Chuck Schwartz

Joe technically graduated a year early but look at when he was born. He's the same age as Chorney and Lee. Joe isn't a year ahead he just started school a year late because he's a June birthday, he could have gone either way. Hockey wise he should be a real senior just like he is. When looking at players and ages all you have to do is look at draft year, thats usually the best way to group players.

New pair.

Yeah, this just isn't the place to talk about it this thread is about the WJC.

check your inbox

Haven't talked to him for a while. I'm assuming he'll coach at the UND camps and he also does the Top Dog camps in the cities when he's not doing UND camps. I know there are a lot of locals in Eau Claire that have ice right now. (local college players and players from the area who are in juniors and college) So I'm sure he's on the ice and working to get better no matter where he is.

Agree about the camp being a good tool for players. I'm excited as a Wisconsin fan that Gardiner gets to face high level competition before he gets to Madison since he's never really played much outside of high school and the elite league.

USA Hockey has released it's roster for the 2008 evaluation camp that it puts on every year. 2009 Sioux recruit Danny Kristo has been invited to the camp. Almost every season USA takes 1-2 high school kids so Kristo has a shot at the actual roster. Other WCHA or future WCHA players invited: Mike Lee-Goaltender-Roseau H.S.-St. Cloud State recruit Cade Fairchild-Defenseman-University of Minnesota sophomore Jake Gardiner-Defenseman-University of Wisconsin freshman Ryan McDonagh-Defenseman-University of Wisconsin sophomore Aaron Ness-Defenseman-University of Minnesota freshman Jack Connolly-Forward-University Of Minnesota Duluth freshman Jake Hansen-Forward-University of Minnesota freshman Mike Hoeffel-Forward-University of Minnesota sophomore Danny Kristo-Forward-USA NTDP-North Dakota recruit Drew LeBlanc-Forward-St. Cloud State freshman Jordan Schroeder-Forward-University of Minnesota freshman Patrick White-Forward-Universtiy of Minnesota sophomore

When you put it that way I wish we had video.

You have to have an offer to turn down money. Not saying these guys didn't have offers, but it's not as cut and dry as they turned down all this money to come back just to play at UND. It's always been my opinion that you shouldn't go pro unless your going to play at least 1/3 of your season in the NHL, or you have absolutely maxed out your potential money making ability. (Like Duncan after his soph year) Thus I think Finley and Kozek both made the right decision because they both would be full season AHL'ers.

I don't understand. Are you calling me a hypocrite?

I disagree that it's apples to oranges. It's more like a green apple and a red apple. They both committed to a program and they both backed out of their oral agreements. You can spin it however you want to but it's the truth. They both backed out of commitments to a certain team. I've stated that I don't think either one of them is that big of a deal, I just don't like the hypocrites on this board sometimes.

Ask the gophers about EJ. I bet they will tell you they would have KILLED to have EJ last season.

Sorry for grouping all Sioux fans together. The rest of your post is 100% how I feel about the situation.

My question to all of you is this. What are your thoughts on Jason Gregoire? Gregoire committed to Denver before backing out on his word and committing to North Dakota. At least Clarke is playing in a league that will never play North Dakota. Gregoire will play the team he committed to 4 times a season. (minimum) I think it's extremely hypocritical that you guys (who are ripping on Clarke) are getting on this kids case but you give Gregoire a free pass.

They won't say anything about it because it happens every year. It's certainly not the first time and its certainly not the last.

Higher end players including first round picks like Clarke, receive more then a stipend. The Vancouver Giants offered Turris like $250,000 last season to play for them. I believe Crosby was receiving a portion of all ticket sales from Oceanic home games along with his salary.

Look no further then Luke Beaverson.

I do also, to a certain extent but how is this any different then an adult who has a job at one place, gets an offer for more money at another place and uses that as leverage to get more money at their current job? It happens all the time. Is it shady? Yeah it is but thus is life, and it happens everywhere.

I think you guys are over reacting about this Clarke situation a little bit. It's not like it's the first time in the world that a kid has backed out of a verbal commitment. It happens every season whether it comes in a form of Clarke who clearly used his ncaa commitment as a bargaining chip to chose which QMJHL team he wanted to go to, or a kid simply backing out to choose another school. In other sports this happens multiple, multiple times each season. I would expect this to start happening more and more now that guys like Lucia have came out and said that they think the gentleman's agreement in not poaching recruits is a bad rule. The kid was 15 years old he wouldn't have been on campus for 3 years so it's not like 2 months before he comes in he decides to not come and the Sioux are scrambling for a replacement. They have plenty of time to find a capable replacement. In 2 months no one will even remember this kid. It will never have an effect on North Dakota hockey 1 iota.

I know there is talk about Clarke in the prospective Sioux recruit page but he's not really a potential recruit he was a committed recruit and now he signs with Lewiston of the QMJHL who drafted him in the first round. LINK Personally I feel the only reason why he committed to UND was a fall back option. With a commitment to a top notch NCAA school, Clarke could dictate where he went in the QMJHL draft and had a big bargaining chip money wise.

No he was not recruited by Wisconsin. I'm sure they had contact, because they contact hundreds of kids, but there was never an offer. There is really no room for him at Wisconsin even though you like to get all the best in state players whenever you can. They are going to have problems getting all the forwards they have committed for 2009 to Wisconsin by then any ways. They already have 5 forwards committed for 2009 and 3 for 2010.

I looked at that when i filled out my roster. Everyone I have is listed in the correct position.

I like it if you flip flop 3 and 4.

With everyone decided if they are coming back or not, (besides Finley) the roster should be close to complete for next season. Put together your roster. Lose: T.J. Oshie Robbie Bina Taylor Chorney Rylan Kaip Kyle Radke Michael Forney J.P. Lamoureux Joe Finley (Has not decided) Gain: Mario Lamoureux David Toews Jason Gregoire Ben Blood Brett Hextall Andrew MacWilliam (most likely will join due to Chorneys loss) Brad Eidsness Cory Fienhage (If Finley leaves, Fienhage comes. I like Gleason but he needs a year in the USHL to gain strengh to play at this level.) Forwards: Seniors: Ryan Martens, Andrew Kozek, Brad Miller, Ryan Duncan, Matt Watkins Juniors: Darcy Zajac, Chris VandeVelde Sophomores: Brett Davidson, Evan Trupp, Matt Frattin, Brad Malone Freshmen: Mario Lamoureux, David Toews, Jason Gregoire, Brett Hextall Defense: Seniors: Joe Finley (Still undecided), Zach Jones Juniors: Chay Genoway Sophomores: Derrick LaPoint, Jake Marto Freshmen: Ben Blood, Andrew MacWilliam, Cory Fienhage (If Finley Leaves) Duncan-Toews-Frattin Trupp-VandeVelde-Kozek Gregoire-Martens-Malone Watkins-Zajac-Miller Davidson-Lamoureux-Hextall Finley-Genoway LaPoint-Jones Marto-Blood MacWilliam

I guess this story isn't newsworthy enough for ESPN.com