stickboy1956

A scout I talked with said McW partner is a player - have you seen him today?

We have had players leave early for pro careers since the expansion days (Alan Hangsleben, Rick Wilson, etc.). It's nothing new. If the coaching staff "discouraged" players from leaving or started recruiting only "4-year" players, you can forget about any F4 appearances. I don't want to be a Mankato State, do you? Did anyone have any problem having Parise, Towes, Oshie, etc. playing here vs. somewhere else? Having players like that is in the best interest of your program/university. Players come and go - the great ones just leave a little earlier than the rest. UND was great place for the players listed above to prepare for their career choice. Isn't that what college is for?

Backup is the operative word here - it looks like the Gophers got Brady Hjelle's backup. Patterson, Kent CR 20 1109:43 10 6 1 1 46 2.49 475 .912 Hjelle, Brady CR 41 2380:07 22 15 4 3 99 2.50 1158 .921

Old-school sweaters tonight - sweet.

I'm sure DC SportsClown and and the HF contributor talk to George McPhee daily We'll see if Joe is back next year - I doubt it - it looked like he was already gone in March/April. It's time for him to move on.

The author is not affiliated with NHL CSS. His rankings vary drastically with NHL CSS. We will see how accurate he is vs. NHL CSS when the draft rolls around this summer.

Haven't you noticed - university's only protect speech that fit's their agenda. The college campus is no longer a place where the "free marketplace of ideas" is allowed. This reaction and the controversy over a speaker at St.Thomas Univ. in St. Paul are the latest in a long list of university's seeking to controll speech, not promoting the free exercise thereof. PowerLine: Discomfort at St.Thomas

It's not an exact science. Some players end up playing better than their ranking, some worse. Obviously the NHL types like the potential of Fienhage more than MacWilliam. They've both been scouted plenty, during regular season games and summer camps. Regardless, it's good news for us that NHL types think so highly of Fienhage and Kristo.

Final North American NHL CSS Rankings for Sioux recruits: 36 FIENHAGE, COREY 37 KRISTO, DANNY 79 TOEWS, DAVID 147 MACWILLIAM, ANDREW 178 GLEASON, JOE Entire List - NHL CSS NA Final Rankings

Ness and Schroeder will both be 18 by the time they enroll at UMinn. Schroeder just missed the cut off to be NHL draft eligible this year. Kristo is no younger than the rest of the players that are draft eligible this year. By the time he enrolls at UND Fall 2009, he will be 19 (DOB 18-Jun-90). To compare, Jake Gardiner is a July 90 BDay, Cory Fienhage is a May 90 BDay. On another matter, Kristo and Fienhage are the only Sioux recruits invited to the NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto. NHL Combine

As I said previously (I think this was the thread), someone who has seen both play is not surprised by the rankings. Blood is coming next year for sure. Don't be surprised if CF is next in line if there is an early departure on D.

The point is moot since he hasn't finished HS ... but if he isn't "ready" no one on the NTDP is. If you saw them play this year, he was their top forward, right there with Hayes and Schroeder. If he's not ready, they aren't either. You can go here to see the list of the others at the NTDP that aren't ready that will be in college next year. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pq-...Z3kFg&gid=4

Correct - he is not coming in 08 - althought he is draft eligible this year. This could make him a one and done if he is a star in 09-10.

I don't see a 17-22-0 or a 15-19-9 season anytime soon, which is why Woog was fired, 10 years after his 4 straight F4 run. The only reason Hak isn't still the coach 10 years from now is that he has moved on/up.

Osh played pretty well the last time he donned a USA sweater - how about 2008?

Just a thought - is the first time in 4 years we go into the F4 with #1 goalie hands down - no Mannino, Lerg, Elliot? Of all the top goalies in the country, JPL is the last one standing - when he's not jumping into a dogpile after an OT win

... and you play with better players.

Edmonton Journal ... After the NCAA's Frozen Four ends this weekend, the Oilers will likely try to sign their 2005 second-round draft, Taylor Chorney, as well. The North Dakota puck-rushing defenceman would be going to Springfield, too. Chorney, whose father Marc played in the NHL, was a second-team All-American last year ...

Typical student newspaper drivel.

If PHX doesn't sign him this off-season, there is no incentive for Wheeler to sign with them after his senior year - he just has to wait untill August and he can have his pick of teams. Other teams would be intetested no doubt, driving up his price. He is no TJ Oshie, but he isn't a AJ Thelen/bust either.

It was tough to see through the fog but I think we matched up pretty well with BC's speed in October. We can skate with anyone in the country, especially the top 9 forwards that played the 3rd perod and OT in Madison.

Radke was benched in the 3rd period, along with Malone and Martens. He also put Kozek with Oshie and Duncan in the third period. It guess it was the right move.

I don't think he's going to sign after the F4 but I wonder if he will get considered for a slot on Team USA for the World Championships coming up.

Rookie Lee faces baptism of fire on Senators' defence

As long as Radke limits himself to one dumb penalty a game we should be OK