College Hockey:
North Dakota’s Nelson headed to hospital

By Todd D. Milewski • Executive Editor • April 7, 2011

North Dakota’s Brock Nelson was taken from the ice on a stretcher in the first period of Thursday’s national semifinal game against Michigan and was being transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Nelson slid into the boards back-first after being checked following the release of a shot.

The freshman forward was wiping sweat out of his eyes while being taken through the lower level of the Xcel Energy Center.

Nelson left the Midwest Regional semifinal against Rensselaer after being checked, but he returned for the regional final the next day, scoring in the Sioux’s 6-1 victory over Denver.

Update: Nelson was hospitalized for precautionary reasons due to a lower-body injury, North Dakota sports information director Jayson Hajdu said.

Update, Sunday: The Grand Forks Herald reports that Nelson has a fracture in his tail bone and an inguinal sprain. Those injuries will require six to eight weeks of recovery time, the paper reported.

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collegehockeyfan
Congrats Hunwick, you just won the tournament MVP
see you on the links
Karma’s a b-tch Sioux fans. Enjoy the offseason.
- collegehockeyfan
  can’t say Michigan was the better team… that’s for sure. I’ve said it more than a hundred times, one player can win a game…
  - see you on the links
    North Dakota was the better team. And I actually feel for them. But I don’t have any sympathy for the Sioux fans that trash talked all season.
    - collegehockeyfan
      agreed, even though I’m a Sioux fan. Hard to win a game when you put up a 0 on the scoreboard, dissappointing. Hunwick played out of his mind.
      - UMH
        I have seen maybe one example of a goalie playing that well in a tournament game, and that is Knapp from miami last year against Michigan. Hunwick played like a man possessed tonight and it paid off for michigan in a BIG way. Fantastic game to all the players, and I’m sad to see a goalie as good as Dell be overshadowed in such a way.
    - HRGuy
      Notes from the FF, their trash talk continued right up to Winnett’s goal in the 1st. Not much heard from them after that. And one last comment to the obnoxius siouxage girl and her troll brother, I hope you got a least 5 bucks for your championship ticket, have a nice ride back to great forks.
      - Aircorps41
        Hey HRGuy, agreed! I am a Sioux fan, being from North Dakota, but you will never hear me trash talk. Trash talking is for the young/immature idiots and they DO deserve to be slammed when our team loses and they were mouthing off about it. I wish they would show some class and have true sportsmanship. I would much rather here people say sorry to the Sioux and their fans rather than give it to us, but we deserve it when mouths are opened! Am I bumbed, yes, but this is hockey and Michigan did what they needed to do to win, oh yeah, Hunwick played great!
      - After Further Review
        Great post, Aircorps… every team does have their share of trash talkers. It just seems that UND has more, maybe because hockey is so important to them. I used to cheer for them, even though I am a Hockey East fan (I know, where are the HE teams now?), til more of them seemed to come out of the woodwork and act like jerks.
        I do feel badly because they had a great season, but doesn’t break my heart to see them lose. I will say all of the Sioux fans around me last night, although very loud, ONLY cheered for their team, no trash talk, I appreciate that.
        The refs pretty much let them play which is always what UND claims it wants and they did dominate after the 1st period, but great game for Hunwick.
        What is really kind of sad is all the bashing going on in this blog… which was about a potentially serious injury. I hope Nelson is OK and has a very speedy recovery.
      - Aircorps41
        Hi After Further Review, thanks. I have nothing but respect for all of the other teams out there. It’s all about the players, schools and fans, once being a player myself. But sometimes we can get carried away. Personally I’m not much of a Hockey East Fan, and for good reason, we haven’t been doing too well against you lately. LOL But anyone who rips on the other conferences is just being plain stupid, because in my opinion all of the conferences have power house teams. So to those out there that don’t think so, they don’t understand the idea of sportsmanship and respect.
      - After Further Review
        Well, hopefully HE will be back because I enjoy seeing HE/WCHA and their best teams match up. But you are right, all conferences have their share of top, powerhouse teams.
        I have that same respect for all teams, but many others, from all conferences don’t. All in all, it was a fun FF to watch and it doesn’t sound like Nelson’s injury is too serious, although serious enough.
        See you all next year.
    - B.D.
      Soooo, stating an opinion is trash talking?
      Interesting…..
  - Duh!
    Scoreboard.
HockyFan
Sioux lose and Miele wins the Hobey. Yay!
typical Sioux troll
If only we had the number one seed! We were screwed by the Pairwise! Something something Yale.
- B.D.
  Please specify.
Austin Linebaugh
go blue baby what excuses do u have sioux fans i sat back and took your posts and just waited to let you see that defense wins championships not offense not superior talent a good system and defense wins 4 to 1 pp advantage and 4 shots on goal on the pp that lossed you guys the game. enjoy your empty 15000 person stadium. GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- collegehockeyfan
  If Hunwick doesn’t show up tomorrow, it will end up the same for the Michigan, trust me, if Hunwick can play like that on Saturday, he will lock up the best performance in NCAA hockey history. Can’t agree on them being the better team though, they got worked all game, as my other post says, one player won this game, but if he doesn’t show up again, its gonna be a light show. Good game Hunwick.
- Blisteriii
  Host is a dump
  - Josh
    Where is Host?
Stonecoldwolv
Sioux fans we have been there a ton of times. The better team out played the other team in every way and lost. You guys had an awesome team. A walk-on goalie just is playing lights out.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JDGZXFDMDYK6NNRD2QK3DAGXVQ Jason Stanko
Sad to see anyone get hurt. Hope he recovers well and returns for next season.
Awesome game. Can’t say Michigan would have won if they opened up on offense but they were the better disciplined team. They pretty much played the same game vs. CC but had the puck for 90% of that game, maybe 40% of this one. They played the role of the underdog well.
Hope they can make it 4-0 vs. WCHA
Where was Frattin?
Question: Where was Frattin?
Answer: Showing why I’ve been saying all along he’s over rated and racks up huge numbers against inferior opponents. Again – I refer you all to Exhibit A:
http://insidecollegehockey.com/inch/2011/03/10/trackler_podcast/
GO BULLDOGS!
Flaca
LETS GO SCSU…. SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT OWLS WIN THEIR DIVISION….
SueeeSue
Hey college hockey fan. Enjoy the summer. Looking forward to your manifestos using lame statistics to prove UND is better. I hear Dell is already applying for an oil rig job
- B.D.
  Doubtful since he has plenty of years left.
irish
When do the Sioux play next??? You’re the number 1 team in the nation-do you have a bye?? Please enlighten me!! Maybe we can get the CCHL crew that officiated the Yale-Minnesota-Duluth game to officiate your next game. They’ll provide the incompetence you need in order to win!! Please get the linesman that looks like the Pillsbury doughboy (Tony something) on the game. He’ll make sure he ejects the opposing team’s best player-you’ll certainly have your chance to win. Good luck!!
- Anonymous
  Really? We’re going to post this stuff on stories about a guy going to the hospital during the game with a back injury? Does anyone on any of these boards have any conscience at all? Pray for this kid, and if you’re not the praying type, just respect what he, and the other players on both teams do on the ice. We’re hockey fans. We have nothing to do with our team winning or losing. Don’t live vicariously. Enjoy the game, and respect the players. If fans of some team have annoyed you, realize they aren’t all like that, and don’t tear the whole team and their fanbase down, because a few idiots left a bad taste in your mouth. Get well, Brock. Hope to see you healthy and playing strong next year.
- Karl Largen
  Classy guy Irish. Classy guy.
  Hope Brock has a swift and easy recovery, and that he signs pro so the rest of the WCHA doesn’t have to deal with the monster that soon will be Brock Nelson.
UM in the SW
As a Michigan fan, want to wish the young man who was hurt all the best. Our prayers are with him and a safe recovery!
Billymbrew
Hunwick was good. Thats it. All other sioux fan commentary is probably useless.
- BlueSkies
  No Billy, Hunwick was not good, he was awesome.
  - B.D.
    Concur, he was the number one reason for Michigan victory.
    THe other was that Michigan controlled the slot fairly well, not perfectly (Nor as good as UND did theirs) but adequate to the purpose.
Bob
Hunwick was fantastic…I hope the injured player is ok…Happens all the time in NCAA hockey games… One team out shots the other team but a goalie steals the game… as a matter of fact it has happened a lot to michigan in the past… Today was our day… i hope Hunwick has plays great on sunday because i am sure the refs will give more PP’s to MD…
ddddangles
Our prayers are with you Nels! Thank you for your hard work all season!
Been There
First I hope the Nelson kid is ok then we can talk hockey. UND was by far the best team on the ice, but Michigan had a game plan and carried it out well. They forced UND to shoot the puck in and then beat them to the puck. UND had to put more pressure on Michigan’s D. Can’t understand why UND didn’t take advantage of Hunwick coming so far out of the net instead of shooting right on giving him a clean look at most pucks. Why UND didn’t set up the PP off to the side, fake the shot and use it as a pass to the guy on side and then tip or shoot behind the goalie as he is moving across the net. Give UMD this chance on the PP and its in the net.
Jon
Is there any further word on Nelson?
- DannyKristo
  They found out that he’s actually a chick. Otherwise, no.
  - B.D.
    The troll is back.
BlueSkies
First, prayers for Nelson’s full recovery. A reminder that in the big picture, it’s just a game.
At the 2008 Frozen Four in Denver, Michigan and Notre Dame played the second semifinal game. Michigan was the overall #1 seed with 33 wins to that point. It had beaten ND twice in the regular season, and was far and away the more talented team. But Michigan’s goalie (Billy Sauer) had an awful game, and Notre Dame stuck to its defensive game plan and won. So last night was Michigan’s karma. Hunwick (who was a freshman in Denver) played lights out, Michigan stuck to its defensive game plan, and may win its 10th national championship Saturday night. Go Blue!
RENCEB
Wow, I guess the Hobey voters should not even bother to consider anyone else. ”…the award all but belongs to…”, Connolly’s status as a prohibitive frontrunner…”.
Why not just say “Goalies need not apply”?
- Elliot Olshansky
  Don’t worry, the annual “Did Ryan Miller ruin it for every other goalie in 2001?” blog entry is coming. I’m not sure when, but we will address goalies.
Tom
Funny how bias the article is lol, especially with how close the scoring race is. IMO its more impressive having same points on a much weaker team.
- godogs
  how is it more impressive having the same points on a weaker team that means the talent you face is also weaker…
  - nogofer
    I wonder if you read what you wrote before you posted? You don’t think a player on WI or St. Cloud State faces a tougher task than the goal-scorer on the UM-Duluth squad or rodents? Really???
Phoenixfyre1313
Jack Connolly is one helluva a player, no question, but I think that the presumption to not include goaltenders at all in the article is rather comical. If you do a breakdown on what players are most critical to a teams performance it would be the goalie. You can have all the scoring you want, but with a poor goalie your going nowhere and with poor scoring and a great goalie you can win it all. Additionally the fact that you can be a player with the same caliber stats, but be on a poor team and be totally discounted from the start is a joke. So in essence your not voting on the individual, but team that is around him. That is not what this award is supposed to be about.
Joe
If It was based just on scoring nyquist woulda beat Blake having 11 more points that year.
14TheThumb
One thing the article – that is very well done – fails to mention is the fact that Connolly is the heart and soul of the team, a true leader. Booked my trip to Florida for the ceremony – and hopefully to take in a few games should luck have it.
- Fan Man
  Just booked a trip to Duluth to see Amsoil Feb 10th. Cant wait
18secondsuntilsunrise
Elliot, or is it Elliet or Olliot…what does a little misspelling of someone’s name really matter? Sorry, but I’m less than impressed with this article.
I do believe that Jack Connolly is a serious candidate for the Hobey Baker award, and he may in fact deserve the award at some point, but he’s a long, long way from winning it. First and foremost, you should go back and look at the Hobey criteria. Your article says NOTHING about Jack’s scholastic achievement, or his character off of the ice. I’m betting he’s very hobey-worthy in both of these areas, but you need to tell us why if you are going to use this sensationalized title for your article. Next, Connolly leads the Points per game race by a measly 0.02…over Spencer Abbott, and 0.04 over Mark Zengerle and Austin Smith. However, Smith has 9 more goals in the same amount of games. Abbott has played 1 fewer games and would only need 2 points in his next game to be tied with Connolly. ETC……..
Last time I check (just now), there were 6 weeks (11-12ish games) left in the regular season, plus league tournaments and then the NCAAs. Why don’t you write another article about this subject just before the NCAA tourney. Then you might get our attention, and deserve it.
Sorry for the rant, but I found you article to be quite biased and far to much opinion. That said, thanks for writing each week and putting yourself in the line of fire.
- JOhn
  agreed, far to early to be going over who you think has already won. The race is too close in points and in my opinion i’m more impressed with Austins granted weaker division, but also a weaker team, and hes putting up lots of goals. Of Spencer on a much weaker team and .02ppg behind, and Justin D man with those points is damn impressive.
  Seems if you are writing articles just about whos winning, I guess we won’t get any more Hobey Watch!!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H34H3N53RWXPTA2FB6VYBI5FOA JJ
Ok lets do this.. Do you want to go with stats..He’s leading the NATION in points this year. He’s the active leading career poins in D-1 College Hockey.
You don’t like stats, well then, he lead the team to a National Championship, if you say it’s all about this year..He leads the BEST team in college hockey AGAIN, Face-offs, PK, PP 5on5, don’t matter Jack does it all. Best all around hockey player I’ve seen in a long time.
- Jay
  whos leading the nation now?? Abbott is, again this is why this was written wayyyyyyyyyyy to early.
  - Taylor Birkelo
    Actually hes not the top in the Nation and he will not be able to win unless he plans on out scoring Jack by at least 10 to 15 he won’t win because the WCHA is way more comptitive then the Hockey East. They don’t have the teams like Minnesota, UMD, UND, Denver, CC, Wisconsin, UNO and the other teams would be good in other conferences too, showing their non WCHA records. So this article is right on.
HOBEY
You can’t ignore the fact that Smith has 24 goals and is 4 ahead of 2nd place. Also, 5 shorty’s and 5 game winners. You also failed to mention the UMD has 3 guys with more than 30 points. That takes a lot of the luster of Jack.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H34H3N53RWXPTA2FB6VYBI5FOA JJ
  It takes luster away to be on a winner?!?! WHAT?!? I’m confused???
  - Jason
    It means he has a lot of goal scorers on his team, hence the 25 assists…
Spongebob Squarepants
The title to this article really caught my eye, and after reading it, along with the comments to go with it, I had to comment myself. While most of you probably can’t answer yes to “Do we know Jack yet” I can. I had the privilege to get to know Jack pretty well and what a privilege it was. Just thought I’d share some honest insight into why he deserves this award more than anyone on the planet.I’ll come out and say right away I am totally bias towards him. I grew up with Jack and let me tell you he’s come a long way since he was 10 years old with an aggressive bullcut. I’ve competed against him and mostly with him in numerous activites (the main one being hockey). He’s an amazing athelete and was literally the best at everything growing up…… except swimming. I don’t think I even need to touch on Jack’s college hockey career as his numbers speak for themselves…… But I will :)Most of you probably don’t realize UMD was trash and in the bottom of the WCHA before Jack arrived….. Granted he didn’t do it all himself but he sure had a lot to do with it. I mean the kid hasn’t missed a single game his entire college career. He’s going to be a three time All-Academic and All-American. Oh and by the way he won a National Championship and a WCHA Conference Championship. Not to mention doing this in his hometown, in front of family and friends, for the team he grew up watching. Not sure if any of you have been to the brand new Amsoil Arena, but in Duluth we refer to it as “The Rink that Jack built” For you people saying kids on bad teams with good numbers shouldn’t be counted out I understand your point. At the same time have you stopped to think about the numbers Connolls would put up in the CCHA, ECAC, or any other conference??? The WCHA is easily the best conference in College Hockey and it’s not even a question. …. Most conferences are a joke compared to the WCHA in terms of depth. Put him up against those brains in the ECAC and we wouldn’t be talking about 200 career points but 300 (slight exaggeration for dramatic effect but not really.) He has world class vision and makes everyone around him better (Trust me… I’ve reaped the benefits).For all you people asking about his character and so forth I’ll give you a brief rundown since the article didn’t. This is going to sound very very cliche but it’s honestly the best way I can put it. Jack is the kid you want your daughter to date and your son to grow up like. He’s an amazing hockey player but an even better human being. When it comes to character he has everyone beat because you couldn’t be a better person than this guy. He was always so enthusiastic and passionate about the game he reminded me of a little kid out there. I know this hasn’t changed. He plays exactly how you should play. He’s “The Guy” Jack has put SOOOO much work and effort into hockey. No one on the planet deserves this award more than him. Everyone always doubted his transition to the next level whether it was Bantams, High School, Juniors, and College because of his size. Instead of letting that get to him he used it as motivation to get better. Jack deserves every bit of success he’s had and it couldn’t happen to a better more deserving person.Do we know Jack yet? Chances are you probably don’t, but if you did, you’d understand that there has NEVER been anyone more deserving of the Hobey than this guy. It’s the only thing missing in his fairytale college career besides back to back National Titles, which he’s gonna have a shot at! And while the Jack I know would take a National Title over the Hobey 20 times out of 20; It’d be a crime to not give it to him.
- Fan Man
  I’ll give Jack my vote and thats even coming from a classless Sioux Fan! Well said and (well deserved)! I love a true player and he is it..
- Day Man
  Hi Mrs. Connolly. How’s the husband and kids?…wait I know how your kids are. They are doing quite well in College Hockey. Thank you very much for taking time to enlighten us more on your son. He seems like a great guy.
  - Spongebob Squarepants
    Day Man I don’t think Mrs. Connolly needs to promote her son on a message board when he’s arguably the best college hockey player in the nation. I think parents stopped doing that around Bantams, but you probably have a better idea of that then me :D. This was a great article with some insightful comments on a topic any hockey fan can appreciate. Stop trying to derail the thread with amateur trolling. With that being said, please leave the commenting to the people who are actually adding some insight and interesting outlooks on this great topic. I’m sure there are some active threads on minnhock.com you can blow some time on. Thanks.
  - Spongebob Squarepants
    Day Man I don’t think Mrs. Connolly needs to promote her son on a message board when he’s arguably the best college hockey player in the nation. I think parents stopped doing that around Bantams, but you probably have a better idea of that then me :D. This was a great article with some insightful comments on a topic any hockey fan can appreciate. Stop trying to derail the thread with amateur trolling. With that being said, please leave the commenting to the people who are actually adding some insight and interesting outlooks on this great topic. I’m sure there are some active threads on minnhock.com you can blow some time on. Thanks.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H34H3N53RWXPTA2FB6VYBI5FOA JJ
And one more thing..GO DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m sick, I feel like crap..DO you think that will stop me from seeing my Dogs tonight against Mich Tech..HELLZ NO!!!
Taylor Birkelo
You guys that think Jack isn’t going to win is just dumb. With him and the Bulldogs doing better than anyone else in the Nation, hes bound to win. Spencer Abbott and Austin Smith are jokes, they play in bad conferences, Colgate more then Maine, but in Maine’s conference all they have got is BU and BC. As the list at the top shows 7 of those players that won it were on a WCHA team, which has the toughest conference in the Nation. So the Hobey Baker should go to Jack, no questions asked.
- Jablowme
  Oh shut up you biased WCHA fanboy