Chuck Schwartz

Who?

I left LaPoint a message yesterday and jokingly asked him why he didn't have any points on friday. (For those of you following, LaPoint had registered at least a point in his first 7 games, 11 points total) He replied that if you look at the box score no one had any assists that night and the ref's told him that they dont take care of it anymore that the people in the scorebooth do. So in all actuality he had 2 assists and said it should be on pointstreak soon. With that in mind he now has 14 points in his first 9 games and has registered a point in every game he's played in the USHL. Edit: This is from the Badger board that someone posted about watching the Gamblers the last few weekends. one guy i was impressed with was north dakota recruit derek lapoint...wow...is he going to be good and in fact he could step right into any d-1 line up right now i think...so much so that this past saturday night i won a silent auction of his game worn jersey...as the gamblers were wearing throw back uniforms to their days as the green bay bobcats... I guess I haven't been following the lineups that closely this season. Do you think that he would crack the lineup every night in Grand Forks? When Smaby left I think it was all but assumed that he would be coming to North Dakota this 2006 season. Most were a bit surprised when North Dakota asked him to play in the USHL this year. I guess he's proving people wrong, yet again.

Thats pretty spot on.

I don't necissarily disagree with you, but if your hinting that the NAHL isn't that much different then the USHL, you are sorely mistaken.

Only so many kids fit in with UW. This season there are 27 Wisconsin born players playing D-1. 12 of them play for the Badgers. Wisconsin likes to get as many Wisconsin kids as possible but sometimes it doesnt work out.

It's an un-tapped resourse.

Seems as if the Sioux are after Madison La Follette defenseman Brett Bower. Bower is a sophomore and is playing for Team Wisconsin Majors. Team Wisconsin is playing in the Elite League NIT this weekend in New Hope, MN. I am planning on attending the game tomorrow vs Team Minnesota Red.

Yikes. Linky

I wasn't going to bring it up, but sometimes it takes the bigger man to admit when your wrong. I can appreciate that.

If they make an offer to Bruneteau.

Sometimes I told you so, just doesn't cut it.

I've always said, that If LaPoint played in the cities, like Fischer from Apple Valley, that he would have been drafted as high, or higher then David.

There are lots of kids who are from the Eau Claire area and attend the UND hockey camps every year. I'm not sure if Soley has but that would be one main connection.

Hard to answer that question. I guess based on potential impact at the NCAA level I would go... 1. LaPoint-D 2. Soley-F 3a. Erstad-F 3b. Johnson-F

Erstad: Second year on Team Wisconsin. Born in Madison, moved to Point I believe right before entering high school with his mom. 6'4 and still growing. Needs to add some wieght to his frame. Will probably fill out in 1-2 years. Drafted by Lincoln in the last USHL draft in the 17th round. Will probably play for the Stars 1-2 years before entering college most likely. Led his Stevens Point HS team as a Junior last season to the state tournament. Surprising soft hands for a big man. Pretty good skating ability in the open ice. Doesn't play physical enough, yet. He is a case where it would benifit him to play in the USHL as a senior (this season) rather then go back and dominate high school. Soley: Also his second year on Team Wisconsin, although he is only a junior. He's from Elk Mound which is just outside of Eau Claire. Elk Mound is too small to have high school hockey so he attends Eau Claire Memorial. Had 24 goals and 31 asissts last season for 55 points in 23 games. Was also a +41 on the season. Was a first team All Big Rivers forward. (LaPoint was the player of the year) The most natural forward I have seen from Western Wisconsin in a long time. He just has the look of always being in control. Has the ability to take a hockey game over if he wants to. Plays extreamly well while holding onto the puck. Keeps it close to his body and protects it well. Not overly fast but efficient. Above average hands and can score both the dirty and pretty goals. Drafted by Green Bay in the recent futures draft. I expect him to play his senior season next year with Green Bay. Most likely an '09 recruit. Would do him well to have that extra year in the USHL but I wouldnt be shocked if he ended up as an '08. North Dakota is Believed to be his first choice.

LaPoint, Erstad, Johnson, Soley...it's very, very possible.

Yes, it's Erstad. He would be a very nice addition to the '08 class for any team in the nation. He is going to be a very nice player once he fills out. Very nice.

...

Anyone know what time the actual telecast starts? I'd like to see the banner ceremony.

So you guys always go to Bloomington? I live very close to Roseville and I'll probably just go to that one. They better have the game on, I just called and they told me, "probably."

Don't forget that North Dakota has an offer on the table with the TOP recruit in the USHL, Brett Bruneteau.

I wish people would think before making stupid comments. Look at all of the teams, 2006 draft picks aren't included in "The Hockey News Top Prospects."

You don't have to change your opinion on any message board no matter what team you are from. But you haven't brought up a single point that is legitamate besides a bad game against North Dakota. (And saying Miami was overrated is a terrible excuse, they finished 5th in the NCAA RPI last season) You can have your opinions but it doesnt mean it's right.

You're not having a North Dakota bias but you're definitly having a Western bias on the kid. You even chirped about how the league is so inferior. And you're not looking at the whole picture and career of an individual. You're looking specificly at games that North Dakota has played and the WJC. You also say that you hate excuses but yet you come up with excuses as to how he led the youngest team in the nation to the National Title game. Anyways I think we've beat the horse pretty good on this one probably time to move on.