The Exiled One

2009 D - Nick Mattson - Chaska HS/USNTDP

AZSIOUX, Your information is a little bit outdated. Most of the USNTDP roster has been set. Budish, Fink, and Schmidt are NOT on it. Mattson was the only Minnesotan invited (so far). You're correct that Budish would turn it down regardless, but Schmidt and Fink would have accepted in a heartbeat. USHR reports said Mattson was the "best" defenseman at the camp over Cam Fowler and Bjorn Krupp (who is indeed thee son of the German who played for Buffalo). You guys should really be getting excited about (The) Nick Mattson. A little birdie says he'll be visiting this weekend. Mattson is indeed being courted by four WCHA schools, but as you could probably have guessed, it's mostly down to the Sioux and the Gophers (leaning towards the Palace on the Prairie). Fink is also choosing between the two schools, but is a lot closer to making his final decision, and apparently he's seeing green. Again (for Hammy's sake), all this is coming from a "semi-reliable" source.

Two Minnesota HS kids that Sioux fans should keep a close eye on... Mike Fink and (The) Nick Mattson. File this under "semi-credible". Fink's commitment could come soon.

You forgot to mention that he's in Husky territory. It's probably one of the two reasons SCSU is in play for him, along with the fact that his current linemate Festler is a Husky recruit . Edge goes to Sioux and Goofs, but this isn't a player that Motzko's gonna let go without a fight.

...and unfortunately, his brother doesn't have much either. I'm thinking Jon will pick it up after he's paired with his old linemate Barta next season. If Ben somehow surpasses his brother in talent and skill, then I'm sure UND and SCSU will be two schools most interested in his services. Let's see how he does playing on the same blueline as Gleason. That should give some indication of his potential upside.

Some of you may know that there's a world U17 tournament held every year (up until last year (when it was held in Rochester) it had been in Slovakia). Anyway, Carey Eades coached the White Team that included Budish, as well as Ben Hanowski and John O'Neill (Anoka). Sioux recruit Joe Gleason played on the Blue Team. Coaching international and select teams has long been a good way to open up recruiting avenues for underagers.

I know some stuff, but since it will most likely be a while until he commits, he could end up changing his mind a thousand times before then. There's no need to start rumors. I'll say this, he's talked to one of the UND assistant coaches already (completely within NCAA guidelines), while he hasn't had any direct communication with either SCSU or UMN yet. Obviously, he's been to the NHC already for the Select 15 camp, and (fortunately) that experience didn't entirely dissuade him. I'm positive he's seen a game or two at the Mariucci, so the cadavers that they call fans haven't dissuaded him either.

It's always tough for the younger players in "the Big Show". I do know that he had 3 goals and 3 assists in 3 games in last weekend's Advanced 16's and 17's. His team (section 6) won all three games, but I don't know the scores. I believe they were pretty reasonable though.

I've heard it rumored that Motzko is trying to logjam a solid class for '08, while not sacrificing next season too much. Basically, that would mean (despite last season's moderate success) that SCSU is really trying to make a statement beginning in about the '09-'10 season. Christian, Festler, LeBlanc and Kieffer is an excellent start. Anyway, Hanowski and Budish will be two players that will receive considerable attention from UND, SCSU, and UMN. Hanowski is probably trying to angle for the best possible scholarship (which is why UMN might be out of the running), while Budish might be trying to do the same while staying as close to home as possible. I think it goes without saying that Motz & ko will not shy away from going head to head with UND and UMN for big-time recruits, which can only mean good things for SCSU hockey.

No need to take the blame, that was my error. Anyway, from what I've been able to gather, Zach's talked to one of the UND assistant coaches (Cary Eades, I think), but is only in the questionaire stage with SCSU and UMTC. Don't look for Budish to commit anywhere anytime soon.

Yeah, I hope that's true, but I bet some MIT grad could figure a way for the Huskies to still lose it. Anyway, they still have that momentum thing to worry about. Also, I'm sure the NHC crowd will still be abnormally rowdy since destroying the goophers last Friday. The buzz surrounding the team is near an all-time high and I think the atmosphere will be especially hostile to the opposing team. The Sioux could do themselves a HUGE favor by scoring first. The arena will instantly become a marihoochie style funeral home. BTW, the "meaningless game" magic stayed in the Twin Cites with Luciapet.

I saw it earlier in this thread, and will just reiterate that you guys definately want the goofers to win on Friday night. If they do, and the Huskies also win, then SCSU will have almost NOTHING to play for on Saturday night (second in the WCHA locked up, top seed in the PWR most likely locked up). You'll get the backup goalie Weslosky (who isn't bad at all), and you'll see alot of third and fourth line guys, some of whom have less than an hour of total icetime all season! If the Sioux win on Friday night, Motzko will want to win Saturday to solidify that #1 NCAA seed and to get momentum back for the WCHA playoffs. So, you'll still likely see Weslosky, but the third and fourth liners won't get as much time. Should be a good matchup. I hope Duncan and Lasch start a fight!

Not to discredit the SiouxSports page, but I like this comparison of all the rankings on the RPI hockey page better... http://www.rpihockey.net/misc.rank1.shtml If you all like KRACH, you can't be too disappointed with 7th! Personally, I like the RHEAL system the best.

Some friends and I (roughly ten total) will be heading up to Grand Forks on the morning of Sat Nov 5th. We'll be in town to watch my Huskies take on the Sioux. Assuming we get there by 3pm, planning on leaving around noon on Sunday, what should we do while we're there? Give me the complete itinerary. Anything a must stop on the way from the Twin Cities? Where do we stay (check-in)? Where do we eat/drink? (Some of us are certified beer geeks) What's a must-see? What sould we avoid? Where to after the game? Give me a timeline of how the perfect roadtrip plays out and feel free to add editors comments on what we can expect. (ie 9:45 - TEO passes out in the car on the way to the bar and his friends dump him off at the hotel. Anonymous video later appears on Youtube featuring TEO in a compromising position) Thanks, TEO

I've been wondering why Ben Blood hasn't been getting more press. He's huge, had a great season at SSM, and a great U17 camp too. He just took an unofficial visit to SCSU, but I've always thought he was out of the Huskies' range. His hometown is listed as Plymouth, so I imagine UMN and UND (because of the SSM pipeline) would both be on his short list. He should be draft eligible in '07 and could go pretty high. It looks like he'll be playing for SSM again this year, so he might put in a year of juniors after that. What does the Sioux blueline look like for '08?

Thanks for the correction Cardinal. So, he'll still be with either the London Knights or the Omaha Lancers (at least until December). This issue is going to get hot in the upcoming few days, as the London Knights have an exhibition game already on 9/1. Omaha's first game is 9/28. I've heard Michigan and BU are the frontrunners for Kane, but first things first... juniors then college.

Kane is uncomitted and has not accelerated his studies. So, he'll either play for Omaha of the USHL or go to London Knights of the OHL.

Personally I think Hanowski is the best of that year, but what do I know. It's ALWAYS to early to tell with kids this young. I've heard the Gophers have the inside track on Hanowski, but I'm sure he's being heavily recruited. Hanowski Schroeder Kristo Mattson Pryor Maetche Any one of the above could eventually be the best product from Minnesota's High Schools, and SCSU doesn't have a chance at any but Maetche

IMHO, there's no reason at all why the Huskies can't be a future perennial contender. Sure, schools with (hockey) resources like UND, UMN, UW, Mich, Mich St., BC, and BU will always get the recruits. But besides history (which is continually being made), why do teams like CC and DU have great programs? How come SCSU can't be like them? I submit that because of coach Motzko and an aggresive AD, that's exactly what will happen. Eventually, seeing SCSU on the short list of potential schools for a true blue chip recruit will not seem so shocking.

I don't think Ryan Malone has any elegibility left now that he's with the Penguins. His cousin Brad would be a good recruit though!