Thursday Afternoon Link Special

I've got some links that I wanted to get out there this afternoon before the Women's Gold medal game starts tonight. Some very good stuff out there the last couple of days.
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I'll lead off with a great article from our friend Todd Milewski. Articles like the one he wrote today for USCHO are the reason that I simply do not understand how he could be reassigned from his position as a Badger hockey beat writer. The guy simply does WORK.

Today's article talks about how the WCHA needs to step up to the plate with these suspensions for head hits and make the public aware of the situation.

"I’m a firm believer that if there is supplemental action taken in these cases, the league needs to scream it from the mountaintops. When Marvin was suspended in November, the league did not issue any news release or comment on why Marvin’s hit was being punished."

I agree 100% Mr. Milewski.
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Chris at Western College Hockey has put together a list of college prospects out of the WCHA and CCHA that he thinks will have the biggest impact at the professional level. I looked through it and I actually think it's a pretty good list. Badgers on the list: McDonagh (3), Smith (4) , Stepan (9), Geoffrion (14), Gardiner (19), Schultz (27), Smith (50).

The only real problem I would have is the omission of Cody Goloubef because I think he's going to be a very nice NHL player in a couple of years. He doesn't get the credit that Smith or Schultz get because he doesn't put up the points, and he doesn't get the credit McDonagh gets because he doesn't make the big hits and isn't a first rounder. But I think the kid is going to be a 10+ year NHL defenseman who is just SOLID.
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Jayson Moy from USCHO put out his bracketology for the week. For the first time this season mine and his matched exactly. Both have Wisconsin as a #1 seed out in Albany playing Cornell in the first round of the tournament.
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The Calgary Flames have signed former Badger forward Rene Bourque to a contract extension. The deal is reportidly worth $20 Millilon over the next 6 seasons. CHA-CHING RENE!

From the article: Bourque is in his second season with the Flames after being acquired on July 1, 2008 from Chicago for a conditional draft choice. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound forward has scored 156 points in 280 career NHL games. He has established a career high for points already this season with 41 (18 goals and 23 assists) in 53 games. During the 2008-09 season, his first with Calgary, he reached a new career high for goals with 21.
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Former Badger goalie Shane Connelly has been named the ECHL goalie of the week for his performance from Feb. 15-21.

From the article: The 22 year old stopped all 50 shots he faced for the week to earn three straight shutouts and a record of 3-0-0 with a goals-against average of 0.00 and a save percentage of 1.000 in a 4-0 win against Gwinnett on Feb. 20 and back-to-back 6-0 victories against Toledo on Feb. 21 and 22.

It's great to see Con's doing well in the pro's. Best of luck.

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