Kermit

I confirmed that the recruit I saw was Christian. I would expect that Warroad's Aaron Marvin will be in sometime soon.

Good post. There is too much subjectivity now and I think the rule should be changed again. I thought that the spirit of the rule change was to avoid having goals disallowed when (for example) a player on the backside incidentally had a toe in the crease when a goal was scored. I don't think a player should be allowed to stand in the crease directly in front of the goaltender. Why have a crease?

My thoughts: The Gophs wanted it more. That's painful to say (and it was painful to watch), but I think it is true. Irmen and Potulny definitely led the way this weekend. Parise was below average. The Sioux needed a great goaltending performance and didn't get it--except for one period from Lamoureaux. The Sioux D couldn't handle Stoa in front of the net on the PP. They need to get more physical. Stafford was a non-factor much of the weekend. He still showed flashes of his great skill, but he didn't get it done on the scoreboard. Zajac disappeared for stretches as well. To be fair, this tended to happen during stretches when the Gophers were controlling the puck in the Sioux zone, and the Sioux couldn't break out. Two more pipes for Toews on Friday. Shades of Notermann.. Brian Lee actually looked like a freshman at times. He appeared to be extremely tight at the opening of Friday's game, possibly leading to the first goal. Saturday he had extreme difficulty getting his shot though on the powerplay--it looked like he was slow to pull the trigger, possibly because of indecision. On the other hand he was generally outstanding quarterbacking the PP and his Friday goal was a thing of beauty. Some bright spots included some very effective and aggressive play from Zach Jones, a tremendous weekend from Spirko, Lammy's performance, and a couple of great individual efforts by Oshie leading to Sioux goals--only one of which counted on the scoreboard. Kozek had some good hits and it was his pass which set up Prpich's goal late on Saturday. I'd like to see him get some more ice time. Minnesota probably played their best hockey of the season so far, and the Sioux still had their chances. This team hasn't yet come close to their potential. We need significant improvement in the second half or it may be a short season.

It looked like Moorhead High Scool's Jordy Christian was behind the bench with Cary Eades before Saturday night's game. Another young man in a white shirt was standing with Brad Berry, but I couldn't identify him.

I dug up a couple of things on Trupp via Google. He's from Anchorage. He played internationally for the USA on the Select16 and Select17 teams (with Taylor Chorney and Brian Lee) in 2003 and 2004 respectively. His father also played for Penticton, and later UAF. Evan apparently has a scholarship offer from UAA. He was the Alaska state coaches' player of the year last year. He's been described as an elusive skater and good passer who is adept at finding open ice.

I think the lines were: Toews, Zajac, Spirko Porter, Oshie, Stafford Prpich, Watkins, Fabian Kozek, Duncan, Miller Hennessy talked to Hak specifically about how Duncan seemed to help Kozek and Miller settle down.

FWIW, I agree completely with PCM.

I'm sorry. I can't see SOD without thinking of Onterrio Smith, who calls himself S.O.D. ("steal of the draft"). I'm nerdy enough to like "DOS Command Line" much better.

Krause will also be the captain of the Moorhead hockey team this winter. He is a gamer. I think he'd look very good in Green and White.

Maybe he's growing up. Some people are late bloomers.

Agreed. When Tallackson went to Minnesota out of the USNTDP, Red Line Report called him the #1 recruit in the nation. He was disappointing during much of his college career, but the potential was always there.

A couple of minor updates--Charley Walters had this in the Pioneer Press today: "The top Minnesota senior boys high school hockey players this season, according to one NHL scout, are Apple Valley's David Fisher, who has committed to the Gophers; Thief River Falls' Mike Forney, who has committed to North Dakota; Brainerd's Carl Sneep; and Warroad's Aaron Marvin." I think Marvin is only an 11th grader this year, but it is nice to see him on that list. I heard Moorhead coach Dave Morinville on the radio the other day talking about the upcoming Spuds season. He mentioned that Jordy Christian had a great summer in the weight room and that he increased his bench press by 50 pounds. I don't think a bench press is all that important in hockey, but if he increased his lower body strength by a similar degree, he will have a very big season.

I heard second hand that Forney scored a great short-handed goal in OT for the win.

Jordan Willert is starting to get some big-time respect among the pro scouts. Willert is a 6'2", 215 lb. high school senior from Minot currently playing for Tri-City in the USHL. McKeen's ranks him #76 for the 2006 draft this month and says he is "a creative playmaking forward with great size .. good hands, but non-physical, like a younger Steve Bernier." He wasn't in the top 100 previously. He is now placed ahead of Mike Carman (Gophers), Blake Geoffrion (Badgers), and Eric Gryba (BU) to name a few.

Eric Gryba has committed to BU per USHR.com.

Yup, I'm all for keeping that Zajac pipeline open. Third brother, Kelly Zajac, plays for the Winnipeg Thrashers and is currently tied for second in scoring in the Manitoba AAA Midget League. Rumor has it that he is a very good prospect and that he will likely play for Salmon Arm in the BCHL next year.

A scouting report on Darcy Zajac from a recent McKeen's (pay site) story on several Salmon Arm prospects: "surprisingly quick feet.. boasts some power behind his wrist shot .. defensively conscientious.. can be guilty of over stickhandling at times .. distributes the puck well to his linemates .. won't hesitate to drive to the net and park himself in front of the goal .. has pretty good vision, but not elite like his older brother .."

via CollegeHockeyNews.com, NCAA Recruit Watch: Forney for Sioux.

Jim, I'd like to add my thanks for your efforts in maintaining this great site. I've run a server myself in the past and I know it can be a real pain. SiouxSports.com is important to me. Add me to the list of those who would be most pleased to contribute financially to this site.

I agree. He's another smaller guy (5'11", 175 lb.). Jake Marto is currently listed at 6'0'', 160 lb! That worries me a little.. I do love to see some North Dakota kids get a shot and I think Galt is a legitimate prospect. Some others are currently playing junior hockey. I still think that Mario Lamoureaux (11th grade) and Jordan Willert (12th grade), both playing for Tri-Cities in the USHL, lead the current pack of native North Dakotans. I'd guess both could be in the mix for '07. Willert is doing well now, but I think in time he could really bust out the way James Massen did during his second year in the USHL. Mario seems to be spending more time fighting than scoring.

I like your idea, but Oshie/Toews/Porter have looked so good together that I didn't want to suggest breaking them up. Porter would work, though.

I mentioned this (crazy?) idea on another thread, but didn't get any comments. I'm curious what other armchair wild speculators think. My thought (delusion?) is that Zajac and Stafford might benefit by playing with someone who will bang a little, dig the puck out of the corners, and create some space for them to find open lanes and make plays. I also think that Prpich might have the ability to be quite productive offensively here, and I tried to make a comparison to what Jim Archibald was able to do during his senior season many years ago. Now no one has to tell me that the coaching staff knows far better than I or that Sparky's return might make this discussion moot. Just having a little fun. Anyone?

I'm going to throw out a few more names just for giggles. I'd love to hear other opinions. Aaron Marvin, junior forward, Warroad HS. I've only seen him live a couple of times, but I really like him. He's a fairly tall, rangy kid with excellent skills. I think he will be a real good one. Jordy Christian, junior forward, Moorhead HS. Small, but very quick and fun to watch. He will definitely need to get stronger, but he's got great bloodlines (son of former Sioux Eddie Christian, nephew of Dave). Carl Sneep, senior defenseman, Brainerd HS. Another multi-sport athlete who elected to remain in HS instead of go to the USHL. Plays tight end and linebacker for the football team. He has produced very well in the Midwest HS Elite League this fall despite playing football at the same time. Big, strong, athletic. ..and for my super sleeper pick: Kai Kantola, a forward for the FM Jets. He's the only 'A' player in the NAHL according to NHL Scouting's Players to Watch list for 2005.

Forney plans to play HS hockey for Thief River Falls this winter. They should be contenders in Minnesota Class A. His USHL rights were recently traded to Des Moines and he played a couple of games over the MEA break. I don't know if he plans to go back after the HS season. If he wants to play for the Sioux next year, it will be essential for him to play some more USHL games.