USA Hockey
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Posts posted by USA Hockey
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Latest word was that Forney is still deciding.
Regarding the draft and WCHA rivals, it would seem naive to assume everything is "fine" and our recruits are as good as anyone's, since, after all, the NHL scout's jobs are to identify the best hockey players. They are, however, trying to project who will have the skillset to eventually play in the NHL as men. I wonder if the key missing feature in some of UND's current and future players is a world-class level of athleticism. Unless you're a pitcher in baseball, you pretty much have to be blessed with remarkable athleticism (speed, strength, reflexes), to be a professional athlete at the highest level. No matter how special Duncan is in so many ways, he most likely just simply won't have the speed and strength to play in the NHL. The electric speed is what got Kristo drafted in the second round. If you looked at the recent USHL season, Cichy was miles better than Josh Birkholz at Fargo, but Birkholz, despite reportedly not being very coachable or a great teammate, also has the breathtaking speed and was picked high, while Cichy barely got picked in his second eligible year.
What will it mean for UND in the future? When the Sioux were young and talented in the past, they often had trouble with older teams like Mankato and Tech. What would happen if you built a team like that, but used more talented building blocks? I think that's what we're going to see.
It may be naivete, but I really like this year's team. Last year's top two lines at year-end (Vandy, Frattin, Malone and Duncan, Hextall, Gregoire), were hard to handle, and only Duncan is gone. Other forwards who showed some real ability are back (Zajac, Trupp, Mario), and the team adds three guys who should be power-play type players (Kristo, Cichy and Toews). As AZ has said, the depth should be great, maybe as good as we've seen since 1999. Four lines, which should balance out the icetime and hopefully keep everyone fresh and perhaps healthy.
The entire freshman class played at least one extra year of junior hockey, so they will be physically mature and ready to step in.
The key question for me (and it's a big one) is whether Blood, Finehage, LaPoint (health) and MacWilliam are all ready to play against good players.
You're absolutely right with the Birkholz-Cichy comparison. Just because a player may be good at the junior and college level doesn't mean that he fits an NHL style player. Like I said, I like Cichy but he doesn't have much size and speed which is what is needed at the NHL level. I think you're right in terms of what we might see in the future with the Sioux teams in the sense that these teams won't have the blue chip prospects on them.
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Why were we not interested in Mr. Hanoski or Mr. Lee? They are nearly in our back yard, do they not fit our style and if so, what do the NHL scouts see that our coaching staff didn't. Now if they turned us down, oh well....but I would find that hard to believe.
The interest in Mike Lee was lukewarm, we already had Eidsness committed and he didn't want to sit the bench for three years. I find it interesting that Dell didn't seem to care about this since he was recruited by some other top schools, maybe he just likes the idea of competing for the goalie spot a little more
As with Hanowski, we're loaded at foward and I don't see any room. Also, with Danny Mattson the NHL scouts may have questioned his size and strength coming out of high school which he can develop in juniors as he will be eligible for the draft again next year. -
I guess the NHL isnt impressed with our incoming class. How about st cloud, they have had 3 players taken before any of ours, Ill bet that has never happened
Keep in mind that the majority of the incoming class was drafted last year (Kristo, MacWilliam, Bruneteau, and Gleason). Knight and Mattson are 2010 players and are still developing so their draft stock won't be as high. I was told by a good source that Cichy doesn't really fit the type of player that NHL scouts are looking for (not very big and not very fast) so he isn't being drafted high either.
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If anyone doesn't have the NHL Network, here is the link to watch it online,
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=6...vidchn-livewire
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Someone brought up this question on Brad's Blog and I was wondering about it as well. Does anyone think that Aaron Dell could possbly get drafted? Is he draft eligible? I know that goalies aren't drafted all that often, but is there even a chance?
He's eligible but not ranked.
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Here is western college hockey blog's preview on Knight,
http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/20...t-corban-knight
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The USA Hockey Select 16 Festival is this weekend, you can follow it here,
http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...DivisionID=1574
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Another article on Knight,
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/1130..._corban_knight/
Also, if anyone wants to try and help me find them, I'm looking for the NHL Central Scouting videos of the players which have been posted the last few years. I'm not talking about the nhl.com prospect profile interviews but the ones where they have footage of random shifts during a game so you can get a feel of the players skating ability and hockey sense. I haven't seen them posted anywhere, but if anyone has a link to them that would be great.
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While I'm at it I mine as well ask for another opinion. I believe it will be a surprise if Fink ever wears a North Dakota uniform. I admit I've only briefly seem him play, but he really seems to be having a hard time in the USHL (and he only has one more year of eligibility there I believe). We already know he isn't coming in this year, and the Sioux are only graduating a couple forwards and should have minimal early losses to the NHL again next year. This means Fink will have have to come in with the 2010 class which is going to very talented along with the remaining roster from 2009. The coach's would never take back an offer they made to a kid, but I just think Fink will have to choose between riding the bench for a couple years or going elsewhere for immediate playing time. And it is my opinion he will choose the latter.
I think the coaches will probably wait another year to see how he develops and then make a decision. I think Fink made the jump from high school to juniors to early after only playing one year of high school. Although I tend to favor juniors over high school, I still think it's best for a player to wait until senior year to make the jump if they so please. I think a 16 year old playing in the USHL is just to young and can hurt his development, but that's just my opinion.
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Even with the total number of forwards possible for next year, I still don't understand the coach's request for this kid to play another year of juniors. I find it hard to believe he wouldn't crack the lineup this year. But l guess the coaches know what they're doing.
I think he probably could've cracked the lineup, but maybe the coaches think he wouldn't be an impact player. You have to be careful in rushing a players development. Put it this way, I would rather have a really good player for 2-3 years than a mediocore player for 4.
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Not understanding the Draft thing very well, the 4 mentioned players are they elgible next season if they are not drafted this season?
I'm not sure on the draft rules either, I just heard that those four are also eligible through a source.
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nice, yeah will be interesting where they go. also couldnt rodwell be a suprise late rounder?? i think ive read that a few places.
ill guess cichy,mattson and knight all go late 2nd to 4th round and then rodwell a 5-7 guy if drafted. all it takes is 1 team to like a specific player so i think its a crap shoot on these 3 and where they go late 2nd to 4th.
Rodwell, Rowney, Fink, and Dell are all eligible but not rated so any of those guys have a chance at going.
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I figured we could start a draft thread, there are only three sioux players that are ranked this year, here are their profiles on NHL.com,
Danny Mattson
http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail...;sort=finalRank
Corban Knight
http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail...;sort=finalRank
Mike Cichy
http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail...;sort=finalRank
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As reported by Brad, Danny Kristo and Mike Cichy will be invited to the World Junior Evaluation Camp in August. Kristo comes at no surpise. Cichy may come as a surprise to some but remember that three years ago he was playing for the NTDP and was considered one of the best U.S. fowards in his age group, he just took a bit of a set back when he dropped out of the NTDP and went back to Boston. After having a great year in the USHL and at the World Junior A Challenge, he finally gets the recognition he deserves.
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The U of M Model Camp starts tommorow and runs through the 16th. It takes place at Mariucci and Ridder Arenas. There aren't any committed UND recruits in it but some committed WCHA recruits and many prospective recruits including Travis Boyd from Hopkins. Here are the rosters,
http://www.luciacamps.com/rosters.php
There are certain times when instruction is taking place and certain times when games are taking place. Iceburg on GPL posted the game times,
Game Times for Model Camp Games
6/12 2:30-8:15 pm
6/13 3:00-9:30 pm
6/14 2:30-8:15 pm
6/15 9:00-3:30 pm
6/16 9:00-3:30 pm
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Fienhage has to be in on a regular basis for him to develop. Gleason would be the most likely to sit after having a bad year in the USHL, don't be surprised if he doesn't play much or at all
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So you run with 14 in 2009-10?
If you don't bring in Rowney now you have to bring him in ... in 2010.
How exactly does that solve this assumed 2010-11 issue?
A year from now the departures at forward are Vande Velde and Zajac.
But I truly don't believe that will be the extent of it.
I expect the NYI woes to continue and Garth Snow to come sniffing after Jason Gregoire after he has a break out season.
And I know what players say, but there is some flight risk if either Malone or Frattin have big years.
Forney was the 15th foward not Rowney, it's for sure that Kristo, Cichy, Bruneteau, and Rowney will be here and there is no official report that Forney is coming in. In your originall post you assumed that Forney comes back and those are the 15 fowards, I put up the situation that it might make sense not to bring him in.
Obviously there is some risk that guys could leave early, but as of right now I don't see Gregoire as a two year player or Malone and Frattin as three year players because they haven't proven that they're capable of playing at an NHL level, but that's my opinion.
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In 2008-09 they went with a 14F-8D-3G (25 man) roster (and that considers Brad Miller as a D, so really we could call it 14.5-7.5-3).
Right now, assuming Cichy, Kristo, Bruneteau, Rowney, (Gleason, MacWilliam, and Dell) they're at 14F-7D-3G (24 man) roster.
I don't believe they'll go with a 24 man roster. That's not much room to account for injuries.
My guess: Welcome back Michael Forney.
Now here's my question:
Are there any forwards who've played defense in the past?
With 7D on the roster you're two injuries away from being short on the blue line.
The only problem having 15 fowards this year comes into play in 2010-2011, because the only guarantees to leave would be this years seniors Vande and Zajac. The team would bring back 13 fowards and have to bring in a minimum of four (Knight, Mattson, Fink, and Rodwell). That's already 17 fowards not counting Matt White whose listed as a 2010. I know it's a ways off and I understand that there can be early signees, but I don't see any of this years sophmores or juniors signing early. If Forney comes in, there is going to be an issue of roster space for some of these players that are committed a ways out.
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Schlossman's blog now has Knight back to the AJHL and Mattson to the USHL.
At risk of repeating myself:
I think Rowney is coming in for sure. As with Forney, if he doesn't come in they may just roll with 14 fowards, they did a few years ago.
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Was he there or just on the roster?
I think he was just on the roster because the camp was last weekend and Mattson should've been at the NHL Combine.
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The Fargo Force have their camp at Dakota Sports in Prior Lake, the team didn't post any rosters or a schedule on their website, does anyone have info on it?
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The NHL Draft Combine is this weekend, Corban Knight and Danny Mattson are the only sioux recruits that were invited, you can follow TSN's live blog of the combine here,
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Iceburg on GPL posted the rosters for the Sioux Falls camp. Here they are for anyone that is looking at attending,
Royal
G Paul Moberg (Forest Lake)
D Shayne McLaughlin (Eau Claire Memorial)
D Trent Johnson (Alexandria-NAHL) Out of Duluth Denfeld
D Marcus Perrier (SIOUX FALLS)
D Mike Yanis (University of Detroit Jesuit H.S.)
D Connor Allen (St. Louis-NAHL)
F Anthony Greco (Shattuck U-16) From Long Island, New York
F Brent Darnell (Detroit Catholic Central) Michigan State recruit
F Sam Coatta (Minnetonka)
F Tyler Voigt (Rochester Lourdes)
F Michael Voran (Wenatchee-NAHL)
F Christian Isackson (St. Thomas Academy) GOPHER RECRUIT
F Danny Bahntge (Cleveland Barons midgets)
F George Michalke (SIOUX FALLS)
F Matt Lindblad (Chicago-USHL)
F Cody Hotchkin (Duluth Denfeld)
Gold
G Clay Witt (SIOUX FALLS)
G Lino Chimienti (Lac-St. Louis Lions)
D Zack Kamrass (Springfield-NAHL)
D Ryan Seibolt (Cleveland Barons midgets)
D Jake McCabe (Eau Claire Memorial)
D Luke Jenkins (River Falls)
D Chad Ruhwedel (SIOUX FALLS)
F Grant Huttel (Hermantown)
F Tommy Westmark (Appleton United H.S.)
F Kyle Rau (Eden Prairie)
F Dominic Zombo (St. Louis Jr. Blues midgets)
F Chris Cimoch (St. Rita H.S.)
F Cole Wilson (Flin Flon-SJHL)
F Ryan Misiak (Motor City-NAHL)
F Kyle Gallegos (Pikes Peak midgets)
F Anthony Day (St. Francis Prep)
F Sam Cheraso (Alpena-NAHL)
Red
G C.J. Motte (Traverse City-NAHL)
D Sean Escobedo (SIOUX FALLS) Boston University recruit
D Tyler Briola (Pikes Peak midgets)
D Sam Windle (Osseo)
D Mike Reilly (Holy Angels)
D Clark Cristofoli (Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets midgets)
D Tyler Swanson (Alexandria-NAHL)
D Max Vallis (P.F. Changs midgets)
F Matt Farris (SIOUX FALLS)
F Colton Warner (Apple Valley)
F Ryan Reilly (Holy Angels)
F Connor Reilly (Holy Angels)
F Trent Frey (Springfield-NAHL) Mercyhurst recruit
F Andrew Wiebe (Thunder Bay Kings midgets)
F Nick Curry (Springfield-NAHL)
F Rob Dongara (Springfield-NAHL)
F Fredrick Cedergren (HV71-Sweden)
White
G Alex Fons (Hopkins)
G Michael Taffe (Providence Academy)
D Chris Rumble (SIOUX FALLS)
D Tony Larson (Blaine)
D Randy Cure (Springfield-NAHL) Out of Holy Angels
D Richard Coyne (P.F. Changs midgets)
D Dan Furlong (SIOUX FALLS)
F Josh Holmstrom (SIOUX FALLS)
F Travis Belohrad (Puget Sound-NorPac)
F Charlie O'Connor (Lake Forest Academy)
F Jacob Johnstone (Green Bay-USHL)
F Adam Knochenmus (Roseau)
F Mitch Torrel (Wenatchee-NAHL) From Monticello. Air Force recruit
F Gage Christianson (Alaska All-Stars midgets)
F Zach Frischmon (Blaine)
F Jason Clark (Shattuck) From Eden Prairie
F Brett Pinder (Calgary Buffaloes midgets)
F Kyle Politz (Alexandria-NAHL) From Apple Valley
2009 NHL Draft
in Men's Hockey
Posted
I don't expect this years team to be championship worthy either. I realize it's a ways off, but I would say that 2010-2011 is shaping up to be a much better team. To win a championship there needs to be a mix of skill and experience and I would say that 2010-2011 looks to be that way.