USHL News

USHL News
Fresh off the completion of most summer try-out camps, the USHL teams have updated their protected lists down to the 30 man squads. Last week, USHR.com provided a list of the adds/drops from the USHL protected lists, and as is usual, this news then found its way a few days later to the Scouting News, albeit with The Scouting News' usual understated style:

USHL camps have been in full swing all month. As a result changes are being made throughout the league. ...The Scouting News got an anonymous off the record email yesterday telling us who has been added and dropped.

Alright, who's the wiseguy who emailed them the lists from the best USHL source, the USHL blog?

Steve Anthony Gives Up Promising Baseball Career

This will come as a shock to many, but Steven Anthony has elected to foregoe his promising baseball career, and instead play hockey for his major junior team.

In some older news, it looks like Sault Ste.Marie's first round pick (3rd overall) will in fact report. Before the draft his father wrote the Greyhounds telling them that they should not draft him because he would not report because the long travel would impact his schooling. I guess only time will tell, but I don't like it when players give up education and put all their eggs in the pro basket. Let's hope this works out for him.

Going Where They Wanted

Yesterday's Quebec "draft" continued to reflect the trend wherein players choose teams, not vice versa. I guess there is nothing wrong with that process - after all, the alternative NCAA route is exactly the same process. And when we decry the problems with a 16 year old having to move away from his family to play major junior, this represents a step in the right direction. The importance of dictating a location is particularly acute in the Quebec league, with the language and schooling issues. It is more than understandable that anglophones should dictate staying in the English speaking Maritimes, even in their hometown, rather than ending up in Chicoutimi.

The byproduct of this is the wonderful pre-draft disinformation campaigns in which players exert their leverage. Some make little pretext about their leverage: Matt Brown said he wanted to play in the Q, but would do so only for a Maritime team, otherwise he was headed to Northwood Prep. He got his wish, and will play in the Q.

Others are more disingenuous about this, with Angelo Esposito being the poster child for this. They do not make overt conditions, they maintain a blanket pretext that they would not report to the Q. In fact, it seems apparent to all that they want to go to a particular "deep pocket" team, and therefore need to spread the NCAA myth to drive ALL of the remaining teams away. This means that before the draft, they need to make their NCAA certitude clear to all. This year, Steven Anthony falls into that camp. The Halifax, NS native has stated his intention to play for Lawrence Academy in Mass. A hint to their intentions usually comes in the form of silliness of their explanations. Last year, Esposito expounded upon his desire to become a doctor. This year, Steven Anthony has rediscovered his desire to play baseball. Ask yourself, how likely is it that kids destined for the NHL, will spend his March and Aprils getting ready for the baseball season?

Before the draft, Anthony had slipped up a bit, saying he wanted to be picked first overall by St.Johns (NS). Well, St.Johns didn't take him first overall, but traded up to the 10th pick, and then selected him. And as expected, Anthony has softened his stance:

"I'm still seriously leaning toward the NCAA, but I would not rule (the Sea Dogs) out," he said. "To see them make that trade for me shows they want me and I'm open to hear what they have to say."

Color me cynical, but expect him to discovery some previously unknown benefit to the Q within the next three weeks.

A separate case was Louis Leblanc, who is interested in academics, and before the draft was set to move on to Salisbury Prep with his teammate, Danny Biega. Then Dan Donato left Salisbury, and Leblanc indicated that he would still prefer the NCAA route, but would remain in Montreal playing another year of midget for Lac St.Louis. His selection late in the first round by Val d'Or (Valley of Gold) east of Montreal means they will push heavily on getting him to completely abandon the NCAA/prep route. By the way, with the Biega pipeline to Harvard, nobody selected Danny Biega in the first five rounds ('91s are eligible only in those rounds). Similarly, nobody selected '91 D Jessyko Bernard, a New Brunswick native playing for Cushing Academy.

A more curious case is Devon MacAusland. He fits the NCAA profile, and would seem to have valid reasons for preferring that route. Before the draft he not only spoke of the NCAA route, but also indicated a commitment to BC. While I would expect him to adhere to that plan, he was selected by his hometown Moncton team, albeit in the second round. Was his pre-draft disclosure of his BC commitment intentional? Time will tell - the second round was still below his talent level. But if there was any chance of him changing his mind, the selection by Moncton maximizes those chances.

On the flip side, Thayer Academy's Rich Greer went in the second round, usually an indication of an agreement, and Moncton selected Hartford's Jordan Samuels-Thomas, who is rumored to have stated his readiness to head north.

As a footnote, John Esposito, Angie's younger and shorter brother, only went in the fifth round, a reflection that he may be more sincere in his NCAA intentions.

Steven Anthony and Angie Esposito

With the Quebec draft now approaching, the players are lining up to express their preference for the NCAA vs. major junior. As I noted in my earlier post, Steven Anthony is telling everyone he intends to go the NCAA route. Curiously, his father, has a hard time staying on message, admitting that his son does want to play in Quebec, but that the St.Johns team hasn't spoken with the family enough. Another interesting hint is that Anthony's "advisor" is Phil Lecavailier (a former Clarkson defenseman), and brother of Vincent Lecavalier, who also pulled the NCAA card in his draft year. Two years ago Phil Lecavalier also was the "advisor" to Angelo Esposito, but apparently did a poor job of advising Angelo. It was only two weeks after the draft that Angelo learned about the Quebec leage, and its opportunities. Perhaps Phil has learned more about the league, and might want to tell Anthony now.
---------------

One late note from the Ontario draft was the slippage of Riley Sheahan, a center from St.Catharines, Ontario. Predicted as a first round pick, he slipped to the fourth round because of his NCAA interest in Boston College, Michigan and Notre Dame.

OHL Draft, review

Drafts, Lies, Etc.

Now that the Ontario Hockey League draft has taken place, we have some hints, but not truth, about whether the top 16 year olds will take the NCAA route or take the pro route of the OHL. I say hints, because teams sometimes do take legitimate risks on players with unknown intentions - witness Plymouth selecting Nick Petrecki in the first round two years ago, St.Mike's picking Brendan Smith in 2005, and Kingston selecting Wes O'Neil in 2002. This is rare, and so my natural inclination is to think that players chosen in the first two rounds will report to the major junior teams - even when they disavow that initially. Most often, you have players showing their NCAA cards, to ensure that they slide to their preferred team - generally the big-money London Knights, Plymouth Whalers, Kitchener Rangers. Step right up, Myles Appelbaum (soft Mich St commitment in 2005), or last year, where Cody Hodgins slid because of his NCAA threat, and Phil McRae fell to London because of his US National Development Team commitment.

(As an aside, it is interesting to see the Hunter's change of tune once they owned a franchise. Back in 1979, when Mark Hunter went first overall in the OHL draft, his dad took shots at Dave Simpson (brother of Craig Simpson) who told teams he would only report to the hometown London Knights. Brantford had to pass up Simpson, and selected Hunter. From the 1979 draft:

The elder Hunter also said he believes in the draft system in which 16- and 17- year olds are required to leave home to play in other cities. He lives with it because it's a 'hockey law. I know it's not (legally) right, but you have to go. I figure kids should be put on a [major junior] team and told what to do. No lawyer should be behind a 16- or 17- year old kid. I'd sure hate to be coaching a team and a 16- or 17- year old says 'see my lawyer'. That education thing by Simpson [the NCAA threat] is just a coverup. There comes a time in life when you've got to move. You can't protect kids forecover."

My, how times have changed.

Generally, players taken in the first round have deals or at least indications that they will make deals. Then there are first round talents taken in the third or fourth round, figuring the reward is worth it. London's Hunter clan does this, taking Sam Gagner in 2005, even though he had a legitimate interest in the NCAA. Fast forward a year, and a job for dad, and the players show up. Other times, it doesn't work out - witness St.Mike's taking Andrew Cogliano in the 3rd round in 2004, and BU's Corey Trivino in last year's draft.

Using that rule, there's bad news in store for Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ferris State. Each of their big name recruits were selected in the first round, and by teams known for having the resources to get their players. Matt Duchene, who would have been a top 2 pick, "slid" to fifth and the Brampton Battalion. He and Hodgins share the same family advisor, and are friends. So, things don't look great for Michigan State.

The only exception appears to be in Kingston, where the first pick, Ethan Werek, was fairly emphatic in rejecting Kingston's overtures. According to the article, he's headed to BU.

One other point of interest is Erie's selection of Lincoln USHL goalie Bryan Hogan in the fifth round. What makes it intersting is that he is an '88 in a '90 and '91 draft. Those picks mean the team has a special reason for taking the unique pick. Last year Matt Martello was a similar pick, and while he stuck out his commitment to LSSU, there was smoke, and later he ended up in Kitchener.

Drafts, Lies, and Videotape

USHR.com has a good story in advance of the Quebec draft about top prospects who are inclined to take the NCAA route. As has become an open secret, these pre-draft ruminations about going the college route dates back to the 1970s and the Ontario draft, where stars like Dave Simpson dictated that they would report to only certain teams.

Turning to this year's Quebec draft, the early announcements of NCAA interest are coming fast and furious. Some are legitimate, such as Danny Biega, whose brothers already have shown the seriousness of their intention. Similarly, Louis Leblanc, Biega's teammate at Lac St.Louis, has made tours of top NCAA programs such as Princeton and Brown, as well as BC, BU, Clarkson and Vermont. I've also heard that Francis Drolet might be interested in the prep route. Unfortunately, having seen Angelo Esposito truly game the system, these claims must be taken with a grain of salt.

Finally, there are a couple of kids from the Maritimes expressing interest in heading south for prep school. Matt Brown and Steven Anthony are featured in the Halifax Chronicle Herald.

Both Brown and Anthony said they have not yet decided if they will play major junior hockey because they both have opportunities to go to an American prep school instead. Brown is being heavily recruited by Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y. and said he is "leaning that way right now" because it would put him on track for a possible scholarship to an NCAA university.

"Right now I’m considering Northwood School very intently. I’m looking at that pretty closely right now," said the well-spoken Grade 10 student. "I’m pretty focused on school. That’s important to me. But I don’t know how it’s going to go for sure right now."

Anthony said he is looking closely at going the American route because it would allow him to continue playing baseball. He is an outstanding pitcher and catcher and going that way would give him more time to decide which sport he likes most.

"I’m accepted to a prep school down in the States called Lawrence Academy and I’d still get to play baseball," Anthony said. "I’ve had some college offers … for hockey but they said I could probably play baseball as well. It’s still a really serious (option) for me."

But Anthony and Brown both emphasized that they are not expressing some phoney interest in going the NCAA route just to manipulate who drafts them.

NCAA vs. Junior Hockey

With apology for the long gap between posts, I have a couple of stories that again focus on the relative competition for young Canadian players.

The first is a rather disjointed article by Steve Simmons in the Toronto Sun. He seems to have approached the story with a theory, regardless of what he learned in his interviews. Therefore, the article is couched as a story about the NCAA turning its back on Canadian players, citing the lower percentage of Canadian players in the NCAA, and then stating "While colleges won't admit it, there is inherent pressure, considering the relative strength of American hockey, to prefer Americans over Canadian."

The problem with his theory is that the people he quotes say just the opposite - they'd love to have more Canadians, but are unable to present their option to 15 year olds, thereby losing out to a system stacked in favor of Major Junior hockey. As Jeff Jackson notes:

"There's not much of a fight with the junior leagues because we can't compete on an even playing field. They draft a kid at 15. Kids are getting agents when they are 14. It's the agent's job to lock up the kid. So what do you do if you're the agent? Does he send him to junior hockey, where you now have a client's signature on the dotted line? Or does he advise him to go to college, where you can't represent him?

"The juniors are in business. The agents are in business. The decisions are being made at too young an age."

None of this seems to register with Mr. Simmons, who concludes with the alarmist view that "The next tier of Canadian players may not [have a scholarship option]."

From the comments of Coach Berenson and Jackson, it seems that they are frustrated with the lack of ability to meet with and educate the players at the necessary age. As I've written before, the NCAA rules, prohibiting teams from initiating contact with players before their senior year may make sense in sports where the competition is between schools, but makes little sense for players who have a third, non-NCAA option. I've never understood why the NCAA doesn't allow teams to make a pro-NCAA sell to these kids, when the other result is to provide pro leagues with the contact for these young kids.

Another interesting debate arises out of the USA's venue for developing players for the NCAA, the USHL. The USHL's Central Scouting Service continues to present the case for attracting players from Canada, showing the long odds of players getting to the NHL, and the advantages of securing an education. With the Candian Development Model pushing elite players into a choice at age 16 between major junior or a lesser level of play, the USHL is striving to present a third option. Each year the USHL continues to gain in depth, and becomes a stronger option, and is gearing its program at the younger talent pool (witness, the Future's draft). Whether this sways the decisions of 15 year olds remains to be seen.

News

Mike Cichy leaves USNDPT

www.bostonjuniorbruins.com

Players leaving the USNDPT program are rare, as we saw when Colby Cohen left the U18 team earlier this year, and had his release held-up by the program. With less fanfare or issue, Mike Cichy has become one of the first players to leave the team and return to the EJHL and the Junior Bruins. During his short sting with the program, Cichy alternatively gave indications he might consider the Quebec League route (which led to him being taken in the 3rd round of the midget draft), then surprisingly committing to the University of North Dakota, rather than a team closer to home. Leaving the program this late in the year limited his options somewhat, because Canadian junior teams have a January 10th roster freeze, meaning the major junior route was not possible. Now, he's come full circle, back with the Bruins program. What the future holds? Who knows.

Dominos falling
The logjam of the late commits has begun to break, with Tyler Gron committing to Northern Michigan in late January, and now Jason Gregoire committing to Denver. His arrival is open, as either this Sepetember or next year. In part, this is due to his lost season, having cut and then suffered an infection on his ankle that required surgery. He's back now, and playing as if he never left. His arrival also might be impacted (my guess) with the decision of two other kids. Riley Nash seems to be down to two programs, North Dakota and Denver, with his preference for an 07 or 08 arrival also up in the air. Another late recruit is Mike Connolly from Camrose, who had focused on Wisconsin and Boston University, but now appears to have dropped Wisconsin and opened up to other programs.

NHL Central Scouting Mid-Year Rankings

The NHL Central Scouting has released its first comprehensive rating of players for the 2007 draft. The final list will be released in May, after the season is completed. Below are the NCAA and NCAA-bound players included in the listing:

2 VAN RIEMSDYK, JAMES USDP USA U-18
5 TURRIS, KYLE BCHL BURNABY
10 CROSS, TOMMY HIGH-CT WESTMINSTER
12 MCDONAGH, RYAN HIGH-MN CRETIN-DERHAM
13 SHATTENKIRK, KEVIN USDP USA U-18
20 O'BRIEN, JAMES WCHA U OF MINNESOTA
23 PACIORETTY, MAX USHL SIOUX CITY
24 HOEFFEL, MIKE USDP USA U-18
25 WHITE, PATRICK HIGH-MN GRAND RAPIDS
27 COHEN, COLBY USHL LINCOLN

31 PETRECKI, NICHOLAS USHL OMAHA
33 GALIARDI, T.J. ECAC DARTMOUTH
34 RUTH, TED USDP USA U-18
39 MARSHALL, MATT HIGH-MA NOBLES
50 RYAN, BEN USHL DES MOINES
51 LARSON, NICK HIGH-MN HILL-MURRAY
53 LEE, JOHN HIGH-MN MOORHEAD


61 SACCHETTI, NICO HIGH-MN VIRGINIA
63 MALONE, BRAD USHL SIOUX FALLS
64 KILLORN, ALEXANDER HIGH-MA DEERFIELD
67 MACKENZIE, DREW HIGH-CT TAFT EAGLES
68 PALUSHAJ, AARON USHL DES MOINES
71 ERSTAD, TRAVIS HIGH-MN STEVENS POINT
76 KESSEL, BLAKE USHL WATERLOO
77 LEBLANC, DREW HIGH-MN HERMANTOWN
78 BLOOD, BEN HIGH-MN SHAT.ST.MARY'S
80 HANSEN, JAKE HIGH-MN WHITE BEAR LAKE H.S.
82 TROPP, COREY USHL SIOUX FALLS
87 PIERRO-ZABOTEL, CASEY BCHL MERRITT
88 ALBERT, JOHN USDP USA U-18
89 WINNETT, BEN BCHL SALMON ARM
90 LLEWELLYN, TRISTIN USHL TRI-CITY

93 SEVERYN, C.J. USDP USA U-18
94 CAREY, PAUL HIGH-CT SALISBURY
97 BERGMAN, ROBIN USHL CEDAR RAPIDS
99 NASH, RILEY BCHL SALMON ARM
103 JOHNSON, TYLER HIGH-MN CLOQUET
105 NASH, BRENDAN ECAC CORNELL
106 GIBBONS, BRIAN HIGH-CT SALISBURY
109 RIDDERWALL, CALLE USHL TRI-CITY
110 GLASS, ANDREW HIGH-MA NOBLES
113 COLE, IAN USDP USA U-18
117 BONINO, NICK HIGH-CT AVON OLD FARMS

122 CHRISTIAN, JORDY HIGH-MN MOORHEAD
123 THOMPSON, PAUL EJHL JR. MONARCHS
124 RUST, MATT USDP USA U-18
125 DIETER, BAYLOR USHL GREEN BAY
127 MATSON, TAYLOR HIGH-MN HOLY ANGELS
128 LAVIN, JOSEPH USDP USA U-18
131 FAIRCHILD, CADE USDP USA U-18
133 STEJSKAL, JOE HIGH-MN GRAND RAPIDS
138 LIDSTER, COLIN MWEHL VICTORY HONDA MIDGET
140 FREEMAN, SCOTT OPJRA BOWMANVILLE
141 HAAS, COLIN MIDGET AAA DALLAS STARS AAA
144 TURNBULL, JOSHUA USHL WATERLOO
145 ANDERSON, SPENCER OPJRA BRAMPTON
147 WINGELS, TOMMY USHL CEDAR RAPIDS
150 VARGAS, BRENNAN USDP USA U-18


151 FOSS, JEFF HIGH-MN MOORHEAD
152 CAPORUSSO, LOUIE OPJRA ST. MICHAELS
153 DORR, MICHAEL HIGH-MN ROSEVILLE H.S.
157 SMITH, BRENDAN OPJRA ST. MICHAELS
158 FRANKLIN, JOSH HIGH-MA NOBLES
160 LOVERDE, VINCENT USHL WATERLOO
164 HEFFERNAN, JOHN HIGH-MA B.C. HIGH
165 HOBBS, DANNY USHL OHIO
169 NYCHOLAT, DANIEL AJHL CANMORE
170 KIEFFER, TYLER HIGH-MN STILLWATER
171 BRUNETEAU, BRETT USHL OMAHA
172 BEAUDETTE, JOE HIGH-MN BLAINE
176 BENN, JAMIE BCHL VICTORIA
177 MADAY, BILLY USHL WATERLOO
178 ARCOBELLO, MARK ECAC YALE
179 GOULET, ALAIN OPJRA AURORA
180 BAHNEMANN, BRANDON HIGH-MN ROCHESTER LOURDES

182 BIEGA, MICHAEL HIGH-CT SALISBURY
183 LOISEL, DEREK HIGH-MN COON RAPIDS
184 MARTELL, BRANDON HIGH-MN ELK RIVER
186 HAMBURG, ANDREW MIDGET AAA DALLAS STARS
188 OLEKSUK, TRAVIS USHL SIOUX CITY
190 SCHACK, BRIAN WCHA U OF MINNESOTA
191 KENNEDY, PATRICK WJRB ST. THOMAS
192 BARTKOWSKI, MATT USHL LINCOLN
193 FARNHAM, BOBBY HIGH-MA ANDOVER
194 CAMPER, CARTER USHL LINCOLN
195 CAMPBELL, MAX WJRB STRATHROY
197 PITT, SCOTT CJHL ORLEANS
198 LAWSON, DANIEL USHL CHICAGO
200 NILL, TREVOR MWEHL COMPUWARE MIDGET
201 SMITH, CRAIG USHL WATERLOO
202 MICHAUD, PIER-OLIVER INDEP. JR PORTLAND JR PIRATES
203 REBER, MATT HIGH-MN EDINA HIGH
204 LEAVERTON, DOUG NAHL MAHONING VALLEY
206 LEVINE, JOSHUA HIGH-MN BLOOMINGTON-JEFF.
207 RUFENBACH, BRYAN OPJRA LINDSAY
208 MCCABE, BRAD NAHL ALASKA
210 SYNER, T.J. EJHL NEW ENGLAND

Stacey finds a home

Wahs Satcey has committed to Vermont on Monday after visiting over the weekend of November 25th and seeing its 3-2 victory against Maine (which was another contender). Stacey also had considered Colorado College and St.Cloud State. Although Wahs took a detour out west to play bantam and midget hockey, he has returned home for college, as Vermont is just down the highway from Stacey's native Kanawahke, Quebec.

The Grass is Browner

Catching up with Victor Oreskovich, who left Notre Dame for the Kitchener Rangers mid-year last year in an attempt to jump-start his pro career. A second round pick of the Avalanche, he failed to earn a contract this year, so returned to the Ontario Hockey League as an overage player. Now, he's persona non grata with Kitchener, following the footsteps of Alex Lalonde another former golden domer who jumped to the OHL.

It's about Victor Oreskovich.

Apparently, the overage winger is no longer with the team. Rangers coach and general manager Peter DeBoer refused to elaborate on what he called "an internal matter." Oreskovich disappeared after the first period.

"We don't really know what happened," Rangers captain Jean-Michel Rizk said minutes after scoring the winner with 55 seconds left in OT.

"We were sitting in the room. As we were going out, Vic didn't follow. We didn't get a chance to know what's going on there. I think we're going to have a team meeting (today)."

Good idea. Just before the Rangers hop on a bus for tonight's game in Erie, Pa., they can talk about how and why DeBoer sent Oreskovich packing during last night's game.

This had been building.

"It was a series of events," Oreskovich said when reached on his cellphone after the game.

"I don't fault Pete at all here. It's something I have to deal with. It's been my fault. I've been, not disruptive, but I haven't been a good teammate. Pete grew tired of me yelling at guys when they made mistakes. It came to a front tonight. He told me he's had enough, that was the last straw. To just pack up my things."

Oreskovich, a 20-year-old from Oakville who joined the Rangers a year ago next week after leaving U.S. college hockey at Notre Dame, admitted to yelling at a teammate after a Rangers power play last night.

"I can basically take responsibility," Oreskovich said. "Pete was trying to help me throughout the year with the mental side of my game. I have a tendency to get frustrated pretty easily. It's something I have to deal with."

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the OHL trade that saw the Rangers acquire the rights to Oreskovich from the Windsor Spitfires.

Now, his future is uncertain.

Letters of Intent (trickling in)

Ferris State Ferris State Hockey Announces Four Early Period Signees

Western Michigan Broncos sign three

Northern Michigan Three cats sign letters of intent

Minnesota Duluth Signs two

And an eastern team

Boston College Eagles sign four

Letters of Intent

Canisius Canisius Signs 3

Alaska-FairbanksAlaska inks first recruit

Alaska hockey squad signs another brother

Alaska hockey team lands fifth recruit of season

Miami-Ohio Miami Hockey Signs Five For 2007-08 Season

Michigan Wolverines Sign Five Skaters in Early Signing Period

Wolverines Ink Four More Players for 2007-08

Michigan State Spartans Add Three to Incoming Class of Recruits

Notre Dame Irish Hockey Signs Seven To National Letters-Of-Intent

Ohio State Men's Hockey Adds Five Recruits to 2007-08 Roster

 

Mankato State Mavericks sign seven hockey recruits

Minnesota Gophers sign six to letters of intent

Michigan Tech MICHIGAN TECH HOCKEY TEAM ADDS SIX RECRUITS

NebraskaOmaha Mavs
Hockey Signs 3

North Dakota UND men’s hockey team signs five to national letters of intent

St.Cloud State St.Cloud Hockey Letters of Intent

Wisconsin Men’s Hockey Signs Six Elite Recruits

Bemidji State Trio of USHL veterans to join Beavers for 2007-08

Wow, you mean they don't dress 9 defensemen?

I wonder when this thought first occurred to Nigel Williams. We know it occurred shortly after Wisconsin's 10th game, last Saturday, where, with another DNP, Williams had seen action in only one game. At that point, he decided that seeing playing time was important to his development, and that with Wisconsin's defensive depth, he might not see regular ice time as a freshman.

OK. He's an NHL prospect, having been ranked 13th overall by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau for last year's NHL draft. He went 51st overal to Colorado. If he got a good education promise from the OHL's Saginaw Spirit (they of the positive Stephen Colbert fame, and the negative Matthew Corrente fame), then hockey-wise this might work out.

But it doesn't answer many questions. Clearly, having gone the NCAA route, he preferred the NCAA route to the OHL. While the question may be "why back out now?", it seems to me the more pertinent question is "if freshman PT was essential to you, why did you choose a team with 8 regular defensemen?"

The context for Williams' choice of Wisconsin is as follows. He was the last memeber of the current defensive group to commit, meaning he was not blindsided by Mike Eaves bringing in too many defensemen. Wisconsin already returned 6 regular defensemen in 06-07 (Klubertanz, Likens, Piskula, Drewiske, Olinger and Engel), received an early commitment in October 2004 from Garret Suter, and another in February 2005 from Jamie McBain. So, with 8 guys lined-up for 2006-07, how exactly did Williams figure he was guaranteed playing time?

Guys, there's a correlation between playing time and scholarship guys already on the depth chart. If you want the prestige of a top program, and one that has an inordinate number of defensive recruits, what can you expect?

Let's hope he can make the best of it up in Saginaw.

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.

Gron Long Gone?

One of the top prospects out of the Alberta Junior Hockey League is Tyler Gron. Gron was a third round pick of the WHL Prince George Cougars, but didn't want to report to the remote city in British Columbia. Yesterday, the Cougars traded Gron's rights to the Medicine Hat Tigers, a team in Gron's home province of Alberta. The question is whether Gron will report to Medicine Hat. Prince George received a somewhat promising prospect in Jordie Deagle, and a conditional third round bantam pick. My take on the trade is that the 3rd round pick is equivalent to where Gron was picked by Prince George. Thus, if Gron doesn't report, Prince George receive the equivalent value. That the trade contains this condition suggests that Gron's reporting to the WHL is far from a done deal.

College Hockey Freshmen

With the startup of the college season just on the horizon, I've taken the opportunity to put together my pre-season ratings for the incoming freshmen. In the coming week I'll also try and assemble a listing of my pre-season all-rookie teams and all-conference teams.

I assembled this listing blind, meaning I did not refer back to the order in which they appeared on my 06 listings. While there are a few differences in order, that can best be attributed to the fact that this is more of an "art" than a science. With this listing I also tried to focus more on initial college impact, rather than overall impact, meaning that players such as James O'Brien and Michael Forney, younger freshmen, may struggle initially, while others will impact sooner.

Forwards
1.Kyle Okposo, Minnesota
2.Billy Sweatt, Colorado College
3.Blake Gallagher, Cornell
4.Andreas Nodl, St.Cloud State
5.Ted Purcell, Maine
6.Michael Carman, Minnesota
7.Rhett Rahkshani, Denver
8.Ryan Flynn, Minnesota
9.Ryan Lasch, St.Cloud State
10.Matt Butcher, Northern Mich
11.Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin
12.Michael Forney, North Dakota
13.Chris Auger, UM-Lowell
14.Doug Rogers, Harvard
15.Dion Knelsen, Alaska-Fairbanks
16.Mike Davies, Wisconsin
17.Josh Gillam, Dartmouth
18.David McIntyre, Colgate
19.Aaron Lewicki, Ferris State
20.James O'Brien, Minnesota

Defensemen
1.Erik Johnson, Minnesota
2.Kevin Montgomery, Ohio State
3.Jamie McBain, Wisconsin
4.Kris Fredheim, Colorado College
5.Brian Strait, BU
6.Alex Biega, Harvard
7.Chris Summers, Michigan
8.Nick Schaus, UM-Lowell
9.Keith Seabrook, Denver
10.Michael Ratchuk, Michigan State
11.Carl Sneep, BC
12.Ed Del Grosso, Nebraska-Omaha
13.David Fischer, Minnesota
14.Eric Gryba, Boston University
15.Jason Lepine, Ferris State


Goalies
1.Joe Palmer, Ohio State
2.Alex Stalock, Minnesota Duluth
3.Brett Bennett, BU
4.Brad Theissen, Northeastern
5.Ryan Simpson, Providence

Training Camps Open

Sure, You're Good at 15, but...
The exceptional Western College Hockey Blog, a usual stopping point for me, contains an interesting analysis of the 2002 Select 15 Festival, and what that snapshot shows about player development.

Player Movement
With the major junior training camps now open and exhibition season in full gear, a few potential NCAA picks have made their decision about their future course. Two highly regarded Ontario '89 defenders, Steve Tarasuk and Kevin Mole each selected the OHL route, after having their rights traded from the Ottawa 67s. Mole, whose brother is at Yale, plays for the Kingston Frontenacs, and Tarasuk was traded to the Kitchener Rangers. Ottawa also had Scott Pitt ('88) leave the team after having earned a roster spot, choosing instead to take a scholarship with Mercyhurst. Lastly, Ohio State lost its first '90 commitment when Kelly Geoffrey, who had been picked in the 3rd round of the OHL draft, elected to play with the Erie Otters.

Early Returns
Getting out of the gate strong in the BCHL is Riley Nash, a highly regarded 89 with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. In Vernon, tiny '90 dynamo Kyle St.Denis, a top scorer in Jr.B and a member of this year's BC Under-17 team, recorded in 4 points in his first game of the year. In Alberta, highly regarded Tyler Gron has set an early pace that should make him one of the top recruits from the league.