Congratulations to John Pohl and Krissy Wendell who welcomed a healthy, and lucky baby girl, Emily Katerine, last week!  Emily was born on June 7th, and reportedly weighed in at 7 pounds and 7 ounces, so she is obviously blessed. No word on whether Brad Frost has already made a recruiting visit.  Pohl is on the attendee list for the Podein Celebrity Party in his hometown of Rochester on June 29th where he usually performs on stage with other musicians and hockey players during a fun jam session so Krissy must be giving him a pass on diaper duty for the night. Quick Facts notes that she also has the coolest birthday ever, 06/07/08, with the coolest parents, which makes her the winner of the coolest baby contest, with the best karma ever, hands down!

Ryan Potulny, traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Edmonton Oilers this summer, has signed a one-year deal with the Oilers.  The Oilers have stated they expect the former Gopher to begin the year in Springfield but a good camp could show that he is deserving of a 3rd or 4th line center position considering the Oilers' difficulties last season.  His brother Grant isn't likely to hear much on a new contract, he is an unrestricted free agent as of July 1st, until after the draft and free agency begins.  

 
Blake Wheeler has come to an agreement with the Boston Bruins.  Wheeler filed to be come a free agent after refusing an offer from the Phoenix Coyotes.  Wheeler is expected to start his professional career with the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence.  The P-Bruins featured Minnesotans Matt Hendricks and Sean Curry last season. The P-Bruins have been coached by Scott Gordon, a former Boston College goaltender, for almost 10 years.  Gordon served as a head coach in the IHL and ECHL before joining being hired as an assistant for the Baby Bruins in 2000.  
 
Former St. Cloud State Husky Ryan Malone has announced that he would not re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins and would seek his options through free agency.  He is expected to sign a lucrative offer with the Columbus Blue Jackets who are reportedly prepared to outbid most offers.  Malone recently purchased a home in Minnesota.  Malone's wife is a native of the state and the couple welcomed their first child during the season last year but his overinflated pricetag due to his stellar performance in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Penguins has likely put him out of the Wild's reach if they resign Brian Rolston.  The Penguins would like to resign Malone but cannot match the Jackets' numbers and also afford to resign Hossa, their priority.
 
The NHL has instituted rule changes that will be in effect for next season.  The first, to Rule 76.2, means that the team that commited the penalty will take the first faceoff of the power play in their own defensive zone. Another change modifies Rule 85.5, and just means that if a puck deflects off the pipe and goes off the rink (goalpost, crossbar, etc) the faceoff will be held in the zone where the puck went out of play.  The last and best rule change modifies icing, Rule 81.1, and means that any player that comes into contact with another player that isn't for the sole purpose of playing the puck can be assessed a penalty.  This means that the contact to the back, the shove that sent Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster caroming into the boards causing the gruesome fracture of his leg, would be a penalty, if it was seen and judged as such by the referee. It doesn't go as far as eliminating the risk of injury as a no-touch icing rule would, but it could at least make a player like Kevin Mitchell think more than twice about laying a hand on a player skating full bore for a puck on an icing call.
 
Over 60 Celebrities are currently scheduled to attend the 11th Annual Shjon Podein Children's Foundation Celebrity Party in Rochester on June 29th including Minnesota hockey players: Jordan Leopold, Paul Martin, Matt Koalska, Mark Parrish, Dan Hinote, all the Stuart brothers: Mike, Mark and recent Calder Cup winner Colin, Ryan Potulny, Erik Westrum, Matt Cullen, Tom Chorske, Brian Lawton, Alex Kangas, Bryce Lampman, Jake Taylor; Actors: Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride, According to Jim), William O'Neill (Transformers, West Wing, The Unit), Nicole Sullivan (MAD-TV, King of Queens),  Steve Shenbaum (American Pie 2), Joel Gretsch (Bagger Vance), Jeremy Ratchford (Cold Case), Erik Stolhanske (Supertoopers); and Musicians: Sally Taylor, Tommy Stewart (Fuel), Angie Stevens, Jake Schroeder (Opie Gone Bad), Brad Paisley, Joe King (The Fray) and gb leighton.  The evening will include great food, silent and live auctions, as well as a concert by gb leighton with special guests providing live entertainment all evening.  Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on several trips including concert tickets and VIP passes to see Brooks & Dunn in Chicago, Taylor Swift/Rascal Flatts in Tampa, FL, and James Taylor at Red Rocks in Colorado.  There will also be sporting event tickets, sports memorabilia, and much more. Doors to the event open at 7pm.  Tickets are on sale at Play-It-Again-Sports, 102 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester for a $50 donation to Team25.  Go to team25.com for more information.
 
Ever wonder what happened to InLine Hockey?  Well it is alive and well, but it doesn't seem so in Minnesota.  At least not to the heights it was in the 1990's that is for certain.  In 1996 the first IIHF InLine Hockey World Championships were held right here in the Twin Cities and the majority of the players on the USA Team were Minnesota players having grown up on RollerBlades.  Now, with Taj Melson in medical school, there are no longer any Minnesota players on the USA Hockey team with most players being from Colorado and California.  There are still professional inline hockey leagues.  In fact, a new one, the American Inline Hockey League, has just launched. The new league will be designed to cater to players in the U.S. that aspire to play inline hockey at the highest level. The goal of the AIHL is to bring structure to the sport of inline hockey across the U.S. and to align itself with the national governing body of inline hockey, USA Roller Sports. This new league will be designed and operated by the team owners and will be sanction under the banner of the AAU/USARS.  Anyone interested in the league can send an email.
 

Quick Correction:

My attempt at humor in the note in the previous Quick Facts about Benilde student Niklas Almstrom may have caused some confusion. Niklas Almstrom has signed with a Swedish team and is "returning" to the motherland on a Swedish passport as his father is Swedish, but Almstrom, was born and raised in the US and has played at Benilde since 9th grade.  Any impression otherwise was errant and Quick Facts apologizes for the misplaced funny bone.

 
NHL Draft Speculation:
 
Some people think Minnetonka's Jake Gardiner could go as high as in the top ten of the NHL Entry Draft this weekend due to his skating skills but his mental lapses may end up holding him back. Because of the number of high-level blueliners to come out of Minnesota in the last several years there is likely to be more benefit of doubt given so his stock has risen significantly.  There has also been a battle amongst teams vying to see whether they really want to take him with a high pick or risk waiting that he'll fall to them which means he'll likely go earlier than later.  Quick Facts expects he will not be available past the 15th pick.
 
The two goaltenders ranked in the lower twenties are great prospects, but when the Wild said they were considering taking either of them they could have been throwing up a smokescreen in order to get teams with a desperate need to stock goaltending depth to start thinking of moving up and providing the Wild with perhaps an additional pick in the draft.  The Minnesota Wild had and ECHL All Star goaltender, Anton Khudobin, An AHL All Star Goaltender, Nolan Schaefer, and Schaefer's back-up Barry Brust, lead the AHL statistically at the end of the season and through the playoffs in relief of the injured starter.  The Wild also has additional promising prospects Niko Hoivonen and perhaps Kristofer Westblom in the system, but Hoivonen's status could depend on the IIHF transfer agreement.  The Wild's more immediate need is defensemen and there are more of them available with later picks as well so moving down to allow another team to take one of the netminders may not be such a poor strategic move if the defenseman they want will still be there with the later pick.
 
Quick Facts doesn't agree with recent Central Scouting Bureau ratings that allowed Alex Pietrangelo, the nephew of former Gopher goaltender Frank, to drop lower in the rankings. Quick Facts thinks that Alex may end up going in the top three of the draft despite the lower ranking.
 
Future Gopher Aaron Ness may end up dropping to the second round of the draft due to his size or he may be chosen amongst the last of the first round.  Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see Montreal go for a third Minnesota player with their late round pick, selecting Ness.
 
Quick Facts projects the Minnesota Wild to choose defenseman John Carlson in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft if he is available.  The 6'2", 212 Carlson currently plays for Indiana in the USHL and is reportedly a power play specialist with a heavy shot who plays physically and skates hard.  Carlson is currently ranked 17th amongst North American skaters by the Central Scouting Bureau.  Carlson will join the London Knights of the WHL rather than attend college.  Other possible picks for the Wild Quick Facts would like to see include Tyler Cuma, another defenseman who has the incredible skating skills the Wild always seem to admire; or forward Maxime Sauve, a solid two-way center with great skating skills who still has the ability to get bigger.

Former Houston Aeros Head Coach Todd McClellan has been named the new head coach of the San Jose Sharks. McClellan was the head coach of the Wild's IHL affiliate Cleveland Lumberjacks and moved to the AHL Houston Aeros when the Jacks folded after the 2000-2001 season.  McClellan lead the Aeros to the AHL Calder Cup championship in 2003.  He left the Aeros to take the assistant coaching job with the Detroit Red Wings in 2005 and helped lead that club to the Stanley Cup Championship this season.  He will take over for the recently dismissed Ron Wilson.  

The 4th Annual Westrum Parkinson’s Raffle will be held on Sunday July, 13th at 3:00 pm at Rascals Restaurant in Apple Valley. If you are interested in purchasing raffle tickets, please go to for information; tickets will be sold through July 13th . The tickets are $5 each and all proceeds will benefit a respite program for the Parkinson's Association of Minnesota. If you are interested in donating an item for the auction or making a cash donation you can also contact Erik via the website. There will be hundreds of prizes including hockey memorabilia, restaurant gift cards, hotel packages, cash, golf packages, sports tickets, and much more!

Ryan Potulny, whose hockey stick is in the Hockey Hall of Fame for scoring the game-winning goal in the longest AHL game in history, has been traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Danny Syvret.  According to Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren the deal was made based on need; the Flyers were deep at the center position and needed more depth at defense.  The Oilers have said that they expect Potulny to begin the season with their minor league affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.  Interestingly, Ryan's brother Grant, finished the season with the Falcons after a late season trade with the Hershey Bears sent him to the club.  Grant is a free agent this summer which leaves the door open for the brothers to play on the same team for the first time since they were Gopher, should the Falcons/Oilers decide to sign grant this off-season and reunite the two.  However, the Oilers management did say that Ryan would be expected to be recalled to Edmonton from time to time, and perhaps challenge for a position in camp. Obviously Potulny was surprised at the news after he had such a successful season, and playoffs with the Philadelphia affiliate, "I loved Philadelphia," said the former Gopher. At least Minnesota audiences with have a greater chance to see Potulny skate should he be recalled, and there is always be the bonus of being paid in Canadian dollars these days.
 
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed former University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog center Tim Stapleton.  Stapleton has spent the last two seasons playing for Jokerit in Finland.  Last season he scored 29 goals and 62 points in 55 games.
 
Bemidji's Joe Motzko and Rochester's Colin Stuart claimed the 2008 Calder Cup Championship on June 10th when the Chicago Wolves beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-2, taking the 7-game series four games to two and leaving Alex Goligoski and John Curry as runner's up in their rookie seasons in the AHL and as professional hockey players. It is the first championship for Stuart and first AHL Championship for Motzko.
 
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were supposed to fly to Chicago for Game 6 of the Calder Cup finals but were unable to secure reservations for the entire team so the captains got together and decided to nix the flight and chose to drive the 12 hours to Chicago in a sleeper bus instead.
 
Alex Goligoski missed the majority of the end of Game 5 as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins romped over the Chicago Wolves 5-1, staving off elimination once again and forcing the Calder Cup playoffs back to Chicago for Game 6 after being gouged in the eye. Goligoski returned to play in Game 6 but was held without a point despite several chances.  He ended up with 28 points in the playoffs, an AHL record for a defenseman, and tied the record for scoring by a rookie in the playoffs and was the second leading scorer in the playoffs behind only playoff MVP Jason Krog.
 
John Curry finished the playoffs with a 2.83 goals against and .899 save percentage in the playoffs with a 14-9 record and 1 shutout.
 
The Baby Penguins reportedly channeled the 2004 Boston Red Sox, even the die-hard Yankees fans among them, wearing Red Sox hats, to try and bring the team good luck in their efforts to rally from a 3-0 deficit in the Calder Cup finals. Minnesota Twins fans Alex Goligoski, Todd Richards and John Curry have even reportedly been spotted sporting the red "B" logo hats. Richards actually won a series after rallying from a 3-0 deficit as a player with the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL.
 
Joe Motzko did not play in the Calder Cup finals series due to an undisclosed injury suffered against the Toronto Marlies in the Conference Finals but had 2 goals and 9 assists in the playoffs prior to the series. Colin Stuart was held without a point in the final game but had three goals and three assists in the playoffs up until that game, including a shorthanded goal.
 
Former Gopher Dan Welch, who returned to the US last season to play with the Texas Wildcatters of the ECHL is going back overseas this winter to play in Denmark for Totempo HVIK. Welch will join three other Wildcatters teammates, one from Mercyhurst, one from Michigan and one from the Halifax Mooseheads and Acadia University in Canada with his Danish team.
 
Strike Toby Petersen off the list of possible centerman for the Minnesota Wild, he has been signed to a two-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars worth a reported $1.1 million. Petersen, a Bloomington native, had a standout run in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Stars after spending most of the season with their affiliate in Iowa where he also played exceedingly well.
 
The Dallas Stars traded Marty Sertich to the Colorado Avalanche for a conditional 7th round draft pick in 2009.  Sertich had a standout rookie campaign with the AHL club but tailed off in his sophomore year.  Sertich was the Hobey Baker award winner while playing for the Colorado College Tigers and is expected to join their AHL Lake Erie Monsters club and provide depth at the center position.
 
Former Gopher Evan Kaufmann is hoping to sign with a team in Germany this summer pending the status of his German passport. Kaufmann will be married this fall.
 
11th Annual Shjon Podein Children's Foundation Celebrity Party and Concert with gb leighton will be held June 29th at McMurphy's Sports Bar/Aquarius
Night Club in Rochester. Doors open at 7pm! Tickets are available now for a $50 donation to TEAM 25 at Play It Again Sports (102 Elton Hills Dr. NW, Rochester, MN)!  Go to Team25.com for more information.
 
 
Quick Speculation:
 
The Raleigh newspapers have reported that Bret Hedican has said he will not return to the Carolina Hurricanes next season and is moving into his home in California with his wife Kristi Yamiguchi, winner of Dancing with the Stars, and their children. Quick Facts expects Hedican to sign as a free agent in California, most likely San Jose, rather than return home to Minnesota and sign with the Wild. The Wild has made the move to acquire defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron and re-sign Erik Reitz but is likely to sign one more free agent defenseman, likely someone like John-Michael Liles, Ron Hainsey or Dmitri Kalinin or a checking defenseman like Mike Commodore.
 
Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see Blake Wheeler sign as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche or Buffalo Sabres this summer.
 
It appears as though Andrew Brunette will not be returning to the Colorado Avalanche.  Reports out of Denver are that he has not met with the Avs prior to the free agency deadline. Brunette would like to return to Minnesota but it is unknown whether the Wild are interested in bringing the fan favorite back to the team where he was a playoff hero but Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see Brunette finish his career with Minnesota if the numbers work out.
 
There are reports that the Ottawa Senators may be shopping defenseman Andrej Mezaros, the defenseman the Wild should have drafted instead of AJ Thelen. Interested candidates are rumored to include Philadelphia among others.  It is unlikely the Wild have enough to make the the deal, but it could be interesting to see if they could without giving up a first round pick in this year's draft.

 
Quick Quotes:
 
"I'm really excited to be joining Colorado's organization. It's a great organization that's had a lot of success, so I'm thrilled to be joining them.  I have a lot of family and friends in Colorado, so they're excited for my  opportunity as well."

- Marty Sertich on being traded to Colorado.

 
"When you’re around a good group of guys, you want to see them succeed and do well. Obviously they did well, but you want to see them ultimately win and be able to share with each other the experience of winning a championship. But real proud of our effort tonight. Real proud of our effort all season.”

-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Todd Richards on losing the Calder Cup playoffs to the Chicago Wolves (Penguins Insider).
 
 
Quick Facts Exclusive:
 
Quick Facts had the opportunity to speak with Bemidji native and former St. Cloud State standout Joe Motzko following game one of the Calder Cup playoffs. Motzko, who won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks last season began this year with the Washington Capitals organization, playing primarily with the AHL Hershey Bears, but a late season trade sent him to the Chicago Wolves and a date with the Calder Cup. Below is the interview.
 
QF: You have the chance at a second championship in consecutive years, that is pretty rare.  How does that feel?
JM: Its pretty exciting.  Last year was obviously a dream come true. This year its not the NHL but it is the playoffs and playing for a championship is what you want to do.
 
QF: You are currently injured and not playing, correct?
JM:  I got a little banged up, its day to day.  
 
QF:  It wasn't Chris Harrington that caused the injury was it? (Motzko was injured during the Conference Finals against the Toronto Marlies)
JM:  No, it wasn't him, that would have been bad.
 
QF:  Obviously you would prefer to be playing in the NHL but if you have to be in the AHL, isn't Chicago one of the better places to be?
JM:  I don't mind it so much, Chicago has always been one of my favorite cities.  This is probably the best place to play in the American League.  They have a great ownership group, coaching staff, training staff and all that, so I'm just happy to be part of it.  I've played with guys on other teams and this is one of the best.   
 
QF:  Is it a little sweeter to be playing against a team coached by a Gopher?
JM: No matter where you end up the hockey world is a small small world you always know a guy or two from the other team.  
 
QF:  You played with Ryan Malone and Mark Hartigan both competing for the Stanley Cup.  Who do you root for?
JM:  It is tough to have two buddies playing.  Maybe we'll have a party of our own with the Calder Cup and Stanley Cup.    
 
QF:  What can you say about the job that your opponent Alex Goligoski is doing in the playoffs?
JM:  Goligoski has just been on fire in the playoff. I played against Wilkes Barre quite a bit earlier in the year when I was in Hershey and it is good  to see Goli keep growing and growing as a player, he's one of the best defensemen in the league right now and hopefully he won't be in the American League much longer.
 
QF:  Being so close to Minnesota in Chicago do you see any Husky fans in the crowd?
JM:  I haven't seen a lot of Husky support.  I've been out of St. Cloud for a while now, not a spring chicken by any means, maybe that's it. I still keep in touch with a few people in St. Cloud. Everyone has had great things to say about Bob Motzko from what I hear their freshman and sophomore class was carrying the load for them this year.  THe future looks pretty good for St. Cloud and hopefully we can make some noise in the upcoming years.  
 
QF:  Eric Rud was a candidate for the open Gopher job and is staying too so that's a good team. Hastings of the Lancers, was named instead.
JM:  Mike Hastings? Mike was my coach when I played in Omaha.  I loved playing for him in Omaha, he's a very knowledable hockey person and a good coach; its a good pick-up for the U.
 
QF:  Huskies are taking over everywhere!
JM: We're making a charge.
 
Motzko unfortunately was unable to play in the Calder Cup finals series but will receive his second consecutive championship ring as the Chicago Wolves clinched the Calder Cup Championship on June 10th beating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-2.  For Huskies fans perhaps they will see the Calder Cup and Stanley Cup side by side at the National Sports Center sometime this summer, making a charge indeed.

With the Stanley Cup victory by the Detroit Red Wings former St. Cloud State Husky Mark Hartigan has just won back-to-back Stanley Cup Rings, having accomplished the feat with the Anaheim Ducks last year.  Hartigan did play in the first round of the playoffs against the Predators.

Duluth native Brett Larson has been named assistant coach to Scott Sandelin at the University of Minnesota Duluth.  Larson is an alumnus of the program and had a long minor league career in North America and in Germany.  He was also a standout Roller Hockey player for the Minnesota Arctic Blast and Blue Ox and in international competition.  Larson reportedly beat more experienced candidates for the position, including Grand Rapids Native and former Badger player and Chris Tok and former St. Cloud assistant coach Brad Wilner.
 
Alex Goligoski was recalled to the Pittsburgh Penguins to play in Game Five of the Stanley Cup final after playing the first two games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins  in the Calder Cup Finals in Chicago against the Wolves but did not play. The WBS Penguins dropped the first two games to the Wolves.  In Game two on Sunday the Baby Pens went down 3-0 bu came back with two goals, Goligoski assisting on the second.  But a late power play goal allowed the Wolves to put the game out of reach and gave Chicago a two-game lead in the finals.  In the two losses Goligoski has a goal and five assists.  With his assist on Sunday Goligoski tied the AHL record for most points by a defenseman in one playoff year with 25. The former Gopher traveled from Chicago to Detroit as a backup defenseman because Kris Letang, the best friend of Vancouver Canuck Luc Bourdon who died tragically in a motorcycle accident last week, was in New Brunswick to attend his funeral and was unavailable.  Assistant General Manager Chuck Fletcher also reported in the Citizen's Voice that Pittsburgh was looking at inserting Goligoski for the offensive spark he can provide.  Said Fletcher in the newspaper "“Everyone knows how well he’s played. He’s had an outstanding playoffs. This will give Michel some options. He’ll make his decision in the morning.”  
 
Goligoski was not played in the Stanley Cup game on Monday but practiced with the Penguins in Detroit.   The Penguins had to decide whether to return Goligoski to the Baby Penguins for their Calder Cup run on Wednesday or whether they needed to insert him in their lineup for a very banged up blueline for Pittsburgh.  With the return of Letang,  he was reassigned to Wilkes Barre, but during his reassignment a scoring change from Sunday's game was made, giving him an additional assist, meaning he has now broken the AHL record for most points by a defenseman in a playoff year in the AHL, the mark previously set by another Penguin, Chris Kelleher, in 2001.
 
Rochester's Colin Stuart got the game-winning goal for the Chicago Wolves on Sunday, stuffing the rebound on Jason Krog's wraparound attempt in the second period giving Chicago their second 3-0 lead in as many games in the Calder Cup finals.  A two-goal comeback attempt by the Penguins fell short and the goal stood as the winner.  
 
Jeff Taffe was part of the Wilkes Barre Penguins at the start of the season, was their leading scorer and was leading the AHL for the start of the season in fact.  He was recalled to Pittsburgh prior to the Winter Classic and has been with the club since, playing 45 regular season games.  However, the late-season acquisitions of Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis have pushed Taffe from the active roster to the "heathy scratch" list so he has watched the entire Stanley Cup playoffs from the sidelines.  According to long-standing rules because Taffe would have had his name on the Cup because he played more than 40 regular season games with the Pens despite the fact he never played in one playoff game.  Taffe is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
 
Former Shattuck player Patrick Eaves, son of former North Star and current Badger head coach Mike Eaves, has been signed to a three-year deal worth a reported $1.4 million a year with the Carolina Hurricanes.  Eaves, who suffered multiple injuries that limited him to only 37 games played between Ottawa and Carolina last season, would have been a restricted free agent on July 1st.
 
Buffalo native Adam Meyer who played at Gustavus Adolphus and St. Thomas before playing a few years in the minor leagues will play for HeKi Heinola in Finland this year.
 
St. Olaf's  John Paulson will play for IC Epinal in France next season.
 
Mankato State Maverick alumnus Rob Rankin will continue to play in the British Elite League next year, transferring to Newcastle Vipers from the Hull Stingrays.
 
The ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs have been incredibly close, both clubs have a shutout a side and the series began tied at two games each with virtually identical scores.  Marco Peluso has an assist in the series for the Las Vegas Wranglers and Bryan Schmidt has a goal and an assist for Cincinnati while TJ McElroy has thus far been shut out for the Cyclones. The Cyclones can clinch the Championship in in game six after holding the 3-2 series lead following the Game Five 4-0 shutout on Monday. Cincinnati has won a hockey title before, but it has been a while.  In 1973 the Swords won the Calder Cup and Cincinnati won 6 hockey titles in the 50's with their IHL franchise when their affiliate was the Montreal Canadiens, also their current ECHL affiliate.  If the series goes according to pattern the Wranglers will win game six, sending the series to the final and deciding Game 7.
 
The firing of John Tortorella in Tampa Bay will likely affect the playing status of two young Minnesota defensemen, Mike Lundin and Matt Smaby, both Tampa Bay Lightning young prospects and possibly John Wessbecker who was drafted in 2005. Should Barry Melrose take over, as rumored, the situation will be interesting for a young untested college defensemen as it is unknown how Melrose, who has been out of the game since his firing from the Kings, other than a short stint in the UHL with the team he owned.
 
The rumored dots are being connected in Toronto.  Ron Wilson is the projected coach.  Wilson is good friends with Brian Burke from their Providence College days.  Burke's wife just left her job in Vancouver.  Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment could certainly get Burke's wife another TV job.  Toronto plays Boston several times a year, where Burke's sons live.  The speculation is that former North Star Ron Wilson will be hired as Head Coach of the Leafs.  Former Edina resident Brian Burke will not renew his contract with the Anaheim Ducks following this season and will be named General Manager and Cliff Fletcher, who is currently running the show up there, will be named President of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.  Wouldn't it be ironic that two USA Hockey powerhouses like Burke and Wilson could end up running the Canadian Hockey bastion like the Toronto Maple Leafs??  Still a shame that the Leafs are overlooking their own product in John Anderson.
 
It is looking more likely that Craig Hartsburg may end up with one of the vacant NHL head coaching positions, Ottawa is the name that arose most often but with the firing of Tortorella the assumption is that Torts would be the perfect fit for the Senators and will end up there in less than a week.
 
See an exclusive Quick Facts Calder Cup Interview with Joe Motzko and Colin Stuart to be posted soon!
 

Quick Quotes:
  
“I don’t think it’s a talent gap.  The first goal was a gift. There was a bounce. If you give them the power-play goal, it’s 1-0. We had opportunities. We had chances. We have to do more out on the ice to try to create more chances and when we get our chances, we gotta finish.”  (Citizens Voice)

Former Gopher John Pohl has signed to play for HC Lugano in Switzerland next season, the same team where former Wild players Petteri Nummelin and Hnat Domenichelli are signed. Pohl played for the Toronto Maple Leafs last year and is an unrestricted free agent this summer. As Quick Facts speculated weeks ago, Blake Wheeler has refused the Phoenix Coyotes' contract offer and has announced his intentions to pursue free agency.  The Coyotes did not tender Wheeler the maximum that Wheeler could have received as the 5th overall pick in the 2004 draft but it was an amount higher than Wheeler can receive as a free agent as he is now subject to current signing bonus terms rather than those of the previous CBA.  However, Wheeler and his advisors obviously believe that he can receive a greater opportunity elsewhere rather than being a depth forward for the Coyotes and relegated to San Antonio.  There are several teams with less depth at right wing than Phoenix.  The Coyotes will receive a compensatory 5th pick in the second round for losing Wheeler.
USA Hockey has announced their annual award recipients, several of whom are Minnesotans this year.  Duluth's Jack Connolly completed an outstanding rookie season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League and is the recipient of the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award. Connolly, the USHL's 2007-08 Rookie of the Year, tied for the league lead with 72 points (26-46) and was named to the All-USHL First Team and USHL All-Rookie Team. Dr. Michael Stuart is the recipient of USA Hockey's Excellence in Safety Award. Stuart, USA Hockey's chief medical officer, is at the forefront of preventing hockey related injuries. His research and subsequent article on head and facial injuries suffered in junior hockey earned him the American Sports Journal of Medicine Hughston Award in 2003. He has served as a team physician for many U.S. national teams and currently works with the Minnesota Ice Hawks of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.  Dr. Stuart is also the father of Colin Stuart, who is playing for the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves, Mark Stuart who plays with the Boston Bruins, Mike Stuart who played last season in Graz, Austria, and Cristin Stuart, a defenseman with the Boston College Eagles.  Natalie Darwitz is the recipient of the Bob Johnson Award for excellence in international competition. Serving as team captain, Darwitz led the U.S. Women's National Team to its second gold medal at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship. Her 10 points (6-4) led the World Championship, while she earned the directorate award as the tournament's top forward. Gary Gregus of Shakopee is the recipient of the Walter Yaciuk Award for his contributions to USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program. Gregus' involvement in coaching education dates back to 1975. He has lectured at over 100 USA Hockey coaching clinics from Level 1 through Level 4. He has also co-authored two USA Hockey coaching manuals and assisted in developing Minnesota Hockey's Skills Program focusing on player development.

Swedish national Niklas Almström, who played for Benilde St. Margaret last year, has returned to Sweden to play for Södertälje SK Junior team.

Former North Star Ulf Dahlen, who most recently has been an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars, has returned to Sweden to become head coach of  the Västra Frölunda Indians Hockey Club.

Sergei Krivokrasov, an original member of the Minnesota Wild, will play for SKA St, Petersburg in Russia next season.  He played last year for Metallurg Novokuznetsk and returned to play in Russia in 2003.  Krivokrasov will be joined in St. Petersburg by another former Wild player, Andrei Zyuzin, who has also signed with the club. Zyuzin, last played with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

Evan Kaufmann, who completed his senior season of eligibility with the Gophers last year, is working this summer with PriceWaterhouse Coopers in an accounting internship.  Kaufman recently earned his second All American honor of the year, being named a to the Jewish Sports Review's Hockey All America Team. Kaufmann was also a WCHA All American. No word on whether the honor gets him a place on the mural.
 
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will take on the Chicago Wolves in Game One of the Calder Cup playoffs on Thursday night in Chicago.  The first two games can be viewed on the NHL Network. Some interesting information has been provided in the media package for the series. The Baby Penguins' win in Game Seven vs. Portland was the 17th playoff victory of Todd Richards' Penguins career, tied for most all-time with current Pittsburgh head coach Michel Therrien. Alex Goligoski leads all defensemen, and ranks tied for third overall, in playoff scoring in the AHL with 20 points (3+17). His 17 assists are second in the league. The former Gopher had an eight-game scoring streak (3+11=14) - the longest in the league this postseason, and the longest in Penguins playoff history – snapped in Game Five against Philadelphia. Despite being a rookie, Shorewood native goaltender John Curry is third all-time in Penguins playoff history with 12 postseason wins. He has played ever game so far for the Penguins this post-season. Not bad for a guy who began the season in the ECHL, was thought dispensable enough to be sent to Germany to play in the Deutschland Cup, and who was signed as a depth free agent for the Penguins. Curry and Goligoski were both named to the AHL All Rookie team.
 
The Chicago Wolves can arguably be called the most successful minor league franchise of the last decade.  In the last 11 years they have made the league finals an unbelieveable six times. The Wolves have never beaten the Penguins since joining the AHL from the IHL in 2001.  Darren Haydar, who won a Calder Cup with Wyatt Smith and the Milwaukee Admirals in 2004, had his own 8-game point streak, and he is currently the all time AHL leader in goals scored in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Joe Motzko, is going for his second consecutive league championship, having won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks last year.  Motzko, however, missed the entire series against the Toronto Marlies with an undisclosed injury, and Brett Sterling, the former Colorado College standout, has also been out of the lineup due to injury. Both are expected to return for the finals.
 
The Chicago Wolves had grown traditional playoff beards but after a bad game 5 loss to the Rockford Ice Hogs in an earlier playoff round decided to change things up and shaved them into mustaches, calling it a "Mustache Rally".  Several players are sporting very 70's-inspired porn-star looks, reportedly creating some interesting reactions when they are dining out.
 
The last time the WBS Penguins had such great post-season success Toby Petersen was leading their offense in 2001. Petersen is an unrestricted free agent this summer following an outstanding playoff series with the Dallas Stars.
 
In the Pittsburgh Penguins series against the Red Wings former Gopher Jeff Taffe has yet to play in a game, basically having been benched since the acquisition of Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa.  Taffe, who had an outstanding year with the WBS Penguins and Pittsburgh Penguins both, is an unrestricted free agent this year.
 
 
 
Quick Speculation:
 
The word on the street is that Mike Hastings was Don Lucia's second choice for the vacant Gopher assistant position and it is only a stopping ground for him in his goal to become an NCAA head coach.  It isn't a secret that Scott Sandelin is on shaky ground at the University of Minnesota Duluth after a few years of disappointing performances, and that with a year at Minnesota, should Sandelin lose his position with the Bulldogs, Hastings may be the primary candidate to replace him.  However, Mike Guentzel, depending on what job he seeks this season, would also be a primary candidate for that vacancy. Another rumored opening is at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, for which either of the Mikes could be a candidate as well.  Whatever the case, Hastings, like many of the recent highly touted Gopher prospects is not expected to remain long at the University of Minnesota.  
 
Quick Facts can see the Minnesota Wild dealing one of their goaltenders to obtain a depth center or defenseman, or perhaps as part of a package to move up in the draft. Backstrom has a restricted trade clause but Harding and Schafer don't, and the Wild's group in Texas last year were outstanding. There are a few free agent goaltenders on the market this year, but some teams could be looking for good back-up depth that the Wild can provide.

The announcement of the new assistant for the University of Minnesota Men's Hockey program is expected tomorrow.  Mike Hastings, who was a primary candidate for the assistant job when Bob Motzko left for St. Cloud, the position that went to John Hill when he left his head coaching position with Alaska to rejoin Lucia at Minnesota, has emerged as a leading candidate for the job.  Hastings has emerged as the primary candidate over alumnus Scott Bell, the head coach at Hamline University.  Hastings was the Head Coach and General Manager of the USHL Omaha Lancers until recently announcing he was stepping off the bench to become the team's president.  The general impression is that Lucia is more comfortable surrounding himself with friends rather than going with an alumnus like Bell, with whom he is not as familiar.  Hastings, a Crookston, Minn. native, played a year at St. Cloud before becoming an assistant there and subsequently with the Lancers and taking over as Head Coach.  He has lead the Lancers to multiple Championships.  The move would leave the Golden Gopher coaching staff without an alumni representative, Quick Facts believes, for the first time since the Mariucci era, which would not be a popular move with sponsors or boosters, or fans.

Congratulations to former Gopher Todd Richards, second year head coach of the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins on getting his team to the AHL Championship Calder Cup finals against the Chicago Wolves.  The Baby Penguins feature former Gopher defenseman Alex Goligoski and are backstopped by Shorewood native John Curry.  The Wolves feature Rochester's Colin Stuart and Bemidji's Joe Motzko.  

Goligoski had two assists, including one on the Series clinching goal with 30.7 seconds remaining in Game 7 on Saturday to give the Penguins the 3-2 victory and the Richard F. Canning Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions. Rookie goalie Curry stopped 30 of 32 shots for the win. The winning goal, scored by Tim Brent, was scored off a rebound on Goligoski's original shot from the point. Goligoski is 5th in Calder Cup playoff scoring with 3 goals and 17 assists in 17 playoff games.  With the Pittsburgh Penguins competing in the Stanley Cup Finals, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh become the first set of AHL/NHL affiliates to reach their respective league championship series in the same season since the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans in 1999.
 
The Wolves knocked off Former Gopher Chris Harrington's Toronto Marlies.  Harrington is a free agent with the Marlies this season.
 
Also a free agent this summer is former Gopher captain Grant Potulny. Potulny had an outstanding season, despite a late season trade from the Hershey Bears to the Springfield Falcons with 28 goals and 18 assists in 75 games, including 11 power play points.  He spent time on the top lines with both the Bears and Falcons. Potulny doesn't expect to learn much about his contract status until later this summer but remains hopeful for an opportunity.
 
There has been a lot of confusion regarding the free agency status of former Gopher Blake Wheeler who announced this summer he would not be returning for his senior season at the University. Reading the basic Collective Bargaining Agreement one would assume that the Coyotes would still retain Wheeler's rights until next year despite the fact that he has left the University of Minnesota. However, former St. Cloud State goaltender Bobby Goepfert filed a grievance with the NHL in 2006 seeking free agency and and pursuant to that grievance there was a settlement that amended the current CBA and free agency terms for drafted college players in 2007 that is now part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Basically it means that a college player who has received a Bona Fide offer and accelerated his studies and graduated early can file notice with the Central Registry that he is no longer a Bona Fide college student following that graduation, which starts a clock for their drafting team, forcing that team to either sign that player within 30 days of that notice or the player becomes a free agent.  In Wheeler's case he will become a free agent on or about June 8th if the Coyotes choose not to sign him, or should Wheeler choose to refuse Coyotes' offer. The maximum offer for a player at Wheeler's draft position should pay approximately $285,000 signing bonus per year over three years. Given recent reports of the contract offer tendered to Wheeler the Coyotes are not offering that. Wheeler will not match close to that, however, should he become a free agent as he will no longer be bound by the 2004 CBA, and will make a dramatically lower signing bonus. What he would gain by free agency is perhaps a greater opportunity to step into a lineup earlier or the ability to play under different system; in other words, freedom.  In Phoenix he could be stuck behind a good number of other prospects whereas another team may give him a chance to play sooner. The Coyotes do still have time to increase their offer, however, so Wheeler may still sign with them in the next week.  Below is the actual language of the CBA amendment governing Wheeler's free agency:
 
CBA Section 8.6 (c)(iv) is below:
If a Player drafted at age 18 or 19, who had received a Bona Fide Offer in accordance with section 8.6 (a)(ii) above, becomes a bona fide college student prior to the second June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft and does not remain a bona fide college student through the graduation of his college class, his drafting Club shall retain exclusive rights for the negotiation of his services until the later of: (a) the fourth June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft, or (b) thirty (30) days after NHL Central Registry receives notice that the Player is no longer a bona fide college student; provided that if the Player ceases to be a bona fide college student on or after January 1 of an academic year and the Player: (1) is in his fourth year of college and has commenced his fourth year of NCAA eligibility, or (2) is in his fourth year of college and is scheduled to graduate from college at the end of his fourth year, then in the circumstances described in (1) or (2), the Club shall retain the exclusive right of negotiation for such Player’s services through and including the August 15 following the date on which he ceases to be a bona fide college student.

The CBA also clarifies the term "graduating class" by stating:  For purposes of the above provisions, the terms "graduation of his college class" shall mean the class with which the Player is scheduled to graduate during his final semester of attendance (as opposed to his matriculating class (the class with which he is expected to graduate as of the date of his original enrollment)).  For purposes of clarity, a Player's graduating class may change during his tenure in college.


Quick Quotes:
 
“All season long our guys have done nothing but work. Everything they’re getting right now they deserve.”  

-Todd Richards on his WBS Penguins making it to the Calder Cup Finals (Wilkes Barre Times Leader)


“John Curry really gave us an opportunity to win the game"

-Todd Richards on goaltender John Curry helping the Penguins to Game 7 in Eastern Conference Final (Wilkes Barre Times Leader)


“It’s going to be nice to get back to the Midwest. It’s going to be nice to go on a plane and go somewhere. It’s close to home for me. I think I’m going to have some family driving in from Minneapolis. It’s going to be a great series. I’m looking forward to it.”

-Todd Richards on playing the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup Finals (Wilkes Barre Citizens Voice)

 
“I’m excited. We haven’t seen Chicago. We haven’t seen any of the Western teams too much. But we know how talented they are up front. You look down their roster and they seem stacked.”

-John Curry on playing the Chicago Wolves (Wilkes Barre Citizens Voice)



Quick Files:
 
From time to time Quick Facts checks in with Minnesota's hockey players who may have left the game to see what they are doing now. For this column We check in with Plymouth, Minnesota native and former St. Cloud State star Taj Melson.  
 
Listed at a generous 5'10" in his bio, the 34-year-old Melson was always told he was too small to play hockey but that never stopped him.  In a 1998 interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal his determination showed.
 
"When I was in pee wee, they told me I wouldn't be able to play bantam, and after bantam, it was that I wouldn't be big enough to play high school, and after I played in high school, I heard I'd never play in college, and once I play in college, it was, `Well, you won't ever make it to the pros,' and after I got to the pros, it was that I would never move up the ladder," Melson said with a smile.
 
Melson was trying to make the jump to the higher level International Hockey League Las Vegas Thunder.  That was after Melson had played four successful seasons with the Huskies as one of their leading scorers on a team with players like Mark Parrish and Matt Cullen, and after he had already made his mark as a leading scorer in the West Coast Hockey League with the San Diego Gulls coached by former Husky Steve Martinson.  
 
But that wasn't Melson's only career. He was finishing a degree in Biomedical Sciences, and was also playing professional roller hockey with the Minnesota Arctic Blast and was a member of the USA Inline Hockey Team. He did make that Thunder roster and played the entire season with the team.
 
Finally, after six full seasons of a professional hockey career Melson enrolled in Medical School at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he is currently completing his final year.
 
But Melson didn't completely hang up the skates after going to Big Blue. The Gulls called upon their star during spring break during his first year and he played three games. During a 10-week break between his first and second year of med school he also competed with the USARS National Roller Hockey Team in the World Championships in France and the World Games in Germany, claiming Gold Medals in both competitions, adding to Melson's extensive collection of medals.  He is by far the most decorated inline hockey player from Minnesota with.
 
Melson says he does still keep in touch with a few of his Husky teammates, most notably Kelly Reider, who was the Husky captain and Melson's roommate for four years. Interestingly Reider's cousin John Swanson currently plays for St. Cloud.  Taj says it is easier to speak more frequently with players from roller hockey than ice hockey because the schedule is more conducive; says Melson, "Roller hockey is less formal than ice hockey, and it is easier to attend events that occur over the weekend."
 
He didn't leave hockey because he wanted to, but because he wanted to become a doctor and couldn't really do both at the same time.  Melson says he still misses the game, and played in a city league his first two years in Ann Arbor but the third year of medical school was unable to find the time and didn't skate at all. He said he finally laced them up for the first time in over a year just last weekend!
 
Taj is a member of the Black Medical Association where he is a Treasurer.  He will graduate in May of 2009 and as he says, "if the medical school match process is good to him" plans to return to the Twin Cities for his residency. Though he does say that there are other locations that are high on his list, there is no doubt that returning home would most likely be his first choice.  He has previously expressed an interest in emergency medicine, pediatrics or cardiology, and is currently on an emergency rotation in Michigan.  

Melson said he also wants to return to coaching hockey or helping children with hockey in some capacity, regardless of where he ends up for his medical career.  
 
Hopefully for Minnesota, Melson can return home, as he would most certainly be an asset to the community, both medical and hockey.

This year's ASID Design House owned by advertising's Pat Fallon features a hockey themed room for a boy that has as two primary elements, a framed autographed University of Wisconsin Badger jersey, and a bench fashioned out of hockey stick shafts from Gophers like Kevin Wehrs and Ryan Flynn.  It is a good thing the two elements are across the room from each other.
 
Roseau's Dustin Byfuglien was re-signed by the Chicago Blackhawks to a deal worth $3 million a season.  The defenseman has been converted to a forward and he was skating on the top line with the Hawks at the end of the season.  He is considered one of the stars of the young upstart Blackhawks.
 
Right now it seems as though the hockey world is revolving around Simley high school, or at least is certainly connected to it by less than six degrees of separation. Both Scott Bell and Eric Rud played hockey at Simley as kids. Doug Schueller, who was just named the head coach at St. John's University used to skate with Bell & Rud when he was younger, and Schuller's father was their coach at Simley. In addition, another candidate for the assistant position at the University, Eric Means, cut his coaching chops at Simley.  So it does appear that Simley is the center of the hockey coaching universe, at least as it concerns this group.
 
Bell remains the primary candidate for the open Assistant position at the University of Minnesota.  One very prominent college head coach once said he would only hire an assistant who has been a head coach because they could understand what he is going through in certain situations.  Bell has more head coaching experience than any other candidate, has a very good understanding of Minnesota recruiting and was an all conference defenseman and team MVP defenseman before being converted  to forward in college so would have the knowledge and experience to run the defensive corps.  The fact that he is a die-hard Gopher cheerleader and proud alumnus is a plus and could be a huge benefit with regard to fundraising, speaking engagements, and other peripheral duties that a coach must endure outside of coaching.  It would be difficult for another candidate to match those credentials but it will be interesting to see if Don Lucia finds someone he believes does.
 
While the Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched a berth to the Stanley Cup Finals their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are battling the Portland Pirates for the right to play for the Calder Cup. The Pirates hold a two games to one lead over the Penguins in the best-of-seven series with Alex Goligoski being held without a point for the first time in several games in the Pirates 5-2 victory on Sunday.  The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Portland.  John Curry has been in net throughout the playoffs for the Penguins, including a 19-save game one shutout.  While the Penguins are coached by former Gopher Todd Richards the Pirates are coached by former NHL forward Kevin Dineen and his brother Gord Dineen, his assistant, who had a short stint with the North Stars in the late 80s before becoming a minor league defensive star with the Utah Grizzlies.
 
Jason Blake, notorious for alienating teammates, is doing damage control on a recent media report that he wanted out of Toronto after just one year on his 5-year, $20-million contract.  According to the Toronto Sun, his agent Neil Sheehy contacted a reporter there to set the record straight saying that "He didn't say anything in the story that (general manager) Cliff Fletcher hasn't said before, that the Leafs could be looking to make changes and I've spoken to Cliff to (underline) that." Blake, who is managing his Leukemia through pill treatment, is a finalist for the Bill Masterson trophy. (Toronto Sun)
 
Chris Simon has signed to play with Vityaz Podolsk Chekhov in the Russian Superleague next season. Chekov has signed former NHL players in the past, former San Jose Shark Alexander Korolyuk played with the club last year but recently signed with Atlant Mytischy.  Former NY Islander Oleg Kvasha also played with Vityaz Odolsk Chekov but will play with Traktor Chelyabinsk this year. Simon won't likely be the only muscle on the club either as he could be joining a couple of North American minor league goons, Dacry Verot and Nathan Perrott who played there last year.  Verot earned 511 PIMs last season with Chekhov while Perrott, who once had over 300 PIMs with the Indianapolis Ice (one of them against Eric Rud) had 98 PIMs in 15 games after joining the team late in the season.  Obviously the Russian club, which was only promoted to the Superleague in 2005, loves its fighters.
 
Marco Peluso's Las Vegas Wranglers will play for the Kelly Cup, the ECHL Championship after they defeated the Utah Grizzlies in a 4-game sweep.  The majority of Wranglers players are former NCAA college players. Peluso has two goals and seven assists for the Wranglers so far in the playoffs.
 
The Wranglers will face the Cincinnati Cyclones who topped Minnesota natives Travis Morin, Scott Romfo, and goaltender Josh Johnson as well as former St. Cloud State Husky Andrew Gordon who played for the South Carolina Stingrays. Instead native sons TJ McElroy & Bryan Schmidt of the Cyclones will be vying for the Kelly Cup Championship.
 
The Rapid City Rush will play in the CHL next season playing in the new Rushmore Civic Center in Rapid City South Dakota.  They join the CHL, the merged entity of the Central Hockey League and WPHL, that includes teams like the Colorado Eagles, Arizona Sundogs and Amarillo Gorillas. The Sundogs swept the Eagles for the CHL Presidents Cup Championship his year, just the 5th sweep in CHL history. Former NHL player Eric Lacroix is the owner and assistant coach of the Sundogs.
 
The runner up for the CHL trophy was last year's champion Colorado Eagles whose roster includes Scott Thauwald and Dave Ianazzo.  Chris Hartsburg was also formerly on the roster for the Eagles unitl injuries forced him into early retirement.  Chris blew out an ACL and underwent surgery and rehabbed all summer to return last year only to sugger a complete rupture of the same ACL early this season, causing him to hang up the skates.  He had likely already resolved that it was to be his last season, switching from his #9 jersey to #4 to honor his father, Craig, the former Northstar. Chris has since gone into coaching, following in the footsteps of his father whose career was also cut short by injury and who also ended up behind the bench.  The elder Hartsburg, now head coach of the Sault Saint Marie Greyhounds in the OHL, is a primary candidate for one of the open NHL positions and is likely to return to the NHL this year.  Craig Hartsburg was previously an NHL head coach of the Blackhawks and Ducks and an assistant with the Flyers and could very well end up behind the bench of the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers this season.
 
When the Philadelphia Flyers were knocked out of the playoffs on Sunday the season also ended for Ryan Potulny who had been recalled by the Flyers when his Phantoms were eliminated by the WBS Penguins in the AHL playoffs. Potulny had several good recalls with the Flyers this season and will have a great opportunity to finally make the final roster of the team next season.
 
Few people remember that Manny Fernandez became trade bait to the Minnesota Wild because of the impending arrival of Marty Turco to Dallas.  Prior to Turco coming into the Dallas system out of Michigan, Fernandez was the heir apparent to Eddie Belfour, bumping Roman Turek out of that slot, and was the Eagle's backup for the 1999-2000 season. But Dallas knew that Turco was the better of the two prospects, despite Fernandez's Turner Cup victory in 1999,  and shipped the Etobikoke to the expansion Wild with Brad Lukowich for draft picks.  Another bit of trivia, he was originally drafted by the Quebec Nordiques but traded to the North Stars for Tommy Shjodin and a draft pick.  That draft pick ended up being Chris Drury.
 
  
Quick Speculation:
 
There is a lot of rumbling that the beloved radio voice of the Minnesota Wild, Bob Kurtz will not return to radio to call the play-by-play for hockey club. Kurtz is currently doing games for the Minnesota Thunder this summer.  Kurtz has been the only radio voice of the franchise since its its inception in 2000.  
 
Quick Facts has been calling on NHL teams to look at John Anderson as a head coach for years and with the Chicago Wolves playing the Toronto Maple Leafs' affiliate Marliesit wouldn't be surprising to see that finally happening. Anderson, who was once a Toronto Maple Leafs star, could finally be getting a look from his hometown Buds. Anderson has been the head coach of the Chicago Wolves since 1997 and has been incredibly successful winning two Turner Cups and a Calder Cup and also won a Colonial Cup with the Quad City Mallards prior to that. He has been succesful with a mixture of veteran talent and youth.  He may not have made friends with the Atlanta affiliate not playing their system but because the Thrashers don't own the Wolves he doesn't have to run the team their way or necessarily play their players if that means they aren't going to win.  The Maple Leafs certainly could do worse and should, in Quick Facts opinion, look at the package deal of Kevin Cheveldayoff as General Manager and John Anderson as Head Coach as they are a proven successful team who have worked together well for a decade in Chicago.  The only problem with Toronto stealing away such great talent is that it leaves a fabulous franchise like Chicago with a great void that would be impossible to fill.  Quick Facts still wouldn't be surprised to see Anderson named the next head coach of the Maple Leafs.
 
Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see Mike Guentzel land as head coach of the Duluth Bulldogs should the program have another difficult season and Scott Sandelin is removed by the UMD administration.

Ryan Potulny's Philadelphia Phantoms fell to Alex Goligoski's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-1 over the weekend, meaning the Penguins will meet the Portland Pirates for the Conference title.  John Curry has backstopped the Penguins, earning an 8-2 record in his first professional post-season.  Goligoski is the leading rookie scorer and scorer among defenseman in the playoffs with three goals and 11 assists in 10 playoff games.  The Penguins dropped game one of the series and went down three goals to none in Game two but came back to win that game and won four straight game to clinch the series.  Potulny has been recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers and is available to be inserted into their lineup during their Stanley Cup playoff run against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Potulny has been practicing with the Flyers since Saturday.  With Daniel Briere getting shaken up more than once on Sunday, there remains the possibility that Potulny could be inserted if there is an injury to a Flyers center.
 
According to newspaper reports Penguins' head coach Todd Richards called on old Gophers teammate Ken Gernander for a scouting report on the Pirates as the Hartford Wolf Pack head coach has faced the Portland club more recently than Richards' Baby Pens, and more often.  The Pirates knocked off Gernander's Pack before beating the Providence Bruins in the Quarterfinals to advance to face the Penguins. Another newspaper story revealed Richards showing his Minnesota colors in another way, calling player David Gove the "Al Newman" of the WB Penguins. Gove wasn't sure what to think, not knowing who the former Twins player was, until Richards explained who "Mr Utility" was to Gove.See the story here.

The Toronto Marlies have come back from a 3-1 deficit in their playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch to send it to a Game 7.  Nate DiCasmirro, Clay Wilson and Duvie Wescott are playing for the Crunch, and rank 5,6,7 respectively in playoff scoring for the club. Backstopping the Crunch is Apple Valley's Karl Goehring while the Marlies features Chris Harrington who has a goal and an assist in 11 playoff games.
 
Blake Wheeler recently announced that he will not return to the Golden Gophers for his senior season and will sign a professional contract but that does not mean that he will be signing with the Phoenix Coyotes.  Wheeler is likely using an interpretation of the Collective Bargaining agreement that would make him a free agent by August 15th if the Phoneix Coyotes do not tender a qualifying offer prior to that date.  Because Wheeler has graduated from the University Wheeler is likely invoking his free agency per Section 8.6 (a) (iii) of the CBA rather than what would have been his supposed free agency date in 2009.  Should Phoenix lose his rights they will receive a 5th pick in the second round of the 2010 draft.  The sticking point for the Coyotes in signing Wheeler is that he hasn't lived up to his development potential when they drafted him at the 5th position in the first round, but primarily because he was drafted in the first round of the 2004 draft, which means he would receive a much larger entry level contract ($295K signing bonus over three years) than would be signed by someone drafted after the lockout ($85K over three years).  Wheeler was was grandfathered under older CBA terms for signing bonus.  That affects the Coyotes in regard to their salary cap levels and with the number of prospects they already have performing at NHL levels and the blue chip prospects they have just signed, inluding Chad Kolarik, Hobey Baker winner Kevin Porter and Wisconsin Badger Kyle Turris so there is likely little room on the roster for Blake Wheeler.  They could attempt to trade Wheeler at the draft for a pick higher than the 2nd round pick they will receive as compensation, but it is doubtful anyone will be buyers at that price when they can just wait and sign him as a free agent for an entry level deal a few weeks later as a free agent.
 
The IIHF has acknowledged that it erred in allowing Finland's first goal against Team USA in qualification play in the World Championships in Quebec.  The goal scored by Ville Koistinen entered at the side of the net and should not have counted.  The US lost the game by one goal and the game ended in a melee with multiple ejections.  The video goal judge will not be allowed to work the remainder of the tournament but that will not help Team USA in seeding or qualification for the medal rounds.
 
Thomas Vanek has helped Austria win qualification back to the "A" group for next year's World Championships in Switzerland with a 7-3 victory over Poland in front of his hometown fans in Innsbruck.  Vanek finished the B Championships with 5 goals, including a hat trick against England, despite catching a terrible cold and taking a puck off the head.  He has returned home to Minneapolis to recuperate with his finanee Ashley and son Blake.  
 
Nick Anderson will play for REV Bremeraven in German next year after spending last year with EV Füssen.
 
Nick Angell has signed to play for HV 71 in Jönköping Sweden.  Angell was one of the leading scorers amongst defensemen in the Swedish Elitieren with Brynäs IF last season.  
 
Former Gopher and Wild draft pick Mike Erickson will play for Schwenninger Wild Wings in the DEL after playing last year with Nybro IF in Sweden.

 
Quick Speculation:
 
Quick Facts has odds on Scott Bell being named the next Gopher Assistant coach but the candidates are likely narrowed to Bell, Eric Rud and Eric Means.  What is interesting is that Scott Bell and Eric Rud were classmates at Simley High School, Means and Bell were teammates at the University of Minnesota, and Means' first coaching job was at Simley.  That is almost enough coincidence to be an 80's movie!
 
Claude Noel, Don Lever, Roy Sommer, John Anderson, Curt Fraser, Craig Hartsburg, Kevin Constantine.  Those are the names you are going to hear a lot with the number of NHL head coaching vacancies increasing by the day.  The success of so many AHL head coaches has made it more acceptable to give them the chance rather than recycle the old standby names (unless you're the foolish General Manager who keeps hiring Mike Keenan) though Pat Burns, now reportedly recovered from cancer treatments, could certainly resurface again.   The only names I can see being recycled are some young AHL coaches who may have started in the NHL too early or may not have been given a fair shot; names like Steve Stirling, Mike Sullivan or John Torchetti.  Someone like John Anderson, and even his General Manager boss Kevin Cheveldayoff are certain to break into the NHL ranks this year with all the vacancies.  And if they don't then there is some conspiracy afoot, just like the one that kept Ted Nolan out of the league for so long.  Should former Gopher Todd Richards win the Calder Cup with Wilkes-Barre this season he might get a few looks as he has been considered a rising star in the coaching ranks, as has his counterpart in Hartford Ken Gernander.  Recent AHL head coaches now coaching in the NHL include Dave Tippett, John Stevens, Bruce Boudreau, Mike Babcock, Randy Carlyle & Michel Therrien.
 
Quick Facts thinks the Minnesota Wild may consider signing free agent defenseman Jeff May, a former draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings.  May has formerly participated in a camp for the Wild.  May competed this spring with Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL playoffs but lost to Spokane for the Championship.  May would be a depth defenseman to help restock Houston.

 
Quick Quotes:
 
“I wouldn’t say I’ve taken anyone anywhere.  But it’s fun. I’m enjoying it a lot. We’re proud about what we’ve accomplished so far, but we’re only halfway there. We have a lot ahead of us.”

- John Curry on his first professional playoff run with the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins (Citizen's Voice)

 
“It’s always nice when the D can chip in.  When your defensemen score a couple goals, you usually won’t lose a lot of games.”

- Alex Goligoski on his contribution to the WB Penguins (Citizen's Voice)

Don Lucia conducted several discussions last week with candidates interested in the Gopher assistant coaching position vacated by Gopher alumnus Mike Guentzel. Amongst those Lucia spoke to are believed to be Scott Bell, Eric Rud, Jon Waibel and possibly another candidate from Florida. Rumored to also be interested in the position are  Troy Ward, Mike Hastings, and Todd Knott.
 
Brett Strot a former Gopher and minor league professional, was formerly the Assistant Coach of the Jacksonville Barracudas of the Southern Professional Hockey League.  Strot left the 'Cudas to join Velocity Sports Performance, an athletic strength and conditioning center in Florida.  The Barracudas announced they are folding this year and it could be that Strot is the interested Florida candidate.  Strot is great friends with goaltending consultant Rob Stauber and likely interested in returning home to Maple Grove and his alma mater.  Strot also has junior coaching experience with the Southern Elite Hockey League (now defunct) and is a defensive specialist.
 
Jon Waibel, who will complete his degree this June, just completed the season as assistant coach of the Chicago Steel where head coach Steve Poapst was named Coach of the Year in the USHL.  It is believed that Poapst may be on the fast track for a professional job in the minor leagues where he would likely take Waibel with him.  Waibel may also pursue other college assistant openings in an effort to gain more coaching experience.  Waibel also works for Octagon Sports.
 
Brock Hooton of the Reading Royals leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with four game-winning goals and he has 6 goals total in the playoffs.  The Royals and Cincinnati Cyclones are tied at 3 games each in their best of 7 North Division Finals series.  PJ Atherton has two goals and two assists in the playoffs and Charlie Kronschnabel has 3 goals and 5 assists for the Royals.  Brian Schmidt has two goals and an assist and TJ McElroy has four assists for the Cyclones in the playoffs this season.
 
Travis Morin of the South Carolina Stingrays is the second leading scorer in the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs with 14 points (9g, 5a).
 
Karl Goehring stopped 44 of 45 shots in a 3-1 victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to backstop the Syracuse Crunch to a 2-0 series lead against the Toronto Marlies.  The 44 saves marked the highest total by Goehring all year, including the regular season. Goehring secured his eighth career playoff win in a Crunch uniform, tying him with J.F. Labbe and Mike Fountain for the franchise lead in that category.  Duvie Westcott had an assist and Nate DiCasmirro had an assist for the Crunch.  Chris Harrington returned to the lineup for the Marlies after missing game one with an undisclosed injury suffered in Game 6 of the first round.
 
The Wilkes-Barre Penguins scored in overtime to beat the Philadelphia Phantoms 5-4 to tie the Conference Final at one game each. Alex Goligoski assisted on Kurtis McLean's last minute goal to send the game into the extra session, his second helper of the game, and goaltender John Curry had and assist on a goal as the Pens scored three unanswered goals to tie the game in the third.  Curry made 26 saves on 30 shots for the victory.  Ryan Potulny was named the game's third star scoring the opening goal and adding assist.  Goligoski is the second leading scorer in the Calder Cup playoffs with 11 points thus far.
 
Pennsylvania new State of Hockey?? - Has anyone made the connection that both the Penguins and Flyers and Penguins and Phantoms (their AHL affiliates both based in Pennsylvania) are playing against each other for the Eastern Conference title?  According to the AHL it has been six years since two sets of AHL and NHL affiliates have met each other in playoff series at the same time in both leagues (Toronto/N.Y. Islanders, St. John’s/Bridgeport in 2002).  It will be interesting scheduling because the Phantoms are having to play their games at the Wachovia Center because the Circus is at the Spectrum.  Will make practice ice in the region very tight indeed.  But it certainly bodes well for the future of both franchises and also is a great reflection of two great Minnesota-born General Managers, Holmgren & Shero, who also happen to be managing Team USA as well. The Chicago Wolves, featuring Joe Motzko and Colin Stuart, have a two games to one lead over the Rockford Ice Hogs.
 
That was Bloomington's own Toby Petersen who was amazing in Dallas's Game Six overtime victory agains the San Jose Sharks.  Petersen was also a key component of Edmonton's Stanley Cup Finals run.  No doubt, Petersen would love to see a 1991 rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins, his former NHL club.  Petersen used to skate a line with Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.  Petersen has had an up and down career, toiling between great spurts in the NHL and minor leagues, and spent most of this season excelling with the Iowa Stars prior to this recall.  His fresh legs undoubtedly helped in the marathon overtime session but Petersen's feat was even more outstanding when you consider the speedy centerman has suffered from Diabetes since childhood.  Not usually a problem, but maintaining a proper blood sugar level with that kind of energy level expenditure had to be challenging, and he almost won the game for the Stars once!