Kermit

For future reference, today's game was on Channel 44 in the F-M area (Cableone).

Chris VandeVelde continues his torrid start for Lincoln. Tonight he had 2 goals, including the gamewinner 18 seconds into overtime, in a 5-4 victory over Sioux City. He was also a +4. Jake Marto had one assist and 3 shots on goal in Omaha's 3-1 victory over Sioux Falls.

USHR.com is reporting that Marc Chevrie, a goaltender with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers, has narrowed his college choices to UND, Denver, and Cornell. He's a big kid (6'2") and was apparently MVP of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League last year. I wonder if he's in line for '06 or '07?

As usual, PCM presents a well-reasoned argument to which I can add little, except.. Yes! To many of us, "The Fighting Sioux" is akin to a family name. There is a tremendous amount of pride and love that binds those who have worn the colors, and those who have cheered for them.

Outstanding work PCM!

It looks like Mario will be in Tri Cities this season. I don't think we'll know for sure about Mario for another year. He could verbally commit to UND tomorrow, but he can't come until the fall of '07, so he'll still have to decide where to play next year. Potentially, this could be similar to the Peter Mueller saga.

Chris VandeVelde also had 2 goals and an assist today for Lincoln in a 7-4 loss to Indiana.

I'd love to see that happen (as would nearly everyone here)--but it seems almost fantastically optomistic. Here's an apparently objective analysis of Oshie's performance at the recent USA WJC evaluation camp: http://www.hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=3293921&postcount=105

Martens may be a walk-on in the sense of not having a scholarship (I'm not sure), but he was certainly recruited. Every team in the WCHA has recruited walk-ons. Traditional walk-ons, in the sense of one who just shows up and makes the team via tryout, are fairly rare. It happens occasionally, but the odds are long against those players unless an opening on the roster occurs unexpectedly. Todd Alexander and Aaron Walski are two other players who might be recruited walk-ons.

http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/mhockey/roster.asp I'm assuming the inclusion of Colby Genoway is an error. Scott Foyt is not listed. No third goalie listed yet. Numbers listed for new players: #2 Joe Finley #4 Taylor Chorney #5 Todd Alexander #6 Zach Jones #7 TJ Oshie #8 Brad Miller #9 Jonathan Toews #10 Andrew Kozek #14 Ryan Martens #16 Ryan Duncan #20 Matt Watkins #22 Brian Lee

He is an 11th grader and should be an 07 recruit.

I remember Eddie Christian as a smaller forward with speed and some feistiness, but not a lot of skill. Jordy has potential, but I think he has a long way to go. He's skilled, but he's not very big, and he had only a modest impact for the Spuds last year as a sophomore. This will be a big year for him.

That info came from here: http://hockeyrecruits.blogspot.com/2005/08/quick-hits.html Here's some slightly older info from Red Deer's official web site: http://www.reddeerrebels.com/display_story.php?story_id=747

McKeen's loves Toews. Here's their scouting report from Canda's U-18 evaluation camp: "Great two-way talent rarely gives up on a play .. leads by example with committed work ethic in both zones .. uncanny offensive ability .. makes saucer passes in tight quarters and stickhandles marvellously .. generates quality offensive chances every time he crosses centre ice .. electrifying one-on-one moves, but is adept at using his linemates in all situations .. protects the puck well and fights off opposition .. darts in and out of scoring areas and is a threat behind the net .. storms the front of the net and is not afraid to get hit to make a play .. acceleration is a tad choppy but his vision is impeccable .. great hand-eye coordination; knocks down high bouncing pucks and maintain control .. elusive and hard to hit .. confident and competitive."

From Paul Sheehan's great free newsletter, Research on Ice, "according to ROI sources, Dowzak's academic struggles would have made it difficult for him to pass the NCAA clearing house within the next year, if at all." USHR made a similar comment in their earlier story on Dowzak. Maybe it's just as well..

It's a pay site, so I can't post the article. The nutshell is that the article says that Dowzak signed with Kelowna, and will be reporting there for the start of training camp. It goes on to say that Dowzak had "academic issues".

USHR has the story.

Edmonton just acquired Chris Pronger in a trade--for three defensemen including Eric Brewer. My guess is that this increases the Oilers' need to sign Greene.

No question, it's the D. It won't help the defensemen that half of the forwards will be freshmen either. A defenseman benefits greatly from a center who knows when to help out behind the goal line, or a wing that gets in the right position to receive an outlet pass. A veteran partner helps too, and we will likely see at least one pairing of two freshmen blueliners.

Great call jk. Oshie was a monster in that game, the epitome of "refuse to lose."

Todd Alexander will be a recruited walk-on defenseman. He is from New Hope, MN and played for the FM Jets in the NAHL last year. He was needed to provide some depth, probably in part because of the uncertainties caused by Robbie Bina's injury.

After reflection, I like your lines better than mine. That third line could be a very good grind line. The fourth line would be all frosh, but very, very dynamic.

Wow, that would be disastrous IMHO. It would be tough to bring in another player now as a replacement, but maybe a remote chance for someone like a Kyle Hardwick???

I agree with jk, but I think it's interesting that several of the Sioux recruits who got drafted were not generally considered big pro prospects when they were initially recruited by UND. TJ Oshie and Andrew Kozek, for example. Nobody would have predicted they'd both go in the top two rounds of the draft when they were recruited. Chris VandeVelde was considered a marginal D-I recruit, even by some Moorhead people when he committed to UND as a junior. Either Hakstol and company had the wisdom to recognize qualities in these players that others had not yet seen, or they had the good fortune to find some players who have continued to develop beyond expectations. Or maybe they will turn out to be a bunch of overrated hacks.