USA Hockey
-
Posts
865 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by USA Hockey
-
-
On the injury front I saw where someone said Pavel D skated today but it wasn't very hard.
With their depth at foward, the Wings might be able to get away with Pavs being out. However, Lidstrom and Ericsson absolutely need to be in the lineup because they can't skate with five defenseman or Chelios and Meech. I say if the Wings are healthy, their depth will prevail and they'll win in 6 or 7, have to be optimistic about my team.
-
I honestly don't know how they have won with their goaltending either.
It's called puck possesion. A team doesn't need a star (just solid) goaltender to win a championship. I normally don't like to compare college to the NHL, but I never considered the Gopher goaltenders in 02 and 03 to be exceptional, but they had the talent up front and the goaltending held their own and they ended up winning two titles.
-
i love the green and black but those white ones are god awful hideous
I really like the green ones. They're actually similar to the away jerseys in the early 50s, sorry I don't have a photo. The part that I don't like about the white one is the big green striping across the middle. Big a HG's version of the white jersey is much better.
-
Most likely this will be the learning year for the young Chicago team, just like stated in the article when comparisons are drawn to the Oilers first playoffs against the Islanders. Although, I won't count out this Hawks team either. Red Wings goaltending is the key to victory or defeat.
Are you nervous USAHOCKEY?
Go Hawks!
If Detroit plays well they should win the series. Better power play, experience, and depth is in Detroit's favor. I think Osgood has been solid all playoffs, as he was last year, so I don't think goaltending is really a problem.
-
Found this on Brad's blog. http://www.letsgosioux.blogspot.com/
Idalski has mock-up's of the new jersey styles. I like the green and black but think the white is lame. Leafsguy made a good point that they should also go back to green helmets and breezers at home with the white tops. i agree.
I like the green and black ones, but those white jerseys look hideous, which sucks because they are my current favorite.
-
The USHL entry draft is today, same website as yesterday.
-
The USHL Futures Draft is at 3 today, you can follow it here,
-
The NTDP named the first 12 players that will join the 17U team for next year, here is the list,
http://www.usahockey.com/USANTDP/default.a...etailedNews=yes
-
Tough to send a good prospect to juniors for a year when he could suit up, but I would send the last slot Forney's way.
He's shown that he's no fluke in the USHL. I agree with AZ that he shouldn't have gone straight from high school to UND, but that's water under the bridge.
Also, food for thought: Why rush Mattson? sure, he doesn't have the injury bug Forney had in high school, but it is VERY RARE (IMO) for a player to go right from high school to DI without much transition. Sure, Oshie did it. So did the most of the SSM boys (Miller, JPar, and Duncan are three off the top of my head who went to juniors first before coming to UND after SSM). However, I still think Mattson will go from a good recruit to a great recruit with a year in the USHL.
Kindof like Danny Kristo. He was good in high school, but after the USHL, he's a great recruit.
Sometimes good to great is all it takes.
My 2 cents.
Just as an FYI, Kristo was in high school this year. The reason he didn't come straight from the NTDP this year was because his graduation year was 2009.
-
I think the new CBA hurt initially but now it's gonna start to even things out, obviously the top players will go...Toews, Osh the guys who step onto the roster right away like you're saying goon and now that a high pick like Chorney had to dwell in the minors and provide some insight I think most things will turn back to normal as far as early departures. That guy for Mankato though what a mistake he made leaving early.
I've said it all along that an extra year of college is better than a year in the AHL. Very few players that leave early step into the big club right away. The only ones that do are the blue chip prospects like you mentionaed.
-
The very prestigous Toronto Prospects tourney is this weekend for the 94 birthdates, I posted about the 93's in early April and the 90-92's will be next weekend. The local players are on the Waterloo Junior Blackhawks, here are the rosters,
http://www.prospectstourney.com/Rosters%20...%20schedule.xls
-
Here is the list of the Minnesota Advanced 16's that will compete at the national select festival this summer,
http://minnesotahockey.org/assorted/Boys%2...ayer%20List.pdf
-
As expected, Derek Forbort made the Minnesota Advanced 17 list that will compete at the national select festival this summer. Here is the list of players,
http://minnesotahockey.org/assorted/Boys%2...ayer%20List.pdf
-
I think that you have to split up freshman early in the season. You have to give the guys a little time to adjust to the speed of the WCHA without having the whole world's responsibility on their shoulders. That is the main reason for my line combos.
So:
I like splitting up Cichy and Kristo to help them adjust.
I like having one power forward on each of the first two scoring lines in Malone and VV.
I liked the way Malone and VV played together last year in the NCAAs too.
I like Frattin and Kristo together, because along with Marto and Genoway I think they are the fastest skaters on next year's squad.
I like Gregoire and Cichy, because they had very similar numbers in junior, indicating to me that they both can finish as well as set-up goals.
I like Hextall and Zajac on the checking line, because they can be both sweet and nasty. Neither is afraid to get their hands dirty, and Hexy proved he could score. I think Zajac can score too if playing with the right boys.
I think that we are also truly limited by our centermen. The experienced pivots on the team are VV, Malone, Zajac, Lammy and Toews (a little). Zajac and Lammy are not preferred scoring line players.
I think we'll see a lot of flopping among the three scoring lines. I predict we have a pretty consistent checking line in terms of personnel.
Seriously, you're thinking way to far ahead. The coaches don't even know what the line combinations are going to be until the Friday before the exhibition game and then they usually change them next week anyway. I don't think talking about line combinations in April is to big of a deal especially when we don't know even have a full roster yet.
-
Why did he wait so long to sign and announce it? It just annoys me. There was all this speculation from Kitchner, why didn't he just announce it. I'm just fine without having this guy.
Two words: Public Relations. He put on a great front. "I really like the Kitchener atmosphere"
He was never going to college -
The 91-92 USHL showcase was this weekend in Chicago. Forgot to post about it earlier but next weekend is the 93 USHL showcase. I don't follow the locals to much, but there are some in both tournaments, here are the rosters,
http://www.ushl.com/centralscouting/Showca...9192rosters.pdf
http://www.ushl.com/centralscouting/Showca...9-93rosters.pdf
-
Exactly. The Duluth East coach sounds like a whiner. No where in the article does he congratulate Derek or wish him well...he just sounds bitter in every one of his quotes.
For many of these players it is their goal to make the NHL, and if Forbort thinks that playing for the NTDP 18U team can be a stepping stone to get to that level, the coaches, players, and people in his community should respect that. Those players don't owe anything to their high schools and community but to themselves in trying to become the best player and person that they can be. Whether it is through the high school, juniors, or NTDP level the players are going to try and accomplish that and no one should be bitter about it.
-
Speaking of Forbort, if anyone in the Twin Cities area wants to watch him play this weekend he is in the Minnesota Hockey Final 54 Advanced Select 17's at the Plymouth Ice Center. The best players from this go to the national festival in the summer. Here are the rosters and schedule for both the 17 and 16,
http://minnesotahockey.org/assorted/BoysAdv17Final54rev.pdf
http://minnesotahockey.org/assorted/Final5...anced16Boys.pdf
As for the coach being unhappy about him joining the NTDP, I think it is a little low on his part. Obviously it sucks losing your best player but he is at a level that is beyond high school and should be playing better competition to prepare for the next level and the coaches for Duluth East should understand this.
-
BU loses a TON this offseason:
Wilson (he's leaving), Higgins, Yip, Lawrence, Gilroy, plus two more seniors. That's 5 of their top 6 scorers gone. Plus they could also lose 1-2 more in early departures.
If VandeVelde stays, I really think the Sioux will be contending once again for the MacNaughton and will definitely be in the mix again for the NCAA's. VV could be a legitimate Hobey contender.
VV would obviously be a big loss, but even if he goes I still think we would be the favorite for the MacNaughton based off the fact that I don't think it will be as strong of a conference next year relative to past years. Based on the conferences earlier depatures already (and more to come), the Sioux still bring back the best team in my opinion.
-
He's got great speed/hands and very creative - he could be a good one.
The article talks about the "attitude adjustment" he needed. Better late than never - hopefully Hak won't have to have a chat like that with him.
I've always thought this is the downside to having a player bounce around from team to team when they are young (
-
For anyone in the Twin Cities area that is interested, you can watch Nick Mattson this weekend as the U.S. 18U team will play a series of exhibition games at Ridder Arena and the Schwan Super Rink. It's a pretty good deal, adult tickets are $7 each. Here is the schedule,
-
The very prestigious prospects tournament is in Toronto this weekend for the 93 birthdates. It is one of the best showcase tournaments in North America and I know our coaches were there last year and I would imagine since the season is done they will be this year. If anyone lives in the Toronto area I would strongly recommend going. Here is a list of the teams and schedule,
http://www.prospectstourney.com/Rosters%20...les-rosters.xls
Also, the USA Hockey Tier 1 18U National Championship starts on Wednesday and runs through this weekend in Pittsburgh. You can follow that here,
http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/Tourna...DivisionID=1478
-
I think Marto and LaPoint will really head up the d-corps next season. Both of them really took a step forward this year, and I expect them to do it again next season.
Genoway will be Genoway. Leading the rush up the ice and providing great offensive chances from the blueline. Yes, the opponent will get chances off his pressing occasionally, but IMO his defensive blunders are more than made up for by his offensive prowess. Next year he will be better at identifying the right times to pinch...
Blood showed great improvement when he was required to fill in for LaPoint. Finehage, MacWilliam, and Gleason will battle for the remaining 2 open spots.
While our d-corps will be younger this upcoming year, they will be good at moving the puck...Marto, Genoway, and Gleason are all very skilled skaters. If they can make a breakout pass to our skilled forwards, we'll be just fine.
I think next year will be a more skilled team, but they do lose a lot of leadership which is tough to replace overnight. If they can get some guys early on that can step up into those leadership roles that this years seniors provided, we should have a good chance at defending the Macnaughton. Another thing is, at least from the looks of it now, is that the conference will be weak again.
-
Hard to say that.
He's really good, but how will his game translate?
How many "can't miss" high school DI prospects have come to college straight from high school and failed to make the grade?
Not every player is TJ Oshie.
Meaning I think Forbort should come in when he's ready (according to the coaches and the player) even if that means one less year at UND.
I understand that the transition from high school to college is big and I agree that he should come in when he's ready, all I was saying was that with the way he is playing I think he will be ready to come in 2010.
Prospective Recruits
in Men's Hockey
Posted
If anyone in the Twin Cities area wants to watch some live hockey this weekend, the Sioux Falls Stampede will be holding their showcase camp and Mariucci and Ridder Arenas. I couldn't get a roster but they'll have about 65 players there. Here is the schedule,
http://www.sfstampede.com/index.php?option...95&Itemid=2