USA Hockey

Nick Mattson and some possible prospective Canadian recruits will be playing in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Ontario this week, with games starting tommorow. For anyone that gets TSN, the gold medal game will be shown on January 4th. You can follow the tournament here, http://www.hockeycanada.ca/2/5/0/2/2/index1.shtml

If anyone is in the Rochester area (I think Siouxnami is), the Wells Fargo Hockey tournament is this weekend. My alma matter, Rochester Lourdes plays in this tournament, Gopher recruit Jake Youso will also be playing for International Falls. Here is the link for the tournament info, http://www.kiwanisrochester.org/hockey/schedule04.htm

Iceburg posted this on GPL, there is a live stream of the Schwan Cup tournament, here is the link http://media.myfoxtwincities.com/foxhilite...ockey/index.htm

Our Twin Cities recruits are playing in the Schwan Cup, which starts today. This is probably the elite showcase for Minnesota High School hockey. If anyone is in the Twin Cities area, it is a good chance to see our recruits in one tournament. Here is link, you can click on the brackets from there, http://www.nscsports.org/sports/hockey/tou...hed_results.htm

He's exciting to watch.

The three goalies I knew about, Maxwell, Crandall, and Lee all committed elsewhere. Other than that, since the Grieco situation is only a little more than a month old, I haven't heard of any new developments. The only thing I would say is that since there really isn't any blue chippers still out there for 08, that the goalie that comes in will be on low scholarship and willing to assume a backup role. As always, they also look for a player with not just ability but work ethic and loyalty. Looking at the junior ranks right now there are a number of goaltenders that can fill that category, so I'm not going to start throwing names out there.

One thing to remember is it is also about scholarship money. I would assume Eidsness is getting a good chunk of money to come here, and I don't think they would give another 3/4-full ride sholarship to two goaltenders coming in the same year. Obviously you want to find the best goalie possible, but you also have to get the best goalie for the money that you are giving them.

Being a Detroit Red Wings fan, they used to do this all the time and their success showed for it. They actually split up the Zetterburg, Holmstrom, and Datsyuk line last week against Montreal and they ended up winning 4-1. It's not necessarily a bad idea because it gets a mix of guys used to playing together.

If anyone wants to watch a possible prospective player, Elk River plays Centennial tommorow night on FSN North. Centennial's Tyler Pitlick is probably the best player for their team. The Star Tribune had a feature on him yesterday and said that he is looking at playing in the WCHA. The coaching staff has recruited eastern Twin Cities players before, so I wouldn't be surprised if the coaches at least gave him a look.

Expanding on that, since it is an off week I figured I would post where some of our Twin Cities recruits are playing this weekend, if you can't get enough hockey. Holy Angels is playing Wazata at Richfield Ice Arena Friday night, Edina plays Chaska at Braemar Arena on Thursday, and Eastview plays Lakeville North on Saturday. Also, Shattuck is hosting their own Midget Major tournament down in Faribault this weekend, which brings in some of the top teams from around the country, the schedule can be found here, http://www.s-sm.org/athletics/interscholas...rid=2007+-+2008

You are correct. There are 18 full scholarships and they split the amount of money throughout the team. There are vast discrepancies, some players are getting a hell of a lot more than others but everyone is getting at least a little share.

If anyone lives in the Duluth area, you can watch Danny Kristo play UMD on Friday night at the DECC or Wisconsin-Superior Saturday night in Superior.

I was recently informed that Nate Schmidt is more of a wait and see player for us. As I was saying last night, right now it is about developing a little more.

I haven't been informed on anyone. I would say if we are it would be Hebel, especially since he is a 2010 and I think that is the top scouting class right now for us. He may be a wait and see type player.

Well since you leaked it out I will comment on it now. I've seen this kid play and by all means, the ability is there. Right now it's just a matter of developing more, and what better place to do it with than playing for Dean Blais in the USHL.

I know who it was but I have to hold on the name. Some others and myself have mentioned him here before as a recruit that we are looking at.

There was a recruit here on Saturday also. We may add a couple more players for 08/09, but most of the recruiting will probably now start for the 2010 class.

I think another thing that people need to look at is our schedule eases up in the second half of the year. Our home series with Michigan Tech, Anchorage, and Bemidji should probably all be sweeps. We also go to Mankato, which could easily be a sweep. We also play St. Cloud twice, who I don't think is as good of a team as they've had in the past few years. Like I said, as long as we can position ourselves with a top three finish in the conference, it would put is in good position for the playoffs.

Look here, you don't have to agree with my opinion, but I'm wondering how many rinks you've been to around the country? I've been to many rinks around the country and have never heard a PA announcement like that. I think this gives my opinion a little validity, being more than just laughable. If you could provide me an example, then maybe I could give you credit for your writing.

What matters is the green banner and as long as they finish in the top three in the conference they position themselves in a good spot for the playoffs.

I never said that there was anything wrong with pumping the fans up by disparity between the ways they announce the teams, but it's different to call a disrespectul shot out on the other team. It's no different than saying the Gophers suck over the PA.

In terms of the PA announcer, it's one thing to get the crowd fired up after a goal, announcing the starting lineup, or showing emotion after gaining full strength, that's part of the job. It's another thing to show the opponent disrespect. IN MY OPINION, the Holy Cross statement is the same thing as saying the Gopher suck over the PA, which in a profession, is a classless statement. I've had a few beers in me so hopefully I got it acrossed ok.

The Ferris State comment is refering to the 2003 regional semifinal at Marriucci when the Sioux lost 5-2. As for the rest, you can have you're opinion and I'll have mine.

You tell me one other PA announcer in the conference that makes a comment like that, maybe that's because they understand that there is some class involved with it. The Gopher PA announcer might as well anounce the Ferris State score when were down there in February.

The Holy Cross statement was out of hand. If you're in the press box, you're not a fan, you're a professional, which means you should act like one.