengeance, scoring five goals in five games since returning from knee surgery...Michael Forney (Colorado Eagles) continues to lead the ECHL with 16 goals. He is also third in the league with 29 points (16G, 13A) in 19 games...Mario Lamoureux (Ontario Reign) is T-6th in ECHL rookie scoring with 14 points (6G, 8A) in 16 games...Aaron Dell (Allen Americans) leads the CHL in both GAA (1.89) and Save Percentage (.936)...Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado Eagles) is T-3rd among ECHL defensemen with 16 points (2G, 14A) in 19 games...Andrew Kozek (Dornbirner) leads the Austrian elite league with 18 goals...Curtis Murphy (Linz) is T-4th among Austrian elite league defensemen with 21 points (5G, 16A) in 25 games...Defenseman Travis Roche (Bern) is expected to be out until mid-December with a broken hand. He has 10 points (1G, 9A) in 10 Swiss elite league games this season...UND recruit Paul LaDue leads all USHL defensemen in points (3G, 13A) and assists (13)...

VandeVelde Talks, Simpson Ranked, Calder Signs, etc.

• Former Sioux captain Adam Calder has signed with the Milton Keynes Lightning of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) for the 2012-13 season. Calder, who captained the 1998-99 Sioux squad that posted a remarkable 24-2-2 record in WCHA play, spent last year with the EPIHL's Slough Jets where he topped all former Sioux in the pros with 81 points (39G, 42A) while leading the Jets to the EPIHL postseason championship.
• Dillon Simpson came in at #15 in The Copper and Blue's Top 25 Oilers Under 25 list. Simpson moved up two spots from his previous ranking of #17, and considering the quality and depth of Edmonton's young talent (Yakupov, Hall, Gagner, Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, Schultz, Klefbom, Paajarvi, etc.) #15 isn't bad at all.
• Chris VandeVelde recently discussed his new contract and how he sees himself fitting in with Edmonton's organization in an Oilers Audio Podcast (Note of Caution: this link opens directly to an automatic audio player).
• Darcy Zajac scored with authority in one of the Albany Devils' top calls from the 2011-12 season.
• The Xcel Energy Center hosted a star-studded fundraiser for the Jack Jablonski Fund Thursday night and former Sioux stars Zach Parise and Drew Stafford attended the event. Jablonski, by the way, is doing all he can to prove the experts wrong. 
• I don't recall if I've posted this already, but if not below is a highlight video of some of Colby Genoway's top plays from his 2011-12 season in Switzerland:

Sunday Afternoon Post, Part 1

Here is the first of two servings of the latest nuggets concerning Fighting Sioux men's hockey:

• Brad Schlossman has a full listing of links on his blog concerning UND's win over Western Michigan yesterday in the NCAA tournament's West Regional. North Dakota will look to book a trip to its sixth Frozen Four in the past eight years when it faces off against Minnesota for the sixth and final time this season.
• New Jersey Devil centerman Travis Zajac will return to the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh. Zajac has been limited to 8 games this season due to an Achilles tendon injury he suffered in the preseason, and has not played since January 2nd. Zajac will get right back at it on one of the Devils' two top lines, and his return gives New Jersey a much-needed pair of fresh legs as it looks to make a strong push heading into the playoffs.
• Chris VandeVelde was recalled yesterday by the Edmonton Oilers and is expected to be in the lineup this afternoon when the Oilers take on Columbus. He will be the 16th former Sioux to play in the NHL this season. VandeVelde has spent the entire season with with the Oklahoma City Barons, Edmonton's AHL affiliate, where he's produced 22 points (7G, 15A) in 65 games. He was also recently featured in an Oklahoma City Gameday episode.
• Chicago Blackhawk center Jonathan Toews practiced for the fifth consecutive day yesterday as he continues to work towards a return from a concussion. The injury will cause him to miss his 16th game tonight, and the Blackhawks are adamant about not rushing him back into the lineup.
• Zach Parise is wrapping up a very nice bounce-back season after missing most of last year due to a knee injury, and one of the keys to his individual success has been eliminating the talk of his impending free agency status. Parise, who would be the offseason's most coveted free agent should New Jersey not be able to re-sign him, has recorded 63 points (29G, 34A) while playing in all 75 of New Jersey's game this season.
• The Buffalo Sabres are making what could become a historic push towards the postseason, and fueling the effort has been the play of Drew Stafford and his linemates Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno. Buffalo, which has won four in a row and has not had a regulation defeat over its last eight games, currently holds down the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. As for Stafford, the former Sioux winger has registered 12 points (4G, 8A) and a +10 rating over his last seven games, and has 45 points (17G, 28A) for the season. This is the second most prolific season of his six year career, and his 28 assists have established a new career high.
• When Stafford hit the 45 point mark, he became the fourth former Sioux to do so this season, joining Toews, Parise, and TJ Oshie. As of Saturday morning, 21 former collegians had reached that mark, and UND's four led all NCAA institutions. 13 of those 21 players played in the WCHA, with Wisconsin (Joe Pavelski, Derek Stepan, Dany Heatley) and Minnesota (Blake Wheeler, Phil Kessel, Thomas Vanek) each having three players on the list. David Backes (MSU), Paul Stastny (DU), and Curtis Glencross (UAA) round out the WCHA representation.
• Matt Frattin has missed Toronto's last two games due to a lower-body injury, while Darcy Zajac is out of the Albany Devil lineup indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
• Evan Trupp went scoreless last night, snapping his five game scoring streak, but the Bakersfield Condor (ECHL) has been very productive over the last month and a half. Since February 8, Trupp has recorded 16 points (9G, 7A) and a +8 rating in 13 games.
• Ryan Duncan had been looking forward to getting back into the lineup after suffering a nasty cut to the face last Sunday, and he had recovered enough to rejoin the Portland (AHL) lineup last night.
• The Anaheim Ducks have had a rash of injuries hit its defensive corps recently, and should they need to make a call to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch for reinforcements, it sounds like former Sioux Matt Smaby would be the one getting the call.

Thursday Morning Coffee

• Brad Schlossman of the GF Herald wrote an article last weekend featuring Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol's thoughts on the CHL-NCAA recruiting battle, and yesterday Rogers Sportsnet's Patrick King issued a rebuttal. King's response is noticeably one-sided, and Chris Peters of The United States of Hockey does a great job of breaking it all down.
• Yesterday it was announced that freshman Brendan O'Donnell will soon undergo season-ending surgery, relegating North Dakota to 18 available skaters, just enough to field a full lineup. If anyone else is forced to miss time from here on out, the Sioux will be forced to skate with a short bench. O'Donnell joins Derek Rodwell and Rocco Grimaldi on UND's season-ending surgery list.
• Evan Trupp had his first career three point game as a professional last night, popping in a goal to go along with two assists as the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) knocked off Utah 4-0. He now has seven points (1G, 6A) in 10 games since being traded from Cincinnati. His former Pony Express linemates Brad Malone and Matt Frattin also contributed to their teams' wins yesterday. Malone had a goal and an assist in helping Lake Erie (AHL) to a 4-3 win over Rockford while Frattin scored the game-winner in a 4-3 Toronto Marlie (AHL) victory over Rochester.
• Portland's (AHL) UND connection of Matt Watkins and Brett Hextall produced a goal and two assists Tuesday night as the Pirates defeated Manchester 4-2. Ryan Duncan has been out of Portland's lineup recently.
• In infirmary news, Kyle Radke is on Rio Grande Valley's (CHL) 30-day IR while Joe Finley has been out of Rochester's (AHL) lineup with a lower body injury that head coach Ron Rolston terms as being "somewhat long-term."
• Finley and fellow Rochester American Corey Fienhage were recently a part of HF's Buffalo Sabre prospect breakdown.
• Darcy Zajac is the most recent Albany Devil (AHL) to be featured on Devils Insider.
• Travis Zajac had his Achilles tendon re-evaluated in Winnipeg yesterday. The Devils are not expected to release details of the evaluation and Zajac's status until later today, but leading up to the doctor visit New Jersey's staff was optimistic that the news would be favorable and that their top center would be able to resume hockey activities soon.
• Former Sioux Ryan Johnson was recently featured at Livestrong.com.
• Recruit Jordan Schmaltz came in at #34 in TSN's 2012 NHL Draft Midseason Rankings.
• Yesterday Jordan's younger brother and fellow Sioux recruit Nick Schmaltz committed to rejoining the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers for next season, effectively turning down an offer to join the USNTDP Under-17 team. Nick, who is currently with the Chicago Mission U-16 team, played 11 games with Green Bay earlier this season, thus they retain his future USHL rights. Sioux recruit Chris Wilkie is also a potential invitee to USA Hockey's 40-player U-17 selection camp.
• Sioux recruit Keaton Thompson and the Team USA U-17 squad opened the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament today in Piestany, Slovakia by knocking off Switzerland 6-1. Their next action will come bright and early tomorrow morning when they take on Germany at 6:30 AM CST.

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 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.