Rejoice! And follow the NFL Draft on ESPN.com and NFL.com… that is, if you’re not watching it on ESPN or the NFL Network.
Michigan A #3 Seed In 2010 NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament
Comments Off
Fresh off their CCHA Tournament Championship run, the Michigan Wolverines ended up earning a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament and will face the #2 seed and 9th-ranked Bemidji State Beavers in the opening round of the regional bracket in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on March 27th.
At the beginning of the season it seemed Michigan was destined for a very successful campaign, and then at one point in the season it seemed like they wouldn’t find much measure of success at all. A late season run put them in contention for a chance at extending their record 19 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and the young men came through by winning the CCHA tournament and earning the CCHA automatic birth. Then to earn a #3 seed and rise all the way to a #11 national ranking has to feel very good.
Michigan now takes aim at reaching yet another Frozen Four, with this year’s finals being staged at Ford Field, in Detroit – that would be extra special.
Go BLUE, men!
Michigan Wolverines – CCHA Champions! Hail!
Comments Off
The University of Michigan Ice Hockey Team beat Northern Michigan 2-1 in the CCHA Tournament Championship Game, Saturday at Joe Louis Arena, to win the tournament for the 9th time in the program’s history and also secure a seed in the NCAA National Tournament – a goal that seemed to have slipped through the Wolverines’ grasp not all that long ago. Junior centerman Louie Caporusso scored both of Michigan’s goals on the night and goalie Shawn Hunwick again came up huge at key moments to continue an amazing story in net.
Michigan is playing as well as anyone in the country right now and at just the right time. The national tournament seeds will be announced tomorrow, making the tournament appearance official. That’s now 20 consecutive appearances in the tournament – simply amazing. Hail to the Victors! Michigan is again, the champs!
Michigan Beats Miami To Reach CCHA Championship Game
Comments Off
Tristan Llewellyn scores a first period goal against Miami in the semifinal matchup. (Photo via Inside College Hockey and CCHA.com)
The University of Michigan Ice Hockey Team upset the number 2 ranked Miami, OH Redhawks 5-2 in their CCHA tournament semifinal game, Friday night, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI to advance to the title game where they will face Northern Michigan for the tournament championship on Saturday.
After a bit of a sluggish start, the wolverines dominated the game by employing their skill and speed for all to see against Miami – talent that has at times been missing in action this season on both the offensive and defensive ends. With the win Michigan secures it’s 9th tournament championship game appearance in 10 years and probably moved into a stronger position to extend it’s record 19 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances mark to 20.
Freshman Kevin Lynch led all scorers with 2 goals and an assist on the night and Tristan Llewellyn, Lee Moffie and Brian Lebler also put the puck to the back of the net. At times Michigan looked like it could do no wrong as passes seemed either perfect or to have options when off the mark. A pretty tic-tac-toe play culminated in Michigan’s second goal of the night, a quick deposit to the back of the net by Lee Moffie following some great work on the boards and in front of the CCHA player of the year and Miami goaltender Cody Reichard. Two other goals were the result of passes that missed the intended target but which found another player with a willing stick anyway.
Shawn Hunwick continues his thrilling story of seizing opportunity when it’s presented following goaltender Bryan Hogan’s groin injury in the second to last game of the regular season, against Notre Dame. In just his 6th start of his carerr, Hunwick is playing solid in net and making some clutch saves. Hunwick had a great second period when his team was tested the most. Still at times looking as if he is playing a game he is simply too small to play, Hunwick continues to show great heart, quick vision and sound instincts in challenging shooters to close down opportunities at his net.
In what has been a tough year for the marquee sports at the University of Michigan, it was great to see the hockey team put a very complete effort together (and yes, even catch a touch of fortune in the process) to knock of an excellent and stingy defensive team and reach the championship final. This coming after a great opening round showing against Lake Superior State and a quarterfinal sweep of rival Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena to get to Joe Louis Arena and the Final Four of the CCHA tournament for the 21st consecutive season and the hockey team clearly looks to be peaking at just the right time.
Northern Michigan finished 4th in the CCHA regular season and the wildcats were ranked 12th in both the USA today and USCHO polls before tournament play began. The two teams split their two contests in Ann Arbor back in February of this year. The wolverines finished in 7th place during the CCHA regular season while playing largely inconsistent hockey and are ranked 17th in the USCHO poll. The puck drops for the championship at 7:35 on Saturday at Joe Louis Arena.
Michigan Football Spring Practice Kicks Off
Comments Off
It’s Tuesday, March 16th 2010! And spring practice has commenced for Michigan Football… with a hell of a lot of work to cover and a lot of questions to answer in a very short period of time.
Push Forward Michigan Men!
What is there to say, really, other than – thank god another terrible season is officially behind us. Technically, “last season” is over when the bowl games are over with or at least when signing day arrives in February and all of the last of the season’s efforts are finalized. This year, though, has been different as there have been off-field distractions surfacing on what feels like a weekly basis. With the looming NCAA investigation, a lame duck athletic director being replaced by a new incoming leader and all the factions and infighting that have developed, the past 365 days feel like they’ve been worth 900 in the books. But for now all of that is press history and what matters is making our way forward on the practice fields, in film study and in the classroom.
‘Shirts and shorts’ kicks off spring practice so we’re talking about making hay on fundamentals and understanding the playbooks and breakdown drills to get things rolling. These practices are crucial for acclimating the true freshman who have graduated ahead of schedule and have enrolled early for the winter semester and in seeing how quickly playbooks can be absorbed and how much has been gained (or lost) by the entire team in the off-season weight training and conditioning programs. These are also great for reinstituting practice routines and tempo – something Coach Rodriguez loves to focus on.
We’ll see how things go. Expectations are high and there are as close to concrete expectations as a coach is often going to get in front of Rodriguez and company and a brand new updated Big House full of fans will be waiting come the fall to see how things shake out. It all starts now with spring practice.
Detroit Red Wings Open Post Olympic Play With Nice Win Over Avalanche
Comments Off
Hopefully the time off that has seemed to allow many of the Red Wings’ players to heal will continue to pay dividends as it did last night in Colorado. Detroit beat the Avalanche 3-2 to begin their attack on reaching the playoffs to keep that impressive streak alive.
Nicklas Lidstrom scored on a power play with just 9 minutes to go in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and the Red Wings held on in the closing moments to secure the victory. Let’s Go Red Wings!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300301017
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/gameflash/2010/03/01/25652_recap.html
Canada, Crosby Finally Solve Team USA To Win Olympic Hockey Gold
Comments Off
Sidney Crosby scores to clinch the gold medal and send Canada into frenzied celebration.
Sidney Crosby suddenly put a shot on goal and between Ryan Miller’s pads 7:40 into sudden death overtime to win the gold medal match of what was probably the biggest and best tournament the Winter Olympics – and perhaps the world – has ever seen. The win avenges a 5-3 Team USA victory in their preliminary match where USA secured their appearance in the quarterfinals and in which Canada didn’t play their best hockey, especially goalie Martin Brodeur.
Zach Parise and Team USA had tied the game with just 24 seconds left to force overtime, but Team Canada proved to be the more talented team as they controlled the bulk of the action in the 4-on-4 overtime session and ultimately won the game with the stick of one of the most talented players in the world. Sidney came off the boards in great offensive position behind his USA defender and quickly sent a wrist shot towards the net in the hopes of catching Miller before he was ready – a decision that proved perfect as he ended up beating Miller 5-hole and sending every Canadian into the frenzy they had all hoped for long before the Olympics had even opened up.
Team USA ends up with the silver medal while Canada takes gold in the sport they wanted to win the most as the host for the tournament in a sport they call their own. Team USA goalie Ryan Miller won the tournament MVP award for his outstanding play throughout, a possible measure of satisfaction even if he did come up a bit short in the end in the final match.
Both teams should be proud of their efforts as they both proved a lot to the world. Canada proved that they really were the best and deepest team in the tournament and that they really are top dog, still, when it comes to the overall picture of hockey talent. Team USA proved to be much better than people were giving them credit for before the tournament, showing plenty of speed, grit and skill while toppling quality competition.
Congratulations to Canada on a great win, and congratulation to Team USA for their silver medal performance in this Olympics.
USA Men’s Hockey Scores To Force Overtime
Parise scores with 24 seconds remaining to tie Canada 2-2 and force overtime in the gold medal match of the 2010 Winter Olympic hockey tournament!
With golatender Ryan Miller pulled for the extra attacker and Team USA in final desperation mode, USA controlled the action pushing the puck towards Canada goaltender Riberto Luongo with a hot he couldn’t control. The puck then was cycled behind Canada’s net, passed back out and was sent back in net – another shot Luongo couldn’t cover. Zach Parise’s effort again pays off as he was in the right place at the right time with the puck rolling right to his stick side in front of Luongo and he slapped it past Luongo’s right pad into the back of the net.
The gold medal match heads to overtime! I can’t wait!
Ronnie Belliard Must Lose Weight
Comments Off
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/02/26/belliard.dodgers.ap/index.html?eref=sihp
Sorry Ronnie… wait, no I’m not. This kind of news is always hilarious to me. First and foremost it should be disclosed that I am a Detroit Tigers fan and I have loved to detest this cocky dude ever since he spent a few years as a player for the Cleveland Indians. Obviously, he’s been a good enough baseball player to have a pretty decent career but he’s never been short on times when his testiness and seeming desire to resemble Manny Ramirez at every chance possible hasn’t made him one of my least favorite players of all.
Reading that an athlete is overweight and, per a mutually agreed upon contract, needs to lose some amount of weight or else he won’t get paid or the contract is voided always makes me laugh. These are supposedly athletes, right? They make a living because of their athleticism, right? We’re talking about their ability to run, throw, jump, push, tackle, kick… whatever they do in whatever sport they are involved in… better than any above average man. At the core of these abilities is taking care of one’s body – or so you would think. And yet they have to write up a contract that says, “you will not get fat or this contract is void!”
We’re talking about a second baseman, here. This is not a first baseman who hardly ever has to run or a left tackle in football that NEEDS a certain amount of weight and needs to just be sure that he doesn’t balloon into something ridiculous. We’re talking about a guy who needs to be the second most mobile player on the infield and a guy who needs to have deep range to chase ground balls, cut off the outfield, scoot to the bag and turn to make unbelievably difficult double plays. Carrying extra weight is not an option at second base or short stop. Better get on the treads bro! Otherwise the Dodgers will be fielding a second baseman who actually looks like one. While you’re at it, stop staring at everyone like their holding back the next coming of Lou Whittaker.
TGNRYP6KKU9Z
NFL Draft – Detroit Lions Preview
Comments Off
Posted on 22nd April 2010 by Ben Krasner in Sports Commentary
Detroit Lions, Ndamukong Suh, NFL Draft, NFL Football
There’s not a lot that Detroit doesn’t need to work on in the 2010 NFL Draft, but they have been active in free agency and have brought in help at a number of the glaring spots on the roster. To me this draft needs to be about reaching back to the black and blue division roots, for Detroit. The defense was atrocious – simply atrocious. Defense starts and ends up front and the Lions defensive front was a disaster the past two seasons. They also have not protected their defense very well for a number of seasons and need to be able to control the ball on offense better by converting and making first downs by having a better running game to put them in position for better success on 2nd and 3rd downs. After that, Detroit needs to invest in better athletes at the cornerback and safety positions to help in defending the pass.
Everyone seems to think Ndamukong Suh will be available at the #2 spot and I would hope the Lions would take Suh to make what would seem to be an immediate impact on the defensive front in the way of controlling the line of scrimmage. That’s my pick, anyway.
In the second round, I would hope the Lions find a decent running back to help make some yardage on the ground. Detroit is looking for Smith to come back from injury quickly, but in reality I don’t think they have a heck of a lot in Smith as a featured runner anyway. They need to upgrade this position… the question would be, of course, can you do that in the second round? Keep in mind that Smith was a second rounder, too. If they can’t upgrade the RB position, then another pick on defense would make more sense … a cornerback, safety or even an athletic linebacker who can play in space.
With the third round pick, I think you simply address whatever didn’t get addressed in round two or you take whatever the best value is on the board with any other position that could stand a piece of young talent to be added. Of those not already mentioned, offensive linemen and a craft receiver for the middle of the field would be nice options.
Once they get to the 4th round pick, their last until they pick 4 times in the 7th round, it’s again about value and/or taking guys that have questions sitting out there about them. But there’s often some good potential in offensive linemen in the 4th round, but anyone you take is a project. Looking for a great motor and someone very raw, in the 4th round, if you’re looking to improve your roster in the short term. Otherwise the pick is simply for depth.