I Ranger

Pre-Christmas, World Junior, Spengler Cup that was our 3rd line with 7-29-15 and 9-17-26 as the top two lines. I was little surprised we didn't go back to those lines last weekend but I suppose Croal being out put a wrinkle in that.

Is Croal hurt/sick? Surprised if he's the odd man out at forward.

I've said this from day 1. How Cullen Potter isn't playing top 6 minutes on this team let alone not even getting an invite is an absolute travesty and I knew this team was doomed when I saw roster decisions like this! I would love for some media outlet to ask Motzko or Vanbeisbrouck the one simple question on why he wasn't on the team. I really wonder if USA hockey has pissy pants over him leaving the program early and same with Hurlbert (I would think more towards Hurlbert though since he didn't leave to go to a college early).

I would certainly agree considering I would imagine Bob was the main reason the kid was invited in the first place. He had no business even getting an invite let alone making the team so it shouldn't be a surprise to him.

In a Schloss podcast right after Reschny and Verhoeff committed, he mentioned that there was an elite level prospect that reached out to his agent a couple hours later and said he wanted to go to North Dakota as well. It was rumored to be Carels. Anyone know if this is presumed to be true? I know all these top level CHL guys seem to keep things close to the vest so I'm guessing we don't hear much of anything until there seasons are over again.

Wow I didn't realize he was so young. I knew he accelerated and committed at an early age but didn't think he was still 16. I would think based on the way this season has gone and his age that it should be a no brainer for both parties that he plays at least another year of junior.

I wonder how this came about? Was it like last year when Max Plante wasn't originally invited (although injury played a part) and then Sandelin called and said you'd be crazy to leave him off the team? Either way some of these picks are just crazy to me! How do you pick Kvasnicka not only over Zellers and Potter originally but over a player playing in the same league that is putting up way better numbers (JP Hurlbert). And like I've mentioned before, Potter not getting selected is crazy to me. Makes me believe USA hockey is almost blackballing both Potter and Hurlbert for leaving the Program early (although Potter was selected for the U18 world tourney last spring and was the best player in the games I watched).

I know this isn't UND related but Cullen Potter not being selected is ridiculous as well. Way better player than Kvansnicka and McMorrow for sure and I would say Mooney as well. It's crazy but true but if it was David Carle making these decisions I would have far less argument but it's not!

Pretty certain Ashton Schultz is coming in or he is gone.

Who are the players that age out and can't play another year of Junior? Schultz X2, and Pilgram? So those 3 have to come in and assuming Simpson comes for sure and I would think Williams there's 5 leaving little to no room for a high-end CHL guy (Preston or someone of the like). And this pushes McKamey back for another year so does he not want to wait. Could be interesting decisions with forwards especially now that Pilgram has really started to pick it up. With the CHL opening up, the theme seems to be most of the top dog schools leave 1 or 2 roster spots open much later than previously.

We must have been replying at the same time so UND did obviously put forth an effort to get Wyatt.

The question is did anyone other than Minnesota (and Mich St) really recruit Wyatt after the Brooks commit? As has been mentioned they are a 3 headed package deal and after Brooks committed to Mich St I wonder how many schools really went after Wyatt since it had to be pretty well recognized/assumed he would follow to Mich St.? Joey is supposedly the biggest prize of the 3 so are any schools really putting much effort into him or again just assuming he's already a Minnesota commit?

But also took a really dumb/unnecessary penalty with 6 minutes left in the third period of a 1-0 hockey game. Tough call! I think this team needs Kernan and Littler in the lineup and producing to be successful.

I think the one big thing with DuPont is him waiting to see how playing your draft year in college affects McKenna and Verhoeff's (more specifically probably Verhoeff as a D man) draft stock. These two (along with if there are any others playing college hockey from the CHL currently) I believe will be a case study for others moving forward. If one or both don't put up all that great numbers and they fall a little in the draft I think would have a lasting effect on others thinking of accelerating and leaving the CHL. For all the others that get drafted this summer, it certainly seems like a no brainer to take the jump to a higher level of play.

From what I've heard, Carels is supposedly the one who informed his agent/advisor that he wanted to come to UND right after the Verhoeff and Reschney commits that Schloss has mentioned on his Pod.