Paula Weston Has No Idea What She Is Talking About

You know what really grinds my gears? Journalistic incompetence, for one. Now, I'm a blogger, I can spew anything about anything and it doesn't matter because nobody pays me to do this. I do this because I absolutely love watching our team, and watching them defeat ACC five years in a row (longest Governor's cup streak in the history of the Governor's cup) brought enough joy to my heart that I couldn't take Eric Carlson's departure without doing something.

But anyway, in Paula Weston's weekly CCHA ramblings for this past week, she took the opportunity to royally piss me off. Perhaps it's because I called her out last week, but perhaps she's just too upset over the Nanooks shutting out the Michigan Wolverines that she's just had a prejudice ever since.

At this point, read the linked article above before you go on...



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Alaska has trouble scoring?! Seriously?! Maybe standing points, but the Nanooks have the third highest scoring average in the CCHA, four spots above mighty #1 Miami. Sure, we are having a little more difficulty stopping goals this season, but scoring is certainly not our problem. I love the fact that she mentioned that, then said one paragraph later that Andy is the greatest rookie on the planet. Which, he is, I'll get to that in my next post today, but seriously, give me a break.

I have yet to read a post from her that has been positive about Alaska. Sure, the number 9 ranking may have been premature, but that's how rankings are, they are done weekly, and shift constantly throughout the season. Fortunately, we haven't gone from 3rd....to....not on the list *cough* Michigan *cough*. If her articles aren't surrounded by her beloved Wolverines (which she managed to muster a section, including video, devoted to the dumb-helmets), they pretty much sink every other team. And it drives me nuts because she is the beat writer for the whole CCHA, not just Michigan... Get with it.

UA and WMU, an objective preview.

OK, so UA notched two shoot out wins last week against a team that swept Nebraska-Omaha a week earlier. Nebraska-Omaha sweeps Western last week. Does that mean UA should win easily? Not exactly.

One thing the Nanooks are learning this season is that no game is a guaranteed win. Yes, there are games we should win, but you have to work in every game, nothing is a "gimme" at this level and the Nanooks are realizing that (perhaps a bit more than ACC is, as a win on Friday appears to be an impossibility in Anchorage). The real challenge is going to be game one, sealing off 3 points tomorrow night. Obviously, if you look at the scoring summary in the screenshot above, comparatively, the Broncos have no comparison. Goaltending isn't very close either. Remember a post I made about a week ago? Talked about Paula Weston's weekly article about CCHA goaltending. Mentioned an interesting case about WMU goalie Riley Gill. I didn't mention it then, but its worth it to say that I didn't think he was good enough to earn those stats, and how right I was, as they have already fallen off.

I obviously expect the Nanooks to sweep this weekend. There should be no reason UA can't leave Kalamazoo with 6 points. Here are some pretty intriguing series notes from the media release from the UA athletic department:

• The Blue and Gold trail the Broncos 18-22-4 in the all-time series and 8-13-0 at Lawson Arena. Here are this week's need to know notes about the WMU series and Alaska Hockey. 
• Last year the teams were clustermates and met four times during the regular season. The teams split their four encounters first the two in Fairbanks on Dec. 19-20 (W 6-3, OT L 2-3) and then pair at Lawson Arena (L 0-3, W 4-3). 
• SR F Dion Knelsen leads the Blue and Gold with 2-7-9 in 11 career games against WMU. JR F Dustin Sather leads in points-per-game against the Broncos with 1-7-8 in six career games (1.33).

Last 5 games - Alaska leads 3-2

Last 10 games - Alaska leads 6-4

Series total  - 18-22-4 WMU leads all time

This weekends predictions:

Friday     4-1 W

Saturday 4-2 W

Johnson Goes to the Show - NY Rangers Call Up Chad Johnson to NHL

Chad Johnson got word this morning as the New York Rangers pulled him up from their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. Johnson will replace previous backup goaltender Stephen Valiquette
who cleared waivers this morning and will be sent down to the Wolf Pack. Chad Johnson was not allowed to practice with the Rangers this morning until Valley's waivers cleared, so the Rangers
brought in a temporary non-pro goalie to help out. Johnson will be expected to report to the Rangers next practice tomorrow, and should be on their official roster soon.

I believed all along that Chad is a very capable goaltender and well suited for the NHL, but he may still need time to develop. Whether this move is permanent is unknown at this point, but I
think Chad is entirely capable of handling the pressure.

With Johnson in net, that makes two Alaska Nanooks on the Rangers' as former Nanook left wing Aaron Voros welcomes Chad to the roster.

[Jim Cerny's Twitter]

Tuesday News Day

Well, my Skater of the Week has apparently influenced some votes in the CCHA head office as Andy Taranto was named CCHA Rookie of the Month. Andy is also 1st in the CCHA for scoring in conference play with a 6-9-15 scoring line, averaging 1.5 points per game in conference play.

Also, check out this video and "Go Behind the Mask" with UA sophomore goaltender Scott Greenham.

Gotta love news. The 12th ranked Nanooks take on the Western Michigan Broncos at the Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo. Game preview to come soon.