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For those people that wished ESPN would cover more college hockey, or, you know, actually acknowledge that hockey does in fact exist, I'd suggest you reassess. Clearly the network has gone way off the effing egomaniacal deep end. First, they banned writer Jason Whitlock for life for criticizing a couple people that work there, and now they're sending out secret emails banning Deadspin, who is frequently, and rightfully, critical of most of the garbage ESPN puts on their network. It's kinda scary that Fox Sports, a company owned by Rupert Murdoch, is actually the lesser two evils here. Yes, I know I just killed whatever chance I had at getting on the Sports Reporters, but I'm never up that early on Sunday's anyway.

Brad Schlossman reports that Mario Lamoureux will be headed to Northern Michigan, to play with his brother Jacques. Mario's claim to fame is being in the middle of good ol' fashioned NCAA vs. Major Junior debate. It's not really a huge loss for North Dakota, who had reportedly offered Lamoureux a scholarship, since the Sioux probably already have enough big, grinding forwards.

Denver's JD Corbin broke his leg in practice, and according to reports today, he'll need surgery. There's a chance he could come back for the very end of the season, but it will be a long, tough road to recovery for him.

Bob Miller talked with NTDP coach Ron Rolston about the 2007 draft eligible NTDP players.

Jack Johnson was a guest on Tuesdays at the Rink.

Patrick Nagorsen, a smaller forward from the Traverse City Stars of the NAHL, committed to Western Michigan. Nagorsen was a standout player in high school for Orchard Lake-St. Mary's in Michigan, and had a decent season for Traverse City last year.

As a sidenote, goalie Kyle Jendra is now on the TC Stars roster after being sent down by Plymouth. I think Jendra would have been a nice college player and it's a shame to see him kill his eligibility when he could have at least kept his options open for another year.

While we're on the subject of the NAHL, the league's leading scorers are two kids from the Alpena Ice Diggers, Nolan Craner and Todd Rudasill. Craner is an '86 birthdate, while Rudasill is an '88. I mentioned Rudasill in my NAHL Showcase Recap, and it looks like he could be a very nice prospect. Former Hermantown Hawk Kyle Schmidt is third in league with 20 points in 14 games way out in Fairbanks.

Recent Northern Michigan commit Jared Brown leads the USHL in scoring with 10 points in four games. Among the uncommitted players to keep an eye on, Former Duluth Marshall Hilltopper Rod Bordson has 5 points in his first 3 games. Winnipeg native Jason Gregoire has 5 points through 2 games, and St. Cloud Cathedral defenseman Matt Crandell 4 points in his first 3 games.

USHL Central Scouting talks about Florida's Andrew Yogan. It sounds like he's interested in Miami-Ohio.

Also via the USHLCSB, here's a link to the recently completed Chicago Chill Midget Major AAA Tournament. Team Illinois picked up the win. Chris Bournazos, a 2008 recruit, led all scorers with 16 points, and was tournament MVP. 1991 birthdate Sam Calabrese made the all-tournament team. Two other names of interest that looked to have done well at the tournament were Adam Shemansky, a 1989 birthdate for the Mercer(New Jersey) Chiefs, that finished 3rd in overall scoring despite not playing on a great team, and Stephen Bozek of the Chicago Mission, who finished fourth in scoring, and was one of only two players not from TI to be named to the all-tournament team.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel is still leading the BCHL in scoring with 37 points in 15 games. He's over 6 feet tall, over 200 lbs. Scoring a ton of points as a 17 year old in decent junior league, and yet I hadn't really heard much about him. It wasn't adding up to me. Apparently he's starting to catch on. It sounds like he is starting to draw some attention from NHL teams. Potentially bad news for Michigan Tech fans, is that it looks like Vancouver of the WHL is trying to sign him. That article is a little old though, so the fact that he's still in a Merritt sweater is a very good sign.

Another Michigan Tech recruit, Jordan Baker, is 5th in league scoring in the AJHL.