Revisiting Stacey

Since it's move to Tier I in 1987-88, the Notre Dame Hounds have used its pipeline from its famous midget program to produce top end talent out of the Saskatchewan league. The latest in the line is Wahs Stacey, a native american Mohawk from Quebec, who moved to the flatlands of Saskatchewan for bantam hockey. Drafted in the Quebec draft, he got 71 points in 44 midget games, and then bypassed the major junior route to move up to the Junior A Hounds. Last year, he earned the SJHL rookie of the year honors with 46 points in 49 games. Along the way, he visited Minnesota Duluth and made a commitment at the end of November. By April he had second thoughts, and withdrew his commitment, opening the process up again. This year he has narrowed his college choice down to a new group of schools: Maine, Vermont, St. Cloud or Colorado College.

North Dakota legacies

The commitment of Brett Hextall to the Fighting Sioux effectively limited what they could offer Mario Lamoureux, brother of goalie Philippe Lamoureux and son of former Sioux goalie Pierre Lamoureux. Instead, Mario will be joining his brother Jacques with the Northern Michigan Wildcats. An older brother elected to go the WHL route with the Red Deer Rebels, and two younger sisters are highly regarded hockey players at Shattuck St.Mary's.

So, does that end the matriculation of Lamoureuxs to North Dakota? Not quite. Up in Drumheller Alberta, Cam Lamoureux is working through his first junior season. Cam is a '89 born power forward from Calgary. While not a progeny of Pierre, Cam's father Roger starred for the Sioux back in the mid-70s. No doubt the Sioux are keeping close tabs on the young winger.

Another Sioux target is Jason Gregoire, an '89 winger from Winnipeg. Last season's Manitoba Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year has taken his game down to the USHL where he plays for former Sioux winger Steve Johnson. A fast start to his USHL season (5 points in 2 games) also has him on the radar of Denver and Wisconsin.

Western Canada Updates

The recent story confirms that Tyler Gron will pursue the NCAA route, begining his flydowns this month.

Brett Hextall, son of former NHLer Ron Hextall, and nephew to former North Dakota great Dennis Hextall (1963-66) has committed to North Dakota. Hextall has bounced around quite a bit, growing up in southern New Jersey, moved to Milton Academy as a sophomore, then playing last year at Northwood Prep after being asked to leave Milton. The fiesty Hextall has piled up penalty minutes and points in his rookie BCHL season.

North Dakota picked up another top forward in Brad Malone. Although his family has lots of NHL roots (his uncle Greg was a 15 year NHLer and his father was an NHL first round pick), he grew up in small-town Miramichi New Brunswick. He had western connections, having attended Chuck Grillo's Minnesota summer camps and his cousin Ryan Malone attended St.Cloud State. Ultimately, his college decision came down to Wisconsin and North Dakota and Grand Forks reminded him of home.