Other than the currently ongoing NHL Stanly Cup Playoffs, the biggest ticket item for the NHL is the Winter Classic. This year the Winter Classic was held in Pittsburgh featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. Perhaps the biggest thing about this years Winter Classic game was not even the game itself; but, a 4-part series that HBO produced chronicling the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals leading up to the 2011 NHL Winter Classic. The episodes gave viewers a close-up, behind-the-scenes look into the lives of these hockey players and into the NHL locker rooms. Husky Hockey fans will most fondly recall the episodes that included some fights from SCSU alum Matt Hendricks and SCSU alum Andrew Gordon's first NHL goal (on Martin Brodeur nonetheless). However, there was a third SCSU alum that needs to be recognized for his work in this groundbreaking series and that is Mike Oliver who served not as on "on-air" talent, but as one of HBO's producers. Below are a couple of video interviews between Husky alums Matt Hendricks, Mike Oliver, and Mike Doyle.
SCSU alum Matt Hendricks during HBO 24/7 interview
SCSU alum Andrew Gordon scoring his 1st NHL goal during HBO 24/7
Congratulations to each of these Husky alums in making HBO's Pens-Caps 24/7 series such a huge success and for making St. Cloud State proud!
St. Cloud State has added another 2011 Mr. Hockey Finalist when Jonathan Brodzinski decided to commit to SCSU. Brodzinski played his high school hockey at Blaine where he lead the team with 60 points (31 goals, 29 assists) in 30 games helping the Bengals reach the Minnesota Class 2A state tournament for the sixth straight year. After the state tournament, Brodzinski joined the Fargo Force of the USHL and scored five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 10 games. The Fargo Force has many St. Cloud State ties including Husky recruit Nick Oliver, goaltender Mike Lee, and new assistant coach Steve Johnson.
Jonathan Brodzinski and Husky recruit Garrett Hendrickson were two of the top 10 finalist for the 2011 Mr. Hockey Award given annually to Minnesota’s top high school player.
After UND's surprise loss to the University of Michigan, the WCHA has one lone survivor in the Frozen Four National Championship game...the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Despite the Bulldogs ending the St. Cloud State Huskies season this year, I implore all Husky fans to cheer on our WCHA colleague and hope for a UMD win on Saturday night. It is time to bring the National Championship back where it belongs (in the WCHA) and really who wants to see the WCHA get embarrassed on the national stage like last year (thanks Wisconsin). Despite every part of me disliking the Fighting Sioux (naturally) I was really hoping for an all WCHA championship game and am disappointed that they will not be there. Irregardless, both UMD and UND have had spectacular seasons and have represented our conference well. Below are some links for your reading enjoyment:
Husky Hockey Stuff: (after all...that is what you are really here for)
After some concerns about who would step into being Mike Lee's back up for next year, we are provided with some answers. Ryan Faragher of the North American Hockey League's Bismark Bobcats will be coming to St. Cloud State. During the 2010-2011 season he recorded a 2.44 GAA, and a .918 save percent. During the 2009-2010 season he recorded a 2.17 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. That should be good enough to back up Mike Lee in the WCHA. Who knows...maybe he could even challenge Lee for the starting job? (I kinda doubt it though)
Eric Rud, a former assistant coach at St. Cloud State, looks to be one of the finalist for the head coaching position at Michigan Tech. Rud has done an outstanding job as the head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).
Former St. Cloud State Husky Hockey standout, Matt Cullen joined an elite group of Minnesotan's during Thursday's Minnesota Wild vs. Edmonton Oilers game. Matt Cullen joined only 7 other Minnesota players to have reached 500 career points in the NHL. The list of Minnesota players with over 500 career points include:
Phil Housley (1,232)
Neal Broten (923)
Dave Christian (773)
Reed Larson (685)
Jamie Langenbrunner (637)
Aaron Broten (515)
Joel Otto (508)
Matt Cullen (500)
You can see the highlight of his beautiful assist tipped in by Antti Miettinen:
