amn5hol

Good article on Lammy: http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=107653

except when you score shorthanded (+1).......or get scored on when on the power play (-1).

Morgan Simonson got a concussion this week in practice and is questionable for this weekend's games. Something to keep an eye on, especially with the medical scrutiny concussions have drawn in the last few years. He also seems to be having a little bit of trouble adjusting to the increased speed and physical style of the USHL game so far this year. It will be interesting to see if and how quickly he can improve his skills. He kind of reminds me of what Robbie Bina looked like early last year, only Morgan's got more size.

http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=80613 I would not be surprised to see Bartholomay going to the Sioux. Especially when learns how to crash the net on a consistent basis.

An interesting article about Steve Johnson's preference for North Dakota kids.. http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=80613

sprig- I watched Bina this last year in Lincoln. He started off a little slow (he had an injury at the beginning of the season), but came on strong at the end of the year. His stats were helped by being the #1 point-man on the power-play (Potulny manned the other point). He doesn't play physical, but he makes up for it by playing good positional, defensive hockey and has a really good poke-check. His passing skills will definitely need to improve to compete at the DI level. IMO his biggest assests are his heart and his ability to always get the puck on net, unlike Marvin when he was here. I think Marvin led the USHL in "blocked shots by opponents' shins" the last 2 years he was here.

It sounds like Chris Porter is indeed going to UND next year..... http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=57871 Many Stars catching eyes of NHL scouts BY MARK DEROWITSCH / Lincoln Journal Star All the trophies and all the accolades the Lincoln Stars earned throughout the 2002-03 hockey season were apparently noticed by the NHL. Scouts showed up at the Ice Box night after night to watch the Stars win the United States Hockey League regular-season and playoff titles, and they must have been impressed. When the NHL Draft wrapped up Sunday in Nashville, Tenn., four members of last year's Stars were selected. Chris Porter became the fourth and final Star to be taken when Chicago used a ninth-round pick, No. 282 overall, to grab the winger. Three other Stars, David Backes, Danny Irmen and Ryan Potulny, were all drafted on Saturday. Backes went in the second round to St. Louis, and Irmen and Potulny in the third round by Minnesota and Philadelphia, respectively. "That shows we had a good group of kids," Stars coach Steve Johnson said. "Not only does it show we had a good season, it shows they have great potential. It will be fun tracking those guys as they go through their careers." One NHL scout told Stars assistant coach Rob Facca, who attended the two-day draft, that only one team had more players drafted than Lincoln during the first three rounds. Facca, in fact, heard from a number of NHL scouts and coaches throughout the weekend. "They all knew about what we did in Lincoln," he said. Porter was the only member of the 2002-03 Stars to be taken on the final day of the draft. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder was fifth on the Stars in scoring, scoring 35 points in his rookie season. Porter's time in Lincoln is probably over. According to Johnson, Porter will likely end up at North Dakota in the fall. "Chris is certainly a good player, and, at 6-1, 210 pounds who can skate and shoot the puck like he can, that certainly makes for a good pro prospect." Three former Stars were also drafted on Sunday:

http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=54975 Layne is indeed going to Bemidji State....what's also interesting is the comment at the end of the article about Chris Porter. Is he postponing his UND scholarship for another year in Lincoln? With goaltender in place, Stars looking to add offensive firepower BYMARKDEROWITSCH / Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Stars coach Steve Johnson wishes he could kick back and take it easy all summer. He can't. Instead, he needs to find a little more firepower, and maybe another top-notch defenseman or two, as he tries to reload his hockey team for another Clark Cup run. At least Johnson isn't searching for a No. 1 goaltender. Philippe Lamoureux, who has split time in goal each of the past two seasons, recently told Johnson he plans to come back for one more go-round with the Stars. For a time, Lamoureux considered starting his college career this fall. Last November, he signed a letter of intent to play college hockey at North Dakota for the 2004-05 season, and Sioux coaches tried to lure him to school a year earlier. North Dakota coach Dean Blais then changed his mind, encouraging Lamoureux to instead return to Lincoln for another year of seasoning in the Tier I United States Hockey League. "Even if he had asked me to start school at North Dakota, I think I still would have come back to Lincoln," Lamoureux said. "Iwant to come back and really get in a full schedule of games. That's what Ineed right now." More than likely, Lamoureux will get all the playing time he wants. With Nate Ziegelmann out of the picture, the door is wide open for Lamoureux. Ziegelmann, who shared playing time with Lamoureux each of the past two seasons, will walk on at NorthDakota. Johnson would like nothing more than to give Lamoureux the vast majority of ice time, but how much he actually gets is up to the netminder. Translation:Lamoureux must earn it. "In the past, Phil has had to battle for time, and I think it helped him," Johnson said. "So now he has to be able to deal with not having someone there to push him every day. That'll be his new challenge." The Stars are fortunate that Lamoureux will return for another season, and not only because of his impressive numbers (22-7-4, 2.17 goals-against average) that he posted last season. Before the USHLdraft, Lincoln traded for goaltender Layne Sedevie, who spent the 2002-03 season in Topeka before he suffered a season-ending neck injury. According to Johnson, Sedevie won't be coming to Lincoln. In fact, he plans to play college hockey at Bemidji State. While Lamoureux may have a job locked up with the Stars, several others will try to earn a spot on the 23-man roster during the team's annual tryout camp. About 70 players will vie for Johnson's attention at the camp, which begins today and runs through Sunday in Prior Lake, Minn. Johnson wants to pick up a couple more talented scorers, and is still searching to add depth to the blue line. Lincoln will return just 11 players from a team that went 9-1 during the playoffs and won the Clark Cup last season. The Stars must replace their top eight scorers, if Chris Porter doesn't return, as well as three of their top defensemen. "If we can pick up three or four players who we either didn't see or for whatever reason missed, that's all you can ask for," he said.

I would have to agree with Johnson's assessment. I caught a lot of flack at the beginning of last year's (2001-2002) Lincoln Stars season because I kept saying that Irmen was the best player on the ice. He wasn't scoring very much (which is what everyone else was looking at), but if you watched closely, he was doing everything right.....fore-checking hard, working hard in front of the net, back-checking, unselfish with the puck, etc. He reminded me a lot of Grant Potulny, except with more skill. It was only a matter of time until his shots started finding the back of the net. It was also due to his leadership that the Stars were so focused on winning the Clark Cup this year. Something that Grant failed to do, BTW. Above all of that, he is a nice kid. You can't help but root for him, even though he'll be wearing those ugly Loafer colors.

[i have this awful feeling that you are also going to like Ryan and Danny Irmen and that they will be even better. ] I totally agree with you skateshattrick. I believe Danny Irmen brings the complete package (Size, Strength, Skill and Leadership) to the Loafers next year. I actually talked to him this last weekend (he played in a Lincoln Stars alumni game) and expressed my disappointment in not seeing him play for the Sioux next year. I also begged him to come up with some "mysterious" injury that would prevent him from playing against the Sioux, but to no avail. His only reply was that maybe, just maybe, I could add some maroon to my green colored heart I just have a sinking feeling that he and Ryan will be constant thorns in the Sioux's side for the next few years.

From what I understand, if you play ANY junior hockey after your 21st birthday you automatically lose a year of college eligibility. Therefore if Layne Sedevie is planning on going to college and playing his freshman year he cannot play in the USHL after Jan. 18 2004. All of the information I have found lists Jan. 18 1983 as his birthday: http://www.topekascarecrows.com/stats/rost...r_frameset.html I love Lamoureux, but he still needs to work on his game before he is ready to play for the Sioux. He needs to improve his strength and work on his glove work. I think it is in Lammy's and the Sioux's best interests to go with the initial plan and have him play another year in the USHL.

So should I assume that Blais has pulled his scholarship offer to Sedevie? http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=45928 Stars get Topeka goalie BYMARKDEROWITSCH / Lincoln Journal Star Just in case Philippe Lamoureux decides to leave a year early, Lincoln Stars coach Steve Johnson put in a backup plan Wednesday. Johnson doesn't want to begin the season with two inexperienced goaltenders should Lamoureux end up at North Dakota this fall, and now he doesn't have to worry about it after acquiring Layne Sedevie in a draft-day trade with Topeka. The Stars acquired the two-year United States Hockey League veteran goalie, along with forward Adam Bartholomay, in exchange for two draft picks. Sedevie went 22-10-2 and posted a 2.62 goals-against average for the ScareCrows before missing the final six weeks of the season because of a neck injury. Lamoureux is scheduled to return to Lincoln next season, but North Dakota wants the goaltender to start his college career a year sooner than planned. Lamoureux signed a national letter of intent with the Sioux for the 2004-05 school year. "With North Dakota continuing to pursue Phil, this was a deal we had to make," Johnson said. Johnson knows all about Sedevie. Two years ago,the Stars coach tried to convince him to come to Lincoln, but the Bismarck, N.D., native signed with Sioux Falls instead. Last season with Topeka, Sedevie was leading the USHLwith 22 wins when he was injured during a collision with Lincoln's Ryan Potulny at the Ice Box. Sedevie hit the crossbar, and stretched some ligaments in his neck. He sat out the rest of the season. "He's fine now," Johnson said. In Bartholomay, the Stars pick up a forward who scored 18 goals and 38 points for the ScareCrows last season. The Stars then bolstered their offense even more during the draft, selecting North American Hockey League forwards Hank Carisio and Aaron McCloy with their first two picks. Carisio, who played for Springfield, finished third in the NAHL with 67 points in 56 games, and also racked up 110 penalty minutes. McCloy had 41 points for Capital Centre. "Hank's a bigger, skilled kid who is also hard-nosed and aggressive," Johnson said of the 6-foot-2 Carisio. The Stars addressed some needs at the blue line before the draft. Late Tuesday, they signed defensemen Nick Tuzzolino, from Buffalo of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, and Garrett Raboin of Detroit Lakes, Minn., to a tender. Tuzzolino stands 6-6 and weighs 222 pounds, and is more of a stay-at-home defensemen. Raboin is more offensive-minded. He scored 37 points in 23 games as a high school senior. "Nick's a big defenseman, something we got by without last year," Johnson said. "That's an element you'd like to have in front of the net." Other players the Stars drafted were:F Alex Leavitt, University of Wisconsin; DJim Jorgensen, Soo Indians of the NAHL; FJared Boll, Team Illinois; DBrett Tyler, Boston Jr. Bruins; FChris Tarkin, Williams Lake of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League; FMatt Greene, B.C. High,Boston; DTrevor Ludwig, Texas of the NAHL; FTommy Mannino, Leamington, Canada; F Sidney Crosby, Shattuck-St. Mary's, Faribault, Minn.; FJimmy Russo, Cushing Academy, Boston; FNick Biondo, Cleveland of the NAHL; and GTat Watson, Boston. Each USHL team is allowed to protect up to 30 players until July 1, when rosters must be cut to 23.

http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=43838 Two-goalie plan works for Stars

I've seen Porter, Ziegelmann, Bina play all this year. For what it's worth here's my scouting report: Bina: He's probably a Chad Mazurak type of defensemen except of the smaller side. Towards the end of the season, he took over the point position on the Stars' potent power-play which has helped his stats tremendously (Potulny plays the other point). He has the offensive ability to join the rush and can be effective in that role, as long as he has a defensive-minded partner. His shot from the blueline isn't great (he has a sneaky wrist-shot), but he seems to always get the puck on net, creating scoring chances. He's not very physical and when he tries to be, he gets out of sync with the game. Porter: He's really improved his game from the beginning of the season. It looked like he was trying to do too much in the offensive zone in the beginning, but he started to find his game around mid-season and became a fore-checking monster. He doesn't have great offensive skills, but has a huge heart. I think he's most effective on a line with a play-maker (Parise?) and someone who will take the punishment in front of the net (Bochenski?) because he is eager to do the dirty work fighting for the puck in the corners. Ziegelmann: I've been more impressed with Lamoureux's improvement during this season than Ziegelmann's, but their games complement each other pretty well. Ziggy's got a pretty good glove, but he has a tendency to get squirrelly feet. Whereas Lammy's glove is a little weak, but he plays the low shot well. When Ziggy's on his game, it's easy to tell. He doesn't have any wasted movements (especially his feet) and his positioning will be such that most shots will come right into his chest. He also plays the game with a lot of heart, which is never a bad thing! As a side note: At the beginning of this year's playoffs, Johnson was alternating Lammy and Ziggy (Lammy played the first and third games against Tri-Cities, Ziggy the second game and the first game against Cedar Rapids), but Johnson pulled Lammy in the second game against Cedar Rapids and has stuck with Ziegelmann ever since. I don't think Lammy played bad, but in that game the Stars were up 5-1 with five minutes left in the first period and started going into cruise control. Well, of course Cedar Rapids mounted a comeback and scored the first two goals of the third period and I think Johnson pulled Lammy to send a message to the team. I also think that Johnson has stayed with Ziggy because "why mess with a good thing?". But I wouldn't rule out Lammy starting the second game against River City on Friday.

Mike Eickman has committed to UN-Omaha for next year as well...

http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=38475 BYMARKDEROWITSCH / Lincoln Journal Star Two goaltenders are almost never better than one, especially in the stressful arena of playoff hockey. Quick, name an NHL Stanley Cup winner in the last 20 years that alternated goalies game after game. How about on the college level? Even in the Tier I United States Hockey League, employing a platoon system between the pipes rarely produces a championship. The USHLClark Cup champion generally rides the back of one goaltender throughout the playoffs. But the Lincoln Stars believe they can buck the trend. Coach Steve Johnson has split time between Philippe Lamoureux and Nate Ziegelmann, and has no plans to change the rotation for the time being. The Stars aren't too worried about it, either, despite what history says on the matter. Actually, for the Stars, two goalies are much better than one. "Maybe we'll be the first to win it with two," Ziegelmann said. "I think we can. We have the talent to do it." Johnson would like nothing more than to take out his lineup card and pencil in the same goaltender as the starter night after night. That's what he did when the Stars won their first, and only, Clark Cup, back in 1997. That season, Jason Braun started 14 straight playoff games, winning 12, to lift the Stars to the USHLchampionship as an expansion team. The situation this year is different. Much different, actually. Lamoureux and Ziegelmann, who both grew up in Grand Forks, N.D., played equally well during a first-round sweep of Tri-City. Ziegelmann worked games one and three, sandwiched around Lamoureux's only start. They effectively split time during the final months of the regular season, too, and that worked out pretty well. Lincoln won the Anderson Cup, finishing with the league's best record (37-14-9), to earn home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Lamoureux finished with 22 wins and a 2.17 goals-against average; Ziegelmann had 15 wins and a 2.58 average. "It hasn't been tough to pick one," Johnson said. "We'll keep going like it is until someone steps up. We won't make that decision, they'll make it. They'll make it by playing absolutely fantastic or by dropping the ball a little bit." Johnson won't name a starter for the opening game of the semifinal round against Cedar Rapids, which will be played Friday at the Ice Box. It's Lamoureux's turn, and the conventional wisdom is that he'll get the nod. Ziegelmann blanked Tri-City 6-0 to wrap up the first round, and his reward could be a seat on the bench. "As long as the team keeps winning, it really doesn't matter who plays," Lamoureux said. Ziegelmann knew coming into the season he'd have to fight for every second of ice time. When the Stars opened camp, there were three goaltenders on the roster:Lamoureux, Ziegelmann and Ross Cherry. Lamoureux and Cherry were given new leg pads in matching Stars colors. Ziegelmann was handed the same ones he wore the previous season. Johnson discussed sending Ziegelmann to either Tri-City or Waterloo, two teams searching for a top-end goaltender. Ziegelmann wanted to stay. Even if it meant less playing time. "You look at the guys we have here, and you could tell this team had a chance to do something special," Ziegelmann said. "I wanted to be a part of it." Cherry was eventually traded, and Ziegelmann settled into his battle with Lamoureux. Despite the fierce competition between them, the goalies support each other off the ice. As the Stars mobbed Ziegelmann after blanking Tri-City, Lamoureux skated onto the ice to pick up the puck. He then handed it to Ziegelmann. "We have a mutual respect for each other," Lamoureux said. "We both deserve to play more."

http://www.ushl.com/ushl0203/pr/0409ushl2.htm Tier I League announces 2002-03 award winners 04/09/2003 The United States Hockey League (USHL) announced today that Lincoln Stars forward Ryan Potulny was named the league's Let's Play Hockey Player of the Year. A North Dakota native, Potulny was the USHL's leading scorer in 2002-03. In 54 games played, the University of Minnesota prospect collected 35 goals and 43 assists for 78 points. "Ryan is a tremendous player and very deserving of this honor," said USHL Commissioner Gino Gasparini. "He has a terrific future ahead of him." In addition to collecting Player of the Year honors, Potulny was also named the USHL's Top Forward and selected First Team All-USHL. A Grand Forks Red River High School product, Potulny burst onto the USHL scene with a 57-point rookie campaign last season as a 17-year-old. His 1.18 career points-per-game average ranks among the league's very best over a two-year span. "Ryan has been very consistent," said Lincoln head coach Steve Johnson. "He will always have good numbers. What's unique about Ryan is that he has become a very complete player and I think his plus/minus numbers (+32) reflect that. He's got a chance to be a real top-end player." Potulny will be joining his older brother Grant, who also skated with the Stars, as a member of the Golden Gophers next fall. In two seasons with the Stars, the elder Potulny collected 73 points. Potulny was joined as a 2002-03 USHL Award Winner by the following standouts: Top Defenseman - Matt Carle, River City Lancers An Alaska native, Carle was a defensive rock for the Lancers in 2002-03. The 6-foot, 190-pound University of Denver prospect anchored River City's blue line with a plus/minus rating of +26 to complement his 12 goals and 30 assists for 42 points. Five of his goals came on the power play. NHL scouts have called Carle "probably the smoothest, most effortless looking player in the league." Top Goaltender - Dominic Vicari, River City Lancers From Michigan, Vicari has been the USHL's most dominating force between the pipes. The league's leader with 28 victories, Vicari also posted a league high six shutouts to bring his two season total to 12. Vicari has, in two USHL seasons, posted numbers that are among the best ever including 53 wins and a goals-against average of 1.91. A future Michigan State Spartan, Vicari has left an indelible mark on the USHL. Rookie of the Year - Joe Pavelski, Waterloo Black Hawks A high school star in his native Wisconsin, Pavelski came to the USHL and became just the second rookie to pace the league in goals scored since 1998-99. His 36 goals and 33 assists for 69 points led the Black Hawks and helped the team claim just its second division title since the USHL became an entirely junior league in 1979-80. Pavelski currently leads all scorers in the Clark Cup Playoffs with three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Curt Hammer Award - Jake Taylor, Green Bay Gamblers Presented annually to the player who best reflects the goals of the USHL, his team and the organization, the Curt Hammer Award was presented to a Green Bay Gambler for the first time in defenseman Jake Taylor, who will compete at the University of Minnesota this fall. The 6-foot, 4-inch Taylor was a steady force both on the ice and in the locker room for the Gamblers this season, notching 16 points while anchoring a corps of young blueliners. Coach of the Year - P.K. O'Handley, Waterloo Black Hawks General Manager of the Year - P.K. O'Handley, Waterloo Black Hawks O'Handley returned to the USHL after a coaching stint in the East Coast Hockey League and promptly swept the league's coaching awards after leading Waterloo from the doldrums to the East Division penthouse. This marks just the second time that a Waterloo coach or general manager has claimed league honors.

http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=37378 "Stars defenseman Robbie Bina will play college hockey at North Dakota next season. Bina, a native of Grand Forks, N.D., accepted a scholarship offer from Sioux coaches following Lincoln's 4-1 victory in game two on Friday." He's a really nice kid and should be a great addition to the Sioux. He doesn't have great size, but shows a lot of heart and has really improved his game this year. My impression is that he is a Chad Mazurak type of defenseman.

I've seen "feminine" play for 3 years now. Not someone I'd like to see in a Sioux uniform. I think Hakstol even coached him in Sioux City for a year. So he would have had first-hand knowledge of his skills. His size is definitely imposing and he wreaks havoc in front of the net, but he seems to hurt the team at the most inoppurtune times by taking BAD penalties. Just get under his skin a little bit and you're guaranteed a power play.

Two good goaltenders that I don't think have committed anywhere are Joe Fallon of Cedar Rapids and Jan Chovan of Sioux City. Jan Chovan (6'0" born in 1983) was the Slovakian goaltender in the WJC this year, so he has pressure game experience. He has also shown great athleticism in the games that I've seen him. He has been drafted, so there is the possibility of going straight to the pros. Joe Fallon (6'3" born in 1985) has some maturing to do, but he definitely has the size that I think UND might be missing. Jordan Parise (5'10" born in 1982) reminds me a lot of Lammy, especially in stature, but is also 2 years older.

Take it or leave it, but here's my take on the goalies being discussed: Lamoureaux: I've seen him play for the last 2 years in Lincoln and I love his heart, but he needs another year of seasoning in the USHL. He's really good at stopping the low shot, but needs work on his glove hand. Sedevie: Looked like he was coming into his own this year finally. The only question mark seems to be the injury bug. Ziegelmann: Was having a great year until he started hearing the praise. When he has his head in the game and remains confident, he's hard to beat. But Lammy has pretty much taken over the number one goalie position in Lincoln because lately Ziggy can't make the clutch save in the big game. Brandt: He was inconsistent when he played here in Lincoln and I never understood why Blais recruited him in the firstplace. Siembida: His head was never in the game on Sunday. What was he thinking when he came that far out on UMD's last goal?!?! He was a stopgap when Blais lost confidence in the goalie situation last year, but hasn't work out. Ranfranz: Haven't seem him play since his USHL days with Rochester, but he seems to be a student section favorite. With how dead REA was on Saturday, why not start Ranfranz on Sunday to get the crowd (at least the student section) into the game? Moreland: Saw this kid play in the Championship game on Saturday and was impressed with his poise. I read in the Herald on Sunday that he's planning on a year of Juniors before college. I hope he comes here to Lincoln to work on his game because he seems to have tremendous potential.

It didn't seem that puddles were a problem, but how they are running the Zamboni's. It looked like 1) the two zamboni's were in a race to see who could be done first, thereby not placing the water evenly and 2) Are they even scraping the ice? I had more ice in my drink than what the zamboni's left when the went off the ice!

I will be travelling from Lincoln, Nebraska to finally see the Sioux live for the first time this year. If I can still speak on Monday I will be disappointed!

There was a scary development in Lincoln's (with Lamoureux in net) 5-2 victory over Topeka tonight. Ryan Potulny scored on a breakaway with 6:04 left in the second period, but crashed into Sedevie in the process. I think Sedevie hit the back of his head/neck on the goal post and after being attended to for about 30 minutes, was immobilized, strapped to a stretcher, and taken to Lincoln General Hospital. It was a an unnerving scene to watch. He was pretty much motionless, other than moving his legs a little bit, the entire time. There hasn't been much word given about his status, but the announcers at the game said that they heard he just has a sprained neck. Hopefully he will recover quickly and be back in Topeka's lineup soon. I will update his status when I get more information.

Good article on Porter: http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=20528