USA Hockey

It's not necessarily a given though. Not sure what his other choices were, but I know Joe Finley had a handicapped sibling and obviously decided to play here.

That article really made me think that he will stay home....and for good reasons

I've been to every rink in this league except the Colorado rinks and Alaska Anchorage. Compared to the other arenas, I think we have a great atmosphere. In my opinion, what makes a great atmosphere are not 10,000 people spelling out their states name in unison like a kindergarten class (Minnesota) or a group of students jumping around in circles and clapping their hands (Wisconsin), but more the level of noise in the arena. We have one of the loudest arenas in the league, and when you mix that in with a good band and the great job REA does with the lighting and the music, it makes for one of the best atmospheres in the country.

I've been on every Madison trip since 2005. One thing you have to understand is that Wisconsin is a football state, and many of them do not understand the game of hockey. Although Minnesota fans can be arrogant, at least the majority of them understand the game. With Wisconsin fans, not only do the majority of them not understand the game of hockey, they are also drunk and belligerent. With respect to the campus and community, it is VERY liberal. Walking around that campus and town is like going back to the 1960's almost. Many of the students that go to school there are big city kids that come from very wealthy backgrounds, making it a very preppy atmosphere. You can see it in the harmonic cheers that the students section does. When I was a college student, you could not have gotten me to dance in circles and clap hands. I will say, we've had some great times in Madison over the years (some of the others on this board can attest to that), but it is definitely a different culture and atmosphere that is different than anywhere else in the WCHA.

Aren't we lucky now that Garrett Clarke choose not to come here....what a tool, http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/sports/article/682204--did-clarke-choose-to-leave-moose

I just decided today that I'm going to be in Madison this weekend. The Nitty Gritty, State Street Brats, and Brothers are all really good. The Great Dane Pub is really good as well, although it is a little farther away.

Maybe he didn't.....

There are many great parts to the UND program, and don't get me wrong if I had my choice I would play for UND. I was just trying to point out that players choose a program for different reasons. For some recruits, the big city plays a factor in it. With respect to Michaelson's situation, it's not like the talent pool for gopher recruits has went down, so when he comes in he will be there with a good crop of players, and who knows what the coaching situation will be in a few years. On another note, I do have to give a hats off to the coaching staff on the recruits that we have been getting lately. There was a time when this program was never really in the mix for many NTDP players, and to be able to start getting this players on a consistent basis I think is a real testament to the great job this coaching staff has done.

The Nike Bauer NIT Tournament is this weekend in New Hope, here are the Minnesota rosters and tournament bracket, Minnesota White, http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/roster/show/236734-minnesota-white Minnesota Red, http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/roster/show/236729-minnesota-red?subseason=33956 Tournament Bracket, http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0013/8116/NITBRACKET2010FINAL.xls

Since we have had some commitments from the NTDP program lately, I would also like to add that we have also shown interest in Nikolas Olsson, Seth Jones, and Jared Rutledge. I would say that Olsson is most likely to go to Denver, Jones is between Denver, Miami-Ohio, and North Dakota, and Rutledge is between North Dakota and Michigan State. Not sure if this has been posted before, but I thought I would add it in.

If you read the article carefully he says that he is also giving BSU a look, the night of the UND/BSU game is a BSU recruiting visit. He visited UND this last summer.

The NAHL Prospects and Future 18U/16U Prospects Showcase Tournament started today in Blaine, you can follow it here, http://www.nahlshowcase.com/

I was recently informed by a reliable source that the impact of the nickname change affecting alumni donations has been minimal at MOST. In the month or two following the announcement, there was only one cancellation of season tickets and I don't think it was even related.

The Upper Midwest High School Elite League season starts tonight at New Hope Arena. There are two games, but the more intriguing game should be the Southeast vs. Southwest game (since we are recruiting players off both teams), here is the schedule and league website where you can look at the rosters, Schedule http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0012/2171/Elite_Schedule_2010_rev_2_20100812.pdf Rosters http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/page/show/207681-elite-league-team-rosters?subseason=25550

The 2010 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament is taking place in Switzerland this week, you can follow it here, http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_04_03_05&ID=27452

Sorry I didn't post this sooner, but the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament has been taking place in this week in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. You can follow that here, http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_04_02_05&ID=26980

The HS Elite League rosters are out for this fall, not a very strong group compared to past years, but Team Southeast may be interesting to watch since we have recruited a few players on that team, http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/page/show/20768...ue-team-rosters

The Fargo Force opened their invite only tryout camp in West Fargo yesterday. Here is the roster, http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-8967-Fa...out-camp-roster

The Upper Midwest High School Elite League holds their tryouts at New Hope Arena this weekend, here is the list of players invited, http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/page/show/20434...eague-schedules

The USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp started today, you can follow it here, http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...DivisionID=1792

The U.S. 18U Select team was named today, which will compete at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament in August, here is the roster, http://usahockey.cachefly.net/Media/071410...electRoster.doc

Your question has been answered.....welcome aboard Grimaldi

Here are the All-Star rosters for the Select 17's, Team 1 http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...spx?TeamID=9583 Team 2 http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...spx?TeamID=9584

The USA Hockey Select 17's start today, here is the schedule and rosters, http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...DivisionID=1788