Duluth News Tribune sportswriter Kevin Pates covers the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and Grandma's Marathon.

Hockey Radio News

     One of the truly good guys in college hockey, Greg Harrington of St. Paul, has been replaced as the Nebraska-Omaha hockey play-by-play radio announcer. The former KFAN personality, whose sports celebrity impersonations are legendary (Lou Nanne and Neal Broten come to mind), has been the only radio voice in the 12 years of puck at Omaha. A Friday story from the Omaha World-Herald is below. Also, on the Omaha and Bemidji State to the WCHA saga, it's being speculated that the league entry fee is $240,000 to be paid over three years, and a share of league playoff revenue is to total at least $30,000, $60,000 and $90,000 during that period. When asked last week, commissioner Bruce McLeod wouldn't comment if  terms varied between Omaha and Bemidji State.

       Also, it's believed Minnesota Duluth will be changing radio networks for 2009-10, moving from Midwest Communications and possibly ending up on KQDS, 1490 AM, The Fan, part of Red Rock Radio. It's likely UMD men's hockey and football will be broadcast. The play-by-play voice would be hired by Red Rock. Jeff Papas of Cloquet did most of UMD's hockey games last season, on a contract basis, after Bruce Ciskie's position as sports director for Midwest Communications was eliminated in December. Games were on FM 102.5.

By Rob White, WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The radio voice of Nebraska-Omaha hockey will change this season, as David Ahlers is replacing Greg Harrington.

“It was a decision that was made administratively based on our expenses,” associate athletic director Mike Kemp said.

Harrington, the only play-by-play broadcaster in the program's 12-year history, lives in St. Paul. Ahlers is already Omaha's sports information director and will continue those duties while covering the team.

“We already have someone on staff who has the broadcast background,” Kemp said. “We were sending a (graduate assistant) sports information director and a play-by-play man on the road, and we were bringing him in from out-of-town, so it just made sense to combine them.”
 

Kemp said Omaha expects to save $25,000 to $30,000. Omaha also was paying Harrington's travel costs for home games.

“Being the college hockey broadcaster for 12 years at one school is a helluva run,” Harrington said. “They've been 12 of the most enjoyable years I've ever had, and I will hang on to all the friendships I made there forever.”

Kemp had been the only coach in Omaha hockey history before Dean Blais was hired last month.

“That had to be one of the most difficult phone calls I've ever had to make,” Kemp said of his conversation with Harrington. “He did every game and we knew each other prior to that. It's heart-wrenching. We went through a lot of difficult nights, and a lot of great nights, together. He did a great job of bringing Maverick hockey to our fans and he'll be sorely missed.”

Posted by: pates on 7/4/2009 at 2:10 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: college hockey, greg harrington, mike kemp, nebraska omaha

Prospects Camp; Wild Assistants

     Three Minnesota Duluth recruits taken in last week's NHL Entry Draft will be at team propsects camps in the next few days -- defenseman Dylan Olsen and center Dan DeLisle in Chicago starting Monday, and center Max Tardy of Duluth at St. Louis starting Wednesday.

     Two undrafted UMD players have also accepted invitations -- defenseman Mike Montgomerey of Lino Lakes, Minn., also to Chicago, and winger Mike Connolly of Calgary, Alberta, to Detroit on Monday. Montgomery was named UMD's most improved player in 2008-09 and Connolly was the team rookie of the year.

     More on the prospect camps in Monday's News Tribune.

     Also, UMD assistant Brett Larson has been working on the staff of the USA Hockey Select 16 boys development camp at the ESL Sports Center in Rochester, N.Y., which ended Thursday. Assistant Steve Rohlik has also been on site scouting. The next camp is for Select 17 going from July 7-13 at the same site.

MINNESOTA WILD NAMES MIKE RAMSEY AND DAVE BARR
 
    Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Mike Ramsey and Dave Barr Assistant Coaches.
 
    Ramsey, 48 (12/3/60), will begin his tenth season as an Assistant Coach with the Wild in 2009-10. Prior to joining the Wild on July 24, 2000, he spent three seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Buffalo Sabres.
 
    The Minneapolis, Minn.-native enjoyed a very successful playing career that included participation in four NHL All-Star Games (1982, 1983, 1985, 1986) and Rendez-Vous ‘87. He was a member of the University of Minnesota’s 1979 NCAA Championship squad and the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, which upset the Soviet Union and went on to capture the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y.
 
    Of the 18 seasons Ramsey played in the NHL, 14 were spent skating for the Buffalo Sabres (1979-93). He was traded from Buffalo to Pittsburgh in March of 1993, and eventually finished his career with the Detroit Red Wings. Ramsey went to the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals with Detroit, and made a brief two-game comeback during the 1996-97 season before retiring. He still ranks third on the Sabres all-time regular season games played list with 911. In 1,070 career NHL contests, Ramsey totaled 79 goals, 266 assists, 345 points and 1,012 penalty minutes (PIM). He participated in the Stanley Cup Playoff in 15 of his 18 seasons and notched 37 points (8-29=37) and 176 PIM in 115 contests. Ramsey was originally the Sabres’ first choice (11th overall) in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
 
    Barr, 48 (11/30/60), spent last season as an Assistant Coach for the Colorado Avalanche. Prior to joining the Avalanche, he spent four seasons (2004-08) with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, where he served as both General Manager and Head Coach. He won the Matt Leyden Trophy as the OHL’s Coach of the Year in 2005-06. In recognition of his work at the junior level, Barr was selected to coach Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August of 2007.
 
    He served as a player/assistant coach in the International Hockey League with the Orlando Solar Bears for two seasons (1995-97). Barr spent three seasons (1997-2000) as an Assistant Coach with the Houston Aeros and one season as Head Coach (2000-01). In 1988-89, the Aeros set a club record with a league-leading 54-15-13 record and claimed the IHL’s Turner Cup. He also served as General Manager for the Aeros for two seasons (2001-03) including winning the Calder Cup in 2003.
 
    A native of Toronto, Ontario, Barr recorded 332 points (128-204=332) and 520 penalty minutes in 614 NHL contests during 13 seasons with the Boston Bruins (1981-83), New York Rangers (1983-84), St. Louis Blues (1983-87), Hartford Whalers (1986-87), Detroit Red Wings (1986-91), New Jersey Devils (1991-93) and Dallas Stars (1993-94).

Posted by: pates on 7/3/2009 at 5:55 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: dan delisle, dylan olsen, max tardy, mike connolly, mike montgomery, minnesota wild, nhl prospects camp, usa hockey

Dick Beardsley Update

     Grandma's Marathon course recordholder Dick Beardsley of Austin, Texas, reached a milestone Wednesday -- six months since a total knee replacement. He's returned to running and more. Here's a blog update from the 53-year-old motivational speaker on his progress:

It has been 6 months today since I had my total knee replacement and things are going really well! I continue to do exercises to build the strength back in my right leg and it's making good progress! I'm running 45-50 miles a week now and will keep it at the range for the next few weeks. As the leg has strengthened my pace continues to get faster, I have even run in a couple of 5K races just for fun. I continue to bike when I'm at home and yesterday I gave my knee a good test and biked 106 miles and the knee felt fine, no problem at all!

I will be doing the Gut Check 212 bike race across South Dakota in early August with my best friend Mike Dunlap, Mike does the first 200+ miles and I do the last 186 miles so yesterday was a good test! I get asked a lot if I take any supplements for my knee, the answer is yes and I think it has helped! I take a multi vitamin, 1500mg of Glucosamine/Chondrotin, a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc supplement, and nuBound, which is the best, in my book, as a Recovery Supplement, as it helps with your immune system and helps with body tissue repair and maintenance.

For all you folks with a TKR or are having one done soon, hang in there especially during those first few weeks after surgery, it will get better and you will be doing things you never thought you could do again! Take care and have a great day!

Posted by: pates on 7/2/2009 at 5:27 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: dick beardsley, grandmas marathon, running

TC 10-Miler Opens Monday

     Lottery registration for the Twin Cities 10-Miler on Oct. 4 opens Monday. Here are the details:

 What: Lottery for 11th Twin Cities 10-Miler on Oct. 4 Minneapolis to St. Paul 

 Who: Open to runners interested in 10-mile distance on Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Day, for 6,500 spots open

 Where: Online here beginning 8 a.m., Monday, July 6 through 10 p.m., Wednesday, July 15. Lottery results available July 17 online

When: Monday, July 6-Wednesday, July 15

Posted by: pates on 7/2/2009 at 10:53 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: 10 miler, lottery, running, twin cities marathon

Kemp to Bakersfield

 Condors ink rookies Kemp and Eichenlaub
Right wing and defenseman sign first pro contracts 

See Marty Raymond discussing the signings on CondorsTV
 
BAKERSFIELD Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors, official East Coast Hockey League affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, have signed RW Nick Kemp and D Raymond Eichenlaub. The announcement was made by Condors coach Marty Raymond. 

Kemp, 23, joins the Condors after completing four seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth of the WCHA. There, he helped lead the Bulldogs to the WCHA Championship and the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2008-09.  In 150 career games with Minnesota-Duluth, Kemp recorded 23 goals and 28 assists, along with 125 PIM. Kemp missed only eight games throughout his four-year college career.
 
"Nick is a really good grinder, who finishes his checks and skates well," said Raymond. "He's a smart player and a blue-collared type of guy we're looking for."
 
A native of Hermantown, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Kemp spent one year with Sioux City of the United States Hockey League prior to joining the Bulldogs. With Sioux City, Kemp ranked tied for sixth on the team with 38 points in kemp2004-05. As an instrumental part of Sioux City's runner-up finish in the Clark Cup playoffs, Kemp recorded 2 goals and 4 assists in 13 games.

 
"I'm really excited to get a chance to play in Bakersfield," said Kemp. "It was great when Coach Raymond called me and said he wanted me to play for him. I jumped right at the chance and look forward to getting out to Bakersfield. I consider myself a two-way forward, who likes to play physical, but can also score some goals. My biggest asset is my size."

Posted by: pates on 7/1/2009 at 6:02 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Tags: bakersfield condors, east coast hockey league, minnesota duluth hockey, nick kemp