jk

We can use this thread to look in on the progress of some future Sioux players as they play in high school and various junior leagues. I'd like to try to keep discussion of recruiting and potential future recruits out of this one, if possible. For now, the list of players to watch includes: Zach Jones, USNDPT Chris Vandevelde, Moorhead HS Brad Miller, Green Bay (USHL) T.J. Oshie, Warroad HS Brian Lee, Moorhead HS Ryan Duncan, Salmon Arm (BCHL) Taylor Chorney, Shattuck St.Marys Feel free to post updates throughout the year, especially if someone happens to actually *see* someone play. Thanks. As noted in another thread, Ryan Duncan has begun play in the BCHL. Here are a few observations from the BCHL board: "Salmon Arm fans...a question about little # 22. (I think his name is Ryan Duncan)...this kid was pure magic on Friday night. I forsee him being the leading scorer in the BCHL if he can stay healthy. However, at 5'6" 142 lbs I was waiting for him to get hammered and that's exactly what happened and he didn't finish the game. He also didn't dress last night in Merritt. Can anyone update me on his condition. I would love to see this kid play as often as possible. He took an elbow square in the noggin and I knew he was in trouble (don't think it was on purpose, as someone at 5'6" is going to run into elbows of much bigger players). Thanks in advance." "Ryan Duncan was absolutely unbeleavable on Friday night until he got put out of the game. He is short and his head is at the perfect elbow height but as the season goes on the team will realize the importance of protecting him (I'm sure they have been reminded of this since Friday's game). Reminds me a bit of Cliff Ronning when he played junior and like Ronning he'll have to learn to keep his head up. And I agree that he will be in the top of the scoring heap."

The Sicatoka, Thanks for posting the excerpts from the press report. Reading it gave me a pretty good idea where each of the parties stand, and it's hard to find fault with any of them. Even if Bochenski doesn't get much of an entry-level deal, I can understand his desire to get on with his career. He has had a great Sioux career, and I hope he continues to find success as a professional. Stepping back a bit to consider the overall effect of the NHL's labor situation on UND, I think we as Sioux fans still came out on top. In the absence of an unusual labor situation, I would have expected UND to lose Bochenski and Greene this offseason, with Jones and Parise definite possibilities. It seems that I was wrong about Parise, as he went anyway. Bochenski apparently feels he's ready to go, so the NHL's troubles didn't keep him at UND. However, the Sioux look to have retained both Greene and Jones, which is a bit of a gift. [Warning: Excessive optimism ahead] It's a gift that may keep on giving all season long, as I think those two could represent a defensive pair that will dominate college hockey this year, being well in control of play most of the time they are on the ice.

I don't have anything bad to say about Bochenski at all, so please don't take this as a shot at him. It's just funny that of all Sioux players to choose from as your example, you chose the one that Sioux detractors have attacked for character issues for the last three years. Or maybe that's your point ... I'm not sure.

It could be that there are "at least" 3 future Sioux players on the team. I don't have anyone in particular in mind, but a few of the names have been mentioned here before, another player is a legacy (?, Becker) and another has a relative who is a valued contributor on the Sioux message board, which carries a lot of weight. I'm interested to see how Jordan Willert fares. He's a big strong kid from Minot who only gets to play with and against this kind of talent in the Summer.

Scott, He's way too old for MJ, so I guess it would be Europe or the minors if it's not UND. Some open correspondence: ---------------- Dear Brandon, If Ottawa comes up with a good offer, take it, enjoy the fruits of your past efforts, and make the most of a great opportunity. If Ottawa doesn't get there, please consider that a Hobey year at UND could really help next year's negotiations. Having a great year at UND would clear up the question from non-observer commentators about whether your past success derived from playing with Parise. By the way, it looks like Murray and Zajac can both pass the puck, so you would probably have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate that special finishing talent (playmaking is nice, but someone has to put it in the net). If there are any issues with the coaches (I really have no idea, but there is all this internet buzz) please patch them up for your own good (see above paragraph). Admittedly, it would also be for my own good, as a fan. I had a great view of your burning of Ballard, then Briggs three seconds later, in St. Paul, and I'd like to see more of that. Thanks and good luck. --------------------- Dear Coach Hakstol, See above. If there are issues with how Brandon handled his potential departure (and again, I have no idea), please patch them up for your own good. Make it a learning experience for Brandon. Thanks and good luck.

Slightly off-topic, it sounds as though Travis Zajac is turning heads at the Canadian summer camp being held in Calgary this week. Canada returns most of its WJC team from last year, so there aren't many spots to be had, but he may be playing his way onto the team. If he does, Sioux fans will have a reason to cheer for Canada in most of their games. Murray made similar impressions last year (and may or may not have eventually made the Canadian team), and he turned into a very productive college freshman.

I don't know the exact answer, but I believe generally the process is something like this: The coaches leave this week with a pretty good idea of what their team will look like, with maybe 9 of the 12 forward spots and 4 of the 6 defensemen basically set. Then they watch their bubble guys through the first part of the season, adjust for injuries and NHL teams releasing their players, and finally set the roster in mid-December, just before the tournament. Two years ago, Matt Jones was basically set as a defensemen early in the process, but Matt Greene was a late addition to the team based on his early-season play. Last year, Drew Stafford was a late addition due to injuries (I think). That's just a guess at the process. For another perspective, check out Miracle, where Herb had the team in his head before the camp started.

Reminds me of last year's summer camp, where Parise didn't end up among the scoring leaders. Not that coasting is ever a good thing, but maybe when you know you're expected to be one of the team's leaders, you just don't care quite as much during the summer evaluation camp.

I have one for you, dagies. I chatted with Eades in the Antique in the Spring of 1986. He said they had a goalie coming in that fall they were really excited about. At that time, we didn't know Hrkac was returning, so we didn't know how ridiculous the next year would be, but that was my first indication that 1986-87 would be a memorable year. Edit: Since my parents read this board, I guess they now know that I entered a bar while I was in college. Whoops.

If I had to guess I would think it will be Eades, which would be fine with me.

Any comparison of Montoya's decision and Bochenski's should include this information: Bochenski's date of birth: 4/4/82 Montoya's date of birth: 2/13/85 Maybe Montoya would feel like he has a little less unfinished business if he were 22 years old, instead of the 19 that he is.

jloos, It is still July, more than 2 months before the season starts. In addition, we don't know how long the coaches have known about it. Perhaps the program has been planning this season without him for quite some time. Admittedly, it does throw off the "Lines for 2004-05" thread, but hopefully the fans can adjust.

Good luck to Bochenski and thanks for the contributions over the last three years. People need to remember the player's perspective in a decision like this. These guys dream of advancing in their hockey career, and when you think the time has come to move on, you need to go. Especially for a guy who played a year of juniors after high school, three years in college is plenty. In addition, the summer after a junior season has traditionally been the last time a college player has leverage, since he can threaten to go back to school if the organization doesn't come up with a better offer. I wish Bochenski would come back to be a 100/100 man in the Sioux record books and perhaps win the Hobey, but if he and the Senators feel it's time to go play against bigger and better players, then I wish him well. As for the Sioux, this makes things more difficult. But it's not the end of the world. Stafford is plenty ready to step into the top line on the right side, and a lot of special teams time just opened up for him and others. If the entire defensive corps returns, this team will still be very hard for nearly everyone to handle. A ".500" record won't be much of a concern. However, a defection from that group (and the risk is still there) would really start to have an effect on next year's chances, IMO. Just a reminder that, recently, teams have lost their best players (especially forwards) and gone on to have fantastic seasons. Among them: Michigan won after the Morrison group left. UND won after the Blake group left. BC won after the Farkas/Mottau group left. MN won after Pohl/Taffe/Leopold left.

A poster at the letsgokings site put this up about Murray. Of course it's just an anonymous message board post, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Murray move to center this year. --------------------------- "A considerably stronger version of Brady Murray has showed up to this years camp. The Kings prospect and the WCHA's Rookie of Year has been busting his butt during the down time to prepare for his next season with the Fighting Sioux. His approach to this years camp has been more of a technically challenged one, than in the past. Many can tell you that Brady has grown, progressed and shined on his previous summer hockey retreats to Southern California. It appears that he is line for another challenge. Watch for a transition from winger to center during his sophmore campaign at North Dakota. This should explain why he has been anchoring a line flanked with Brown and Kanko during the developmetal session. Remember that line for future reference if all goes as planned."

Mafiaman, Someone else brought up the heir apparent angle. I think dagies just added that if you're thinking that way, then Berry deserves consideration.

I was trying to put a joke up about Berry being no one's hair apparent, but I couldn't find a picture of him anywhere. This site just has Hakstol's, and the coaches page on the UND official site is blank. Anyway, if you aspire to progress in the coaching profession, being an assistant at UND is a good way to do it. Right or wrong, assistants at winning programs get the first look at jobs that open elsewhere. If Steve Johnson were to come here and succeed as an assistant, after a very successful USHL stint, his name would be among the first mentioned for most college job openings in the West. That's a reason for him to take it. Along with a few others, he seems to have everything this position needs.

This is the latest from Hockey's Future on Greene. The usual caveat is that none of this means anything, but it at least is something to read: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?s...hreaded&order=0 7. (6) Matt Greene (D)

I agree with you that Hak would take the heat for failure, but it wouldn't necessarily be fair. For instance, would it qualify as failing along the way for the loaded team to not reach the Frozen Four, losing in the NCAAs to a team it took 7 of 8 points from during the season, outscoring them 21-6 in the process? Because that just happened under Blais, and he didn't take much heat (although ... maybe that's the real reason the rink manager forced him out). Reality is that he is on a short leash with fans. I expect that he will be given a bit more room by RT, which seems fair to me. FWIW, I heard (fourth-hand, honestly) that several players who played under both thought Hakstol was a better choice than Sandelin for this job. That doesn't necessarily make him the right hire, but it doesn't hurt either.

yes, Coach Barnett

Actually Kessel may be the only uncommitted camper in attendance. I think nearly all of the U.S.'s invited players are already in college or major juniors, and most of the remaining few have already committed to a college. So while it will be nice to spread the REA's reputation around the hockey world, there won't be much of a recruiting impact.

Well, Kessel will at least be taking a "really un" official visit to Grand Forks this summer, and will see the facilities then: "USA Hockey today [6/15/04] announced the roster and schedule for the 2004 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp, which will include 42 of the best American players under the age of 20. The camp will be held Aug. 9-14 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., and will include exhibition contests between two U.S. squads (Teams Blue and White) and under-20 select teams from Finland and Sweden." I don't have my hopes up at all for him to attend UND, but he'll at least be in town. On defense, with Schneider, Fuher, Jones and Greene all graduating or otherwise moving along pretty soon, there will be room for a talented defenseman. In addition, there will be an opening for a "Jones" and also an opening for a "Zach." Seems like a pretty natural fit.

A fine post, Rick. I think the Sioux hockey community is still a bit in shock over the whole series of events, and a little reassurance will probably go a long way.

Bruce, Who is to say you would have landed the recruit anyway?

Bruce, I have to hope that is exactly what Roger Thomas did. I think the reasons so many people are upset are two-fold: 1. They would have preferred Sandelin, or even Johnson. 2. The idea that they hired Hakstol partly because of the potential effect on two months worth of recruiting seems ridiculous. I hope Thomas makes no mention of this "crucial" factor when they announce the hiring. Instead tell us he is the best unproven coach in the country, and you would have chosen him over everyone even if he were the outside candidate.

Duck, everyone.