Backes featured in NHLPA video

In response to the NHL owners' lockout of players, several players put out a video to give a message to fans. Former Minnesota State captain David Backes is prominent in the video, which also features superstars Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. I'm writing about Backes — and why it should come as no surprise that he's a person the players want out front on this — for my regular Wednesday column in The Free Press.

Kato's Cup connections

The Associated Press

Former Maverick Ryan Carter scored another playoff goal for the Devils on Saturday, giving him five for the postseason. His goal in the third period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals tied the game at 1-all, but the Kings won in overtime again to go up 2-0 with the series returning to Los Angeles on Monday night.

I talked to Carter for a Free Press story on Friday, and he said he was planning to be in Mankato over the weekend to participate in the "Can-Am Cup," an annual golf outing of MSU hockey alumni that pits Americans against Canadians, Ryder Cup-style. Carter was to be the U.S. captain this year. Let's just say his teammates gave him a pass, considering the more-prestigious Cup he's playing for.

Meanwhile, L.A. also has a Mankato connection as former play-by-play radio man Mike Kalinowski is a communications manager for the Kings. He has worked his way up to the NHL the hard way, covering college hockey and moving through the minor leagues. He's been in Utica, N.Y.; Rockford, Ill.; and Manchester, N.H.; before getting hired by the Kings six years ago.

Kalinowski said that the run the Kings are on is the most exciting thing he's been a p part of in hockey since the Mavericks upset North Dakota 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 of their 1999 WCHA playoffs series. MSU was not yet a full member of the WCHA and was made the tournament's 10th seed. Kalinowski correctly recalled that Andy Fermoyle scored the game-winner. North Dakota ended up winning the next two games to take the series.

Get the T-shirt!

Whenever I go  to cover Minnesota State games at Ralph Engelstad Arena in North Dakota, I usually take a stroll through the building's very nice team shop. They have a wide variety of jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies and other souvenirs.

One popular item there is an NHL T-shirt of a former UND player. The front has the  team logo, and the back has the name and number — the Devils' Zach Parise, the Blues' T.J. Oshie, etc.

Every time I see those shirts, I think, "Why doesn't MSU and the Verizon Wireless Center sell David Backes T-shirts?" Why not the Flames' Tim Jackman? I think they would be quite popular.

I figured it must be difficult to get those to sell in the team shop. No biggie, right? (Although it would have made a great Christmas present for my kid!)

But then I went to Bemidji this weekend and stopped by the Sanford Center's very nice team stor and saw Matt Read Flyers T-shirts for sale. And people were wearing them all over the arena. Matt Read! Read is a rookie (signed undrafted out of Bemidji State last spring) and having an outstanding season, even participating in All-Star weekend.

The point is this: If Bemidji found a way to get Matt Read T-shirts already, there's no reason MSU couldn't be selling tees representing its alumni. Backes is the Blues captain, a one-time All-Star and an Olympian in the midst of an outstanding NHL career.

Speaking of Backes, he didn't make the All-Star Game this year, but he sure did some good things over his break.

Coaches, commissions trying to stop proposed rules

It sounds like college hockey commissioners and coaches are working quickly to try to stop some of the new, proposed rule changes before they are passed.

Specifically, they are upset about the proposal to ban penalty killers from icing the puck. The Grand Forks Herald talked to North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol and Bemidji State's Tom Serratore, the latter of whom called the rule "a crime," "preposterous," "radical," "drastic," "far-fetched" and "off the wall."

Apparently, all of the coaches voted against the icing rule during their spring meeting in Florida.

College Hockey News reported on Monday that it doesn't expect the icing rule to stay in the proposal. Interestingly, the story says that Alaska athletic director Forrest Carr said he did not expect the rule to make it into the final rule-changes package but members were persuaded by some presentations from commissioners, the NHL and people who play by that rule at USA Hockey camps.

I'm curious to know why the NHL would be pushing such a rule. Does it see college hockey as a good place to observe some rule tinkering without harming its own product and minor league system? If the NHL or one of the minor leagues were playing this way and passing it along I would understand. What is the NHL's interest in college hockey adopting the rule, other than seeing the college game as a guinea pig?

Due to some time off and other assignments, PucKato hasn't had a chance to get MSU coaches' opinions  on the rule proposals. In past conversations with Troy Jutting, he often has stated that he doesn't like the constant tweaking and thinks the game is a pretty good as it's currently played.