I Ranger

I'm certainly not excited to see O'Neil go as he wasn't one I was expecting to bail if being pushed back based on where he is from but like we've known for a while something had to give with this forward group and still likely more to come. I'm a little afraid the same conundrum may come up with Lindberg as well.

I figured after being health bombed last night that we would be reading about him signing with Chicago today regardless of whether or not they won.

I'm sure that's the case and with that I would imagine whomever gets them that would mean two forwards get pushed back or more likely pushed out. That's just the new crazy world of recruiting with the CHL opening and especially when it seems alot of the bigger "blue chip" recruits wait until after there season is over to "officially/publicly" commit.

I've stated this before in other threads. When the line of Ollie, Croal and Strinden were together all three were playing their best hockey and that is when Strinden was on a heater. I've been extremely surprised the line has never been put back together which I'm hoping is the weekend. The only reason the line got disbanded was because I believe Croal has a couple week stretch were he was sick.

They are all Hibbing kids and won both Pee Wee and Bantam state at the "A" level.

Agreed and like you mention the "problem" doesn't go away the following season with O'Neil, Sanderson, Williams and McKamey set to come in and that's obviously not counting potential future CHL forwards.

I wonder if Joey Cullen is really in play? I have to imagine very few programs spent much time on Wyatt assuming he would just follow his brother to Mich St. I'd like to be in on McKinnon too!

Faber too I believe.

Such an easy switch. Flip Strinden and James!

I can't believe they haven't gone back to the Strinden-Ollie-Croal line which only disbanded when Croal was hurt. That was the line when Strinden was red hot and the other two were playing their best as well. I like Strinden's game but he's a guy that fits in much better on a more grind type line vs a skilled top 6 role.

Anyone know if we are in on Fitzhenry? I'm sure Bryn has put in the work but just wondering if he is considering UND? I know Western Canada/CHL is going to be our main recruiting ground but sure would love to be in on the top US players/NTDP as well. As has been mentioned on here, there are some studs coming up in the next few recruiting cycles specifically with Minnesota ties.

So I guess that confirms it's not DuPont. Is it a forward or a D? Can you provide that info? I think it's safe to say we all are hoping for an elite forward!

Definitely not. Drawing the 3rd most talented team in the quarters is not ideal which is why I really don't like seeing upsets like Slovakia beating Sweden early on.

I agree. I was wondering if anyone has seen Miami play this year? Are they always that physical or was that maybe their gameplan last night against us? I'm not sure I remember a game with so many big hits and all against UND.

As has been mentioned, who comes in and how many forwards next year willl be interesting. Lots of tough decsions. Just a feeling but I think whether or not we land a higher profile CHL forward in the next couple months will determine where Williams plays next year along with potentially his draft status.

This is something I've thought about recently as well. Next year's leadership crew will be quite interesting as like you said very few upperclassmen. I could see Reschny wearing the "C" next year (obviously with the assumption Liv and Weibe are gone). Swanson and Emery as other possibilities. But in the meantime, let's hopefully enjoy a long postseason run this year!

I had heard this spring that he wanted to come to UND this year and wasn't overly enthused about playing in the USHL(not sure how reliable that was though). I do think we lose him if he gets pushed back for another year.

I'm most curious about our forward classes. As has been discussed, it will be interesting to see who all comes in/gets pushed back next year especially with the assumption that we pick up an elite forward for next year. The following year I don't know how we bring in all the guys that get pushed back with only one junior (Mengheni) on the current roster. Some tough decisions will have to be made and I'm wondering if we carry 16 forwards on the roster?

Looks like a collarbone. Tough loss as I've always thought he was a great player as you could tell by my comments in the World Juniors thread.

Yes I think the staff has been planning all year for those three to be gone. I sure hope its Carels and then an elite forward. Like mentioned, just no room for another D unless an unexpected departure.

Tough weekend for #18! He looked like a 17 year old out there especially last night. Hopefully just a blip on the radar but he was a step or two slow all weekend.

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.