Tom’s Notes: NHL Lockout Impacts Former Bulldog Hockey Players + More

Here are some of highlights in local sports action from yesterday:

• The first causality of the NHL lockout, besides training camps not openings, occurred Wednesday, when the League announced all of the preseason games through the end of the month of September have been cancelled due to the labor issue.
• Due to the lockout Two former UMD Bulldogs will be skating with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL.  The San Jose Sharks sent goaltender Alex Stalock and forward Travis Oleksuk to the minors to play this year.  Worcester camp opens next week.  The Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL also sent defenseman Justin Faulk to the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL.  He is another former Bulldog.  Another former Bulldog, Brady Lamb is with Abbotsford Heat in the AHL.  Plenty of other Bulldogs will also be in the minors this year.

• At the USHL Fall Hockey Classic in Sioux City Wednesday some Northland players fared very well.  Jared Kolquist of Sioux City scored two goals in a 5-2 win over Sioux Falls Stampede.  Jared Thomas is also on the team.  Their coach is former UMD player and later Assistant Coach Brett Larson of Duluth.  In other games, Cedar Rapids topped Des Moines 7-1 and former Duluth Marshall Hilltopper Judd Peterson had a goal for Cedar Rapids. Two other local players will be in action on Thursday for their respective USHL teams.  Four USHL teams were in Duluth last weekend to take part in the Clyde iron Cup.

• Community College Volleyball on Wednesday:  Hibbing over Rainy River 3-2; Itasca topped Fond Du Lac Thunder 3-0.

• College Women’s soccer, River Falls over UWS 2-1.