I Ranger

Fink isn't an old recruit. He graduated from high school this year and this upcoming season would be the first year he would be able to come in. He played his junior and senior high school years in the USHL and maybe that is why you assume he's an older recruit. He could still play two more seasons in the USHL if he or the coaches wanted him to. He is a few months older than Mattson and Knight and a day older than Rodwell.

This is what Hockey News had to say about Dylan Olsen after the NHL combine. Anyone have any info on if this is true or if it's just a reporter with bad information? THE ONLY JR. A player to make the grade for Canada

Yes he is but that would mean going back for a fourth year of juniors which he may not want to do. I know it has been done before but I would guess he wouldn't want to do it.

I understand what you're saying here but say we replace the forwards like this: 2009 Duncan-Cichy Kozek-Kristo Watkins-Bruneteau Miller-Forney? Martens-Knight, Mattson or Rowney That leaves 2010 Vandevelde-Knight, Mattson or Rowney Zajac-Knight, Mattson, or Rowney Plus Fink, Rodwell and White are suppose to be coming in. I know there is a chance for an early departure or two but I don't foresee more than one at this point.

Anybody think they may bring in one more forward next year than they had this year? I think just by a pure numbers stand point that it makes sense to bring an extra forward this year (which would be 15 forwards) just so we don't have so many freshman next year. Maybe one of these recruits isn't a big scholarship guy and therefore they would bring him in this year but I'm not sure which one maybe Rowney as others have mentioned due to his age.

I would guess Forney's decision factors in as well. If he comes back, then one of those guys comes in and if he doesn't come back then possibly two of the three would be here next year. I hope Forney comes back and shows us why he was so highly coveted a few years ago. Anyway, we should know in the next couple of weeks who will be here next year.

I would guess with the way VandeVelde, Frattin and Malone played in the last game against UNH and how much Hak liked that line that they would be paired together for the start of the year. The only way I think that won't happen is if they want Malone to play center but I liked the way he played on a wing with VV and Frattin. Also, I could see Kristo and Cichy playing together.

Not likely since he has to still get drafted in June. Anyone notice McBain's contract $600,000 a year if in the NHL and Stoa's looks like it will be for the max? Both are 2nd rounders I believe so I don't think McBain's agent did very good negotiating.

I didn't realize he played 3 seasons at UMD. I thought he got sent back to Russia after only a couple. Nice research.

His name was Sergei Petrov and he went to UMD but got kicked out and sent back to Russia after he got into some trouble.

Friday-Frattin Saturday-Duncan

Anybody know of other options that he may have? I would think that if he plans on coming back to UND next year that he obviously wouldn't be looking for another school and maybe other schools wouldn't be looking at him.

Frattin (Trupp-VandeVelde)

I agree only one should come but if you look at the numbers what is going to happen in 2010 then if we only lose the seniors. At least two if not three forwards would have to be pushed back a year unless there is an early departure. I have a feeling that maybe a couple of these AJHL recruits (Rowney and Rodwell) might be just partial scholarship-fourth-line depth guys. I'm sure the coaches know what they are doing and am sure that the recruits and coaches are on the same page as to when each is likely to come in.

I agree with you there. Also, if you look at the forward situation the numbers don't add up there either. Next year I would guess would look like this at forward: Duncan-Cichy Watkins-Kristo Martens-Bruneteau Kozek-Forney(If still coming back) Miller-Knight or Mattson I wouldn't be surprised if both Mattson and Knight come in as I think the bigger log jam is 2010 with: VandeVelde-Fink Zajac-Rowney Plus Rodwell and Knight or Mattson if they both don't come in 09. Also as of right now, White is listed as a 2010 recruit. It looks to me as if the only recruiting that they will be doing any time soon is for the 2011 class as both D and Forward look pretty full for the next 2 years. Obviously I don't have any early departures listed which may happen.

These are the type of series that I hate. A sweep doesn't help us a great deal in the Pairwise but obviously helps in the WCHA standings whereas any loss drops us quite a bit in the Pairwise. I'm sure Jim will have his Pairwise projector up again later this week and it will be interesting to see. Obviously, it would be easiest if we just sweep.

I think this may leave only one forward spot open between three guys unless we bring in one more leaving us with 16 forwards meaning 4 will be in the stands each night. Also, would there be room for Olsen if he decided to come this way? I would suspect we would make room possibly having 8 D next year. Duncan-Kristo Miller-Cichy Martens-Bruneteau Kozek-Forney Watkins-Mattson,Knight or Rowney Finley-MacWilliam Jones-Gleason Walsky-Dell

Heisenberg also updated his site and now has Forney listed as coming to North Dakota. I think this will be good as he is having a solid year in the USHL and more importantly is staying healthy.

With the midget tourney in town this weekend, does anybody know of anybody the coaching staff will be interested in? Or if there are any real standouts that will be playing this weekend with UND being a possible college destination? I know this tourney has been good for recruiting recently and am just wondering if anyone has any insight.

I hear you there. I was just looking for a hint is all. I respect his insite and don't want him burning any bridges by releasing a name too early.

Still no word on whom the possible third recruit is? USA Hockey any hints as to who it might be? Any one know anything about Brett Chartier and his possible college destination? I thought I read that he was from Winnipeg and Jason Gregoire was one of the reasons that he is now playing for Lincoln. Just wondering cause he seems like he could be a nice player possbly for 2010.

I agree with this statement 100%. The one year in which I recall the US having a really good D-core and goaltending(along with some really good forwards as well) was when they won gold. Montoya played outstanding the whole tourey and sure enough they managed to win gold. Since then, every US team seems to have inconsistent goaltending with Montoya being horrible the following year and Schneider letting in goals from past the blue line and I thought McCollum was horrible this year as well. Like was mentioned before, it is said when Jeff Frazee is probably the best performer in the US net since Montoya's brilliant performance. Maybe the pressure is too much for the US netminders because it sure seems as if Canada has a stud back there every year.

I'll take Hextall.

On Brad's blog, he says that Malone, Harrington and Fienhage didn't make the trip. I would have to assume then that Finley plays or otherwise we only have 5 d-men.

I think the key to this upcoming series is our D controlling the puck and making good outlet passes. From what I saw this weekend(watching the majority of both CC-DU games on TV) I thought that DU was the better team but CC capitalizes on turnovers and their speed to find the back of the net and also relies heavily on Bachman. We will need to get a lot of traffic in front of Bachman in order to get some by him as he was almost unbeatable this weekend even though I thought he let in one weak one last night. I think the key is for our D as well as our forwards to make sure we get the puck in deep and not have many neutral zone turnovers. If they can do that which is a big IF, I think we will be alright. I was much more impressed with Denver than I was CC.