Maroon Loon Show - Episode 2

In this episode we talk about last weekend's series against Providence College, with soundbites from Providence Head Coach Tim Army, JT Brown, Travis Oleksuk, Jack Connolly and Aaron Crandall.  We break down all the latest happenings from around the WCHA and talk about the wild weekend that the UMD Football squad had.

Later we look ahead to this weekend's series against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, which mostly consists of us trying to figure out what a Seawolf is.

Check out the Maroon Loon Show every Thursday at 9 pm on 103.3 KUMD.

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SWEEP! UMD Sends Providence Packing with 7-1 Victory

Too easy. Providence College sucks and we dispatched of them with ease. Good to see the boys take of business. I think we're more than ready for the WCHA. Some random notes from last night:

• Dylan Olsen got in two (minor) fights this weekend. Good to see him mix it up. That feistyness combined with his hard slapshot from the point make him one of my favorites.
• I wish they kept stats for time on attack. The Bulldogs were pretty much on a perpetual powerplay for the entire game.  Especially the Connolly-Fontaine line, they absolutely dominated play all weekend.
• Speaking of our first line, Providence head coach Tim Army compared them to the Atkinson-Gibbons-Whitney line on Boston College. Pretty lofty comparison when you consider those three combined for 148 points on their way to a national championship last year. Connolly-Fontaine line has 25 points through four games this year.
• Dan DeLisle doesn't do anything for me. I was excited to see him last year, considering his size, (6-4, 225) the fact that he came to UMD right out of HS, and that he was deemed talented enough to be drafted in the third round by the Blackhawks, but he literally contributes nothing while he's out there. Such a waste of size.
• Jack Connolly told me after the game that the ice was terrible this weekend. I couldn't really tell, but Kevin Pates apparently noticed. I guess it was due to the unseasonably warm October weather.
• I called the blowout. Not a terribly difficult thing to foresee, but I'm bragging anyway.

That's about it. After facing two inferior squads I'm ready for some WCHA action. Unfortunately UMD has Alaska-Anchorage at home this weekend, and won't face a true test until they travel to Bemidji's new arena 10/29-30.

Make sure to check out the Maroon Loon Thursday at nine pm on 103.3 KUMD. We're gonna have a great show this week, packed with plenty of soundbites and shenanigans. Also follow me on Twitter. Please? I'm an incredibly entertaining tweeter. One of the best.

UMD 5, Providence College 3

Well, that was fun.  UMD took care of business in their home opener, getting contributions from a number of guys. Lemme open my notebook pour some knowledge on yall:

• Travis Oleksuk scored on a penalty shot at the end of the second period. This was the first penalty shot I've ever seen in person and it was EXCITING.  After the game Oleksuk sported a wide smile when he rehashed his goal, we'll have the audio of the goal and his post-game interview for you guys on Thursday at nine pm, on 103.3 KUMD.
• Two guys that had really good games: JT Brown and Brady Lamb.  JT Brown got his first collegiate goal at the beginning of the second period, and could've had a few more.  He was flying around making nifty plays and jacking people up.  But the biggest hitter on the ice Friday night was Brady Lamb.  He added two assists to his impressive physical play.
• I still think Kenny Reiter is a little shaky.  He got better as the game went along, but he's still a ways from looking confident in net.
• The Bulldogs' special teams look good.  They notched two powerplay goals and displayed a little creativity, as evidence by the Mike-Jack-Fontaine tic-tac-toe goal in the first period. Although they allowed a goal on the penalty kill, the Dogs were solid when they were a man down.
• There were a TON of freshman fans in the student section, which was both annoying and encouraging. It's cool that the incoming class is into hockey, but goddamn, freshman are stupid. I wish I had a video camera last night... Also heard that all student tickets are sold out until we move into Amsoil Arena, which is crazy. 
• Dick Stewart looked especially spry after the 'We Love Dick' chant during the third period.  He stood for an extended time, alternating waving his windsock and his cap.  The fact that this year's squad is good enough to excite even the oldest, most iconic of Bulldog fans is a good sign.