USA Hockey

I'm a little bit late on this since I've been out of town, but the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament got underway on Friday and continues throughout this week. The U.S. lost the first game 6-1, but Sioux recruit Mike Parks had the lone U.S. goal. You can follow the tournament here, http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahock...05&ID=26980

The U.S. World Junior Evaluation Camp is set to begin this week, with Danny Kristo and Mike Cichy being the committed UND players on the roster. Here is the roster and schedule, http://usahockey.cachefly.net/Media/NJEC/0...CRosterFull.doc http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahocke...6&id=266316

Hammy has reported that Travid Boyd from Hopkins committed to the Gophers, who visited UND last week. This sucks, but I guess you can't get them all.

It goes on in August.

Here is the full roster, http://usahockey.cachefly.net/Media/072209...electRoster.doc

The NTDP schedule was released today. 18U Schedule, http://usahockey.cachefly.net/NTDP/0910_U18Schedule.pdf 17U Schedule, http://usahockey.cachefly.net/NTDP/0910_U17Schedule.pdf

From what I've always understood is that his strength is special teams. They did have eight defenseman this year so as for playing time that night, who knows what the situation was but he still played in 63 games this year for the NTDP. He was second in defenseman scoring at the 18U worlds behind Cam Fowler, who is one of if not the best North American defenseman for his age group. He was also second in defenseman scoring for the NTDP all season, once again behind Cam Fowler. He has the natural ability, good skater and good hands. He probably still has some work to do so he'll get even more of a chance to improve in the USHL this year. Also, he didn't get drafted because he wasn't eligible.

He has the ability to be the complete package for an NHL defenseman, good size, speed, hands, aggressiveness, etc. With a good year at the NTDP, he could be a first round draft pick or even a top 10. Both Forbort and Nick Mattson will come in here in 2010 and probably be our most talented defenseman.

We have a verbal for 2012.

Yes those were the three.

It's a ways off, but it is summer, the NHL came out with a 2010 Draft Watch List with a few of our guys on here. The players are listed with the teams they played with last year so don't get confused, http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=37762

The U-17 Select Team that will compete overseas in August was named, here is the roster, http://usahockey.cachefly.net/Media/071609...electRoster.doc

It may be a fighting league, but it still produces a good crop of talent. I don't want to get into a major junior vs. college discussion, but the major junior route can be a very good route for a player to take (the numbers speak for themselves), especially over going to UAA.

The points are not necessarily reflective of player ability since these teams are randomly assembled. It's hard to judge how good a player did unless you were there. He was in the all star game, so he was one of the top players in that regard. I guess the ultimate judgement will be if he makes the team that goes overseas.

Mike Parks was invited to play in the All-Star game at the Select Festival, which took place yesterday. This group of players probably has the best chance of making the team that goes overseas in August. Here are the rosters, http://www.usahockey.com/uploadedFiles/USA...resheet2009.xls

I can't blame Bennett, I would much rather play in the WHL than play at Anchorage.

The Select 17s concluded yesterday, Parks finished with 3-2--5 points in 5 games. Here are the final stats, http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/TopSco...DivisionID=1578

I believe it is the 17U team that is playing in the USHL, as it is an upgrade from the NAHL. It makes more sense for a team of 16-17 year olds to play in the USHL, since the NAHL is a tier 2 league of 19-20-21 year olds. The 18U team is still playing the d1 and international schedule with select dates of USHL games.

The USA Hockey Select 17s gets underway this week. Michael Parks will be the Sioux's lone representative. I think Derek Forbort was originally invited after the Minnesota Advanced 17s, but because he is going to the NTDP he probably didn't want to participate. You can follow the tournament here, http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...DivisionID=1578

The Select 16's concluded today, here are the final stats from the tourney, http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/TopSco...DivisionID=1574

At no surprise, Toews was invited to Canada's olympic orientation camp.

Babcock stated at the end of the season that Abdelkader will start the year in Grand Rapids. I don't disagree on Samuelsson either. If they can sign Hudler and Leino, this means they bring back 11 fowards so they'll probably go out and get a bargain player.

No it wasn't. Hossa wanted to stay in Detroit but Holland didn't give him the price he wanted. Hossa's agent made it clear that they wanted at least $6 million a year and because of cap space Detroit only offered $4-5 million a year. In fact it was in March that Holland offered Hossa a $4-5 million a year deal, but when he turned that down Holland locked Franzen instead. In fact the Wings are so tight on cap space that they won't be able to sign Samuelsson either. If they can get through the free agency by retaining Hudler and Leino and maybe a grinder at a bargain until Abdelkader is ready then it was a good offseason.

I don't consider O'Donnell and Parks to be blue chip recruits yet....only time will tell. But you're definetly right about Mattson and Forbort.