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Ryan Potulny didn’t become a Hobey finalist yesterday, but he did put some money in his pocket. The Hobey candidate signed a $1.6M contract with the Flyers that includes a $240,000 signing bonus.

He will play the remainder of the season with the Philadelphia Phantoms, and be available to compete later this spring in the Flyer’s Stanley Cup run.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle declared March 27th Badger Women’s Hockey Team Day, after their weekend victory of the Minnesota Gophers for the National Title. The proclamation is great, but “The New State of Hockey”?

Only 8 of 23 players are from Wisconsin. 7 are from Canada, 3 from Minnesota, and 1 from North Dakota, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York. This is the first time the women’s trophy has left the state of Minnesota.

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, on Sunday, March 26, 2006, the UW-Madison Women’s Hockey team won the first national title in the program’s seven-year history with a 3-0 victory over Minnesota at the Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis; and

WHEREAS, coached by Mark Johnson whose father, the late Bob Johnson, coached the UW men to three national titles, the second-seeded Badgers had to, again, get by their familiar opponent, the Golden Gophers, against whom the Badgers had a record of 4-1 coming into the game; and

WHEREAS, the Badgers (36-4-1) brought energy from the start and were able to break through for a score against Minnesota in the first 10 minutes of the game on their way to a shutout victory; and

WHEREAS, when it was finally over, all that could be seen in the Badgers’ end was a scattering of sticks, gloves helmets – and the national championship trophy being passed around from player to player; and

WHEREAS, this tremendous victory truly epitomizes what the Badger Women believe – “that Wisconsin is the new state of hockey”; and

WHEREAS, the entire State of Wisconsin extends congratulations to the UW Badger Women’s Hockey team for their achievements – past, present and future; and

WHEREAS, their performance, determination, and teamwork embody the spirit of athletics and their championship has made the State of Wisconsin very proud;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jim Doyle, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, on behalf of the citizens of this great state and in honor of these outstanding athletes, do hereby proclaim March 27, 2006

UW BADGER WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM DAY

in the State of Wisconsin and I commend this observance to all citizens.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this twenty seventh day of March in the year two thousand six.

Here’s an interesting report for the traveling hockey fans and hockey parents.

Sioux Falls-based LodgeNet Entertainment Corp. recently began offering pay-per-view hockey to hotel guests.

LodgeNet plans to add on-demand NHL coverage to their services menu through the 2006 playoffs and throughout the 2006-2007 season.

LodgeNet said it plans to have “SportsNet” service in 75,000 to 100,000 guest rooms by the end of the year.

Now that the season has ended for the Minnesota Gophers, there is much talk about the future of Gopher stars Danny Irmen and Ryan Potulny.

The Minnesota Daily reports that both players are considering the option to leave the university early and play professional hockey.

Potulny’s draft rights are held by the Philadelphia Flyers, who expressed interest in having Ryan play for the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms next season.

Irmen’s draft rights are held by the Minnesota Wild.

Don Lucia said Monday during a KFAN interview he thought Potulny had already been approached with a contract, but was not aware of a decision by either player.

It is likely both will leave the university and play pro hockey. Under the current NHL agreement, a player staying with his team through graduation becomes an unrestricted free agent August 15 of graduation year. This encourages teams to sign drafted players early.

The Hobey Baker Award Committee announced the 2006 “Hobey Hat Trick” today.

• Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle
• Boston College senior forward Chris Collins
• Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliot

Collins (BC) and Elliot (WI) are still in the Frozen Four. Matt Carle (DEN) made his NHL debut last Saturday night, scoring his first NHL goal for the San Jose Sharks in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

The winner will be presented Friday, April 7, at Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI.

Minnesota Gopher skater Ryan Potulny was the winner of the voting phase of the 2006 Hobey Baker selection process. The fan votes, along with ballots of the Hobey selection committee, will determine the winner of the award.

The top three finalists, known as the “Hobey Hat Trick”, will be announced March 29. The winner will receive the award at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on April 7.

Hobey Baker home

The Star-Tribune article by Chris Serres about a North Branch hockey coach who taught kids about hard work, team unity and patriotism. A civilian killed in IRAQ, he lives on in their memories.

read the story.