The Minnesota Midshipmen

Five hockey-playing Minnesota natives are challenging themselves on and off the ice at the United States Naval Academy

Latest News

Minnesota Hockey extends penalty pilot program for 2012-13

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 15:17

During its summer board meeting on June 24, the Minnesota Hockey Board of Directors adopted a resolution to increase the focus on accountability and education to eliminate illegal play in hockey games. Included is an extension of the penalty pilot program for the 2012-13 season. The penalty pilot program requires a minimum five-minute major penalty for all checking-from-behind and boarding infractions. The penalty pilot program was first implemented on Jan. 25, 2012 in the wake of injuries to two Minnesota high school hockey players, Jack Jablonski and Jenna Privette.

Floods result in damage to Moose Lake's Riverside Center Arena

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 July 2012 13:24

Severe storms across northern Minnesota on June 21 resulted in flooding and significant damage to Riverside Center Arena in Moose Lake, Minn. This included destruction of the varsity locker room, concessions area and damage to many of the building's mechanicals. Much of the damage is not covered by insurance. There will be clean-up days at the rink on June 29 and June 30 starting at 8:30 a.m. For further information, contact arena manager Guyal Nelson at 218-380-1672. Donations may be sent to:

Riverside Center Flood Relief Fund
Lake State Federal Credit Union
301 Elm Ave, PO Box 330
Moose Lake, MN 55767

Coaches: Empower young players. Turn them loose to compete

Details: Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:16

By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

There is a great lesson unfolding in soccer right now – a story about a maverick amateur team that is defeating, no, embarrassing the pros of Major League Soccer (Mark Ziegler, June 3, 2012. The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC).

Eric Wynalda, was a three-time World Cup player who has not been hired as a coach in the MLS because of radical ideas like trusting his players to make spontaneous decisions during games. So he started his own amateur team in California, a recycled bunch of cast-offs who were cut from pro teams and now work regular day jobs. They built a team that is beating MLS teams that practice more, condition by the hour and follow the current trend toward robotic systems.

What is the most proven route to the NHL for the American player?

Details: Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

By College Hockey, Inc.

One of the principal arguments made by CHL teams to young players from the United States to convince them to play major junior hockey has been that the CHL is the fastest and surest way to make it to the NHL. While this argument sounds attractive, especially to a 15-year old, the facts do not support it. In addition, as detailed below, the data reflects that a high percentage of U.S. players who forego college to play in the CHL never play at a level beyond major junior hockey.

A lesson from Bubba on creativity

Details: Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:19

By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

For anyone who watched the 2012 Masters Golf Tournament, it was obvious with every swing that Bubba Watson has never been coached. His father just gave him a golf club at a young age and said, “Figure it out.” No one does it in a more unorthodox manner, and as Nick Faldo remarked, “With every swing, Bubba eliminates another page of (conventional) golf instruction.”

Bubba’s swing resembles a mighty blow from an axe, aimed at a log too big for most humans to split. Beyond that, it seems he is trying to bend every shot around a huge Redwood tree that doesn’t exist. Even on tee shots with wide-open fairways, Bubba visualizes a big banana curve ball, sometimes a wild hook, sometimes a slice, whatever fits his creative imagination.

Sarsland tells his side of the story

Details: Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

By Peter Knutson
Let’s Play Hockey

After 27 years of coaching the Elk River High School boys’ hockey program, Tony Sarsland has decided to move on to the next stage in his life. While coaching there, Sarsland amassed an impressive 588-277-26 record, 12 conference championships, and a state title in 2001. Sarsland will be deeply missed by the current and past players he has coached.

While 27 years is a long time to do anything, Sarsland’s exit was a bit unexpected and premature. Earlier in the year, Sarsland was accused of harassing his players and having an intimidating, aggressive personality. He first resigned on Thursday, Feb. 9, but three days later rescinded his resignation. On Monday, April 9, Sarsland turned in his official resignation.

While there is a large cloud of mystery surrounding these allegations, we did get a chance to hear what Sarsland had to say.