Hey there Wilderness;

We're planning on sponsoring the Twin Cities version of NHL Tweetup and pairing it with a Hockey Wilderness viewing party. Check out the site for more information on NHL Tweetup.

We've heard from many who would prefer it be on a night where the Wild are on the road, and we're working with some bars and restaurants around the X who would love to have a decent sized gathering on a non-game night. Also, we want to avoid the state tourney, so that week is out.

So, what we need from all of you is a vote for the night of the event, and if you have a suggestion for location, let us know in the comments.

EDIT: We may need to get out of the Xcel Energy Center area in order to have this in March and avoid tourney traffic.

Thanks!

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With Niklas Backstrom's back ailing and Josh Harding coming off of a hip strain, the Wild have decided to bring up Wade Dubielewicz from the Houston Aeros. Now, does this mean that Dubie is going to finally get some playing time? I can't even imagine that happening. However, does it mean that Ms. Conduct will be happy because I believe Barry Brust is heading back to Houston.

Since being thrust into the starting role with the Aeros with Anton Khudobin being called up to the Minnesota Wild, Dubie has posted a 2.45 GAA through eight games.

"I’ve felt okay [since being called on to start]," Dubielewicz said. "I feel like these last couple games, I’m really starting to elevate my play. So far, so good."

Learn more about the former DU Pioneer and New York Islander thanks to our friends at Zamboni Chronicles.

In one of the cheapest of cheapshots, the Dallas Stars' Mark Fistric received a match penalty for hitting the Calgary Flames' Eric Nystrom in the head with Nystrom's own helmet in a fight last night.

Sure, you can say that it was done unintentionally, but that would be ridiculously untrue. He grasped the strap and swung it at Nystrom's head. Frankly, at that point the referees screwed up by not jumping in immediately.

The best thing that happened here was that Fistric received a match penalty, so Colin Campbell and his Wheel of Justice cannot possibly let him off the hook, then again Fistric isn't a superstar anyway, so it doesn't matter much.

So Wilderness, for how long will Fistric be suspended?

EDIT: OF COURSE NOT!! A moron named Colin Campbell, in his infinite wisdom, determined a fine would be good enough. What a fuck head. Check it out on Defending Big D

Word from Russo's back-up's back-up Brian Stensaas is that Josh Harding's hip injury will keep the netminder out at least one to two weeks, which will likely mean he'll be placed on the IR. Now, who will back him up? Wade Dubielewicz? Anton Khudobin? It'll likely be Khudobin, but he hasn't won since November. No seriously, he is 0-9-1 in Houston since November. Yeah, something tells me that Backstrom will be seeing a lot of playing time in the next couple of weeks.

If you didn't see the video in which Harding was injured, take a look. It's a fantastic save, but you can easily see how he injured that hip.

We'll keep you up to date as we learn more.

Omaha Lancers forward and Minnesota Wild prospect Erik Haula

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I had the chance to chat with Minnesota Wild prospect, former Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabre, current Omaha Lancer and future Minnesota Golden Gopher Erik Haula about life in the USHL, prepping for college, his game, his outlook on the next level, the Olympics and more.

For those who aren't familiar with Haula, he's a 5'11", 170 lb center from Poni, Finland. Playing on Omaha's top line, Haula has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 33 games thus far. He's a +20 and leads the team in power play assists with 17.

Haula isn't your prototypical power forward, but instead uses his hands and excellent vision on the ice to create opportunities for his teammates. He's a bit undersized at 170, but is working on adding weight and strength on the puck.

In the Wild prospect camp this past summer, Haula looked very good, and was clearly holding his own with the rest of the prospects, and you could definitely tell when he was on the ice.

Feel free to check out the complete audio of the Erik Haula Interview

Hockey Wilderness: I'd like to talk to you a little bit about the USHL and college hockey and preparing for the NHL. So what made you decide to spend a year in the USHL after Shattuck and before heading to the U of M?

Erik Haula: Mostly I just wanted to step up a level after Shattuck and I thought the USHL was the best option for me and to get me ready for college.So I thought that would be a good choice, and I think I made the right decision.

HW: It seems like you're having a really good year down in Omaha, you and your other linemates there. Last I saw you were either first or second in the league in scoring.

EH: Yeah, after the break our team has had a little bit of a struggle. But every team has those moments, but I have a really good team and linemates, so it helps.

Continue reading this post »

Good evening Wilderness. As part of our blogger outreach program, we at Hockey Wilderness have been seeking out the best and the brightest to cover the Minnesota Wild and all things NHL and Minnesota hockey.

Our newest member is none other than Elise Butler from 18,568 Reasons Why. Elise and I discussed the difficulties with being a lone blogger while being a full-time student and how we thought it would be a great opportunity for her to join us over here and not lose her voice, which has become a go-to voice in the Wild blogosphere.

So, without further adieu, please welcome the newest member of the Hockey Wilderness staff, elisebutler

Hello Hockey Wilderness!

My name is Elise. You might have read my work over at my blog 18,568 Reasons Why.

I'm a born and bred Minnesotan who loves being from Minnesota and everything about it. Naturally, this includes hockey. I was all of two years old when the North Stars left, leaving much of my childhood hockeyless. When the Wild returned hockey to Minnesota, I latched onto it, becoming fully obsessed with the sport during the 2003 season and Wild playoff run.

I'm now right outside of Chicago for college, missing the days with easy access to everything Wild related and a handful of trips to the X per season. But that's not going to stop me. Just like the UC express bus that decided to not pick me and my friends up didn't stop me from getting to the Blackhawks-Wild game earlier this season (though I was told by a Chicagoan that that was actually my fault because I was wearing a Wild jersey.)

Anyway, I'm delighted to be joining the Hockey Wilderness ranks and hope you are all somewhat excited to have me, too.

So, let's welcome Elise to the SBN family, and we look forward to reading her input.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Minnesota Wild Olympians!

First off, the Finns:

Niklas Backstrom

#32 / Goalie / Minnesota Wild

Height: 6-1

Weight: 196

Born: Feb 13, 1978

No surprise here. The question will be whether or not he starts over Miikka Kiprusoff.

Mikko Koivu

#9 / Center / Minnesota Wild

Height: 6-2

Weight: 200

Born: Mar 12, 1983

Well, it's hard to have the captain not on the team. Mikko will lead the Finns into Vancouver with his sights on a gold medal, though I'm guessing they'll likely settle for getting into the medal round. They don't have the offensive firepower to hang with the Canadians, Russians and Swedes.

Antti Miettinen

#20 / Right Wing / Minnesota Wild

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190

Born: Jul 03, 1980

And the inclusion of Mittens into the side proves how lacking the Finns are for forwards. Sure, we LOVE Mittens here. He works hard, he's improved his game ten-fold since coming to Minnesota, but he would have no chance of making the team on a medal contender.

Now the Czechs:

Martin Havlat

#14 / Right Wing / Minnesota Wild

Height: 6-2

Weight: 217

Born: Apr 19, 1981

Yes, Martin Havlat should make the Olympic team for the Czech Republic. He's likely on their top line if not the second, and with the way he's been playing lately, he is impossible to leave off.

Marek Zidlicky

#3 / Defenseman / Minnesota Wild

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190

Born: Feb 03, 1977

Great to see Zidlicky included on the Czech squad, but if you look at the other names on the roster, there's no doubt he's in.

The Czechs are old, old, old. They too have absolutely no chance of winning a medal, and making it to the medal round will be a lofty goal.

This should round out the Olympians on the Wild. There's no way anyone gets picked for the Canadian team, and they have no Americans, so here you have it!

More photos » Larry MacDougal - AP

about 1 month ago: Calgary Flames' Brian McGrattan, left, fights Minnesota Wild's Derek Boogaard during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Larry MacDougal)

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Holy crap, the Wild won in Calgary. Holy crap, James Sheppard scored. Holy crap, Martin Havlat scored. Holy crap, the Wild had more than 40 shots on goal.

Ok, I'm not really sure which is more shocking, to be honest, but I'd say that beating Calgary in the Saddledome is the biggest surprise.

The Wild have now won seven of eight and seem to be turning it on right about the time many expected them to. It's great to see them winning with offense and winning with defense. Frankly, if it weren't for Kiprusoff, tonight would have been out of hand and the Wild would have won going away.

It's great to see Havlat getting into the flow of the game, and nice to see someone other than the top line carry the load for the offense.

Let's hope this solid defensive play continues. Things are finally turning around.

Please read the game recap over at Matchsticks and Gasoline

Hockey Wilderness Three Stars

1. Martin Havlat (1 G, 1 A)
2. Miikka Kiprusoff (44 saves)
   
3. James Sheppard (1 G)
   

Questions to Answer

I'm gonna let SpaethCo answer.

1. The Calgary Flames have been the best in the Northwest (no matter what folks in Colorado will have you believe) will the Wild get a good measuring stick against a solid team? We’re trying to fight our way back into the hunt, so for the sake of team confidence let’s say this is a great measuring stick. (only because we got the win)
   
2. Will the curse of the Saddledome continue to hover over the Wild? It tried really damn hard - maybe the curse was thrown off by the cold?
   
3. Which Finnish goalie will shine? Despite Backstrom getting the win, Kiprusoff held off 44 of 46 shots. From the Flames perspective, Kiprusoff gets the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd star.
   
4. Bruno has eight points in the last five games, and Mittens has seven goals in his last eight. Can they keep it up? Strangely enough, the underdogs of the team pull it off. Shep and Havlat - I wonder what the line would have been on that in Vegas?
   
5. The Flames have the best career record against the Wild. Why? They're really not that good, are they? Kiprusoff and Iginla? Nah, those guys have no talent at all. In fact, Calgary should send them to us for Boogard and a bag of pucks. Right?