Two high-profile Canadian defenseman made verbal commitments to WCHA schools over the weekend.
The first is Camrose Kodiaks defenseman Andrew MacWilliam, who committed to North Dakota. MacWilliam is a defensive-defenseman that was rated 59th by NHL Central Scouting this winter.
The second is defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, who committed to Wisconsin. Wiercioch is originally from British Columbia, but made the move to the Omaha Lancers of the USHL to gain better exposure to US colleges. It's been a rough season for him so far though, as he's missed almost two months with a hand injury. He was rated 119th by NHL Central Scouting.
With those two players making their decisions, perhaps the next big defensive target will be Westside(BCHL) defenseman Justin Schultz. Schultz was rated 56th by NHL Central Scouting, and according to newspapers in British Columbia, has received interest from at least 20 NCAA schools. The right-handed defenseman is a little thin at 6'1" 163 lbs., but is said to possess a great deal of offensive ability.
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Yet two more top Canadiens snub the CHL. I thought Major Juniors was da bomb. What's going with these kids. I thought if you went to the CHL it's a win-win situation, yet some of the top Canadiens are still committing to the NCAA.
Wiercioch is a bit of a risk in that he hasn't played in a year. Will be interesting if he lives up to the hype once he is in a USHL lineup
I hope these kids like football. After watching the Wisconsin and Minnesota game on Saturday, I would say the amount of clutching, grabbing, hooking,interference, and slashing has returned to 1990's style hockey in the WCHA. I thought the funniest comment by CSTV's Starman was that the NCAA wants the officials to call the obstruction hooks and holds.
"Wiercioch is a bit of a risk in that he hasn't played in a year."
So those games he played earlier in the year for Omaha or late last season (w/ in a year) in the BCHL don't count?
Sounds like he was playing at a high level before his thumb injury for Omaha, I'm not worried.
Will be interesting to see how he does once he returns from his injury. Smith was rated much higher and did much better in Canada prior to his arrival. And although he has been given every opportunity at UW he has struggled. The best D who came in this year for Wisc. is definitely McDonagh.Time will tell on the future recruits, let's see if they can make the line-up; Williams never did.
Williams was more hyped on potential than actual performance coming in. Reality is that Willimas should have played a year in the USHL before coming to Madison, but unfortunatley kids drafted that high seldom have the patience to let their games catch up to the pro potential.
Brendan Smith has hardly been bad, and the fact that he hurt his back and played a couple of series after probably did not help him look that good.
Cody Goloubef has been solid also as the youngest player in D1. Between McBain, McDonagh, Smith, Goloubef, Wiercioch, Gardnier, & Nick Pryor, the future looks very bright in Madison on the blueline.
Reddin Finally Plays
Colin Reddin left the U.S. Under-18 Team on January 10th to sign with the Portland Winter Hawks (WHL). Problem was, he didn’t yet have his release from USA Hockey – and USA Hockey, which doesn’t like seeing kids fleeing the NTDP for major junior, wasn’t about to hand it over without a fight.
Reddin had signed a player agreement contract two years ago with Portland, so, had he chosen the college route, would have had to sit out a year.
Instead, Reddin did his sitting out this month, in Portland, Oregon. Late Thursday, two weeks after he’d arrived in the city, and after watching eight games from the stands, he finally got his release, and played his first games with the Winter Hawks on Friday (at Calgary) and Saturday (at Edmonton).
The deal struck between the Winter Hawks and USA Hockey – the negotiations also involved the WHL, the CHL, and Hockey Canada -- was described by Winter Hawks team owner Jack Donovan as “unprecedented.â€
Sources have indicated to us that USA Hockey was originally asking for $75,000 from Portland.
However, we doubt Portland paid that much. Our best guess is that Portland paid somewhere in the middle of the $15,000-$50,000 range.
A 6/23/90 birthdate from Corona Del Mar, Calif., Reddin was a third round pick of Portland in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft. With the U.S. Under-18 Team he had a 2-7-9 line in 26 games played.
Bogosian impresses scouts for NHL draft
By Steve Fitzsimmons /
The Peterborough Petes have a long history of producing great players for the NHL. Names like Pronger, Yzerman, Stillman, Murphy, Ricci and even Tie Domi all played their junior hockey for the franchise. Another name that may be added in due course to this list is 17-year-old second-year defenceman Zach Bogosian. The Massena, N.Y.-native has been nothing short of sensational for the Petes this year, picking up eight goals and 42 points in 37 games this year, ranking him fourth among OHL defencemen in points.
The 6-2, 200-pound sophomore blueliner has already surpassed his rookie total of 33 points and is currently ranked third among all North American prospects by NHL Central Scouting for the 2008 NHL Draft. For his efforts, Bogosian has been named to both the 2008 CHL Top Prospects game and the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic.
Petes GM Jeff Twohey has continually mentioned to the media that he feels Bogosian ranks right up there with the best defencemen ever to play for the Petes, putting him in the same breath as the likes of Chris Pronger and Larry Murphy and that he’s so good, it’s not a guarantee he’ll be back next year with the Petes, but could instead be in the NHL.
For Bogosian, his family has great athletic roots, but is a football family, with his dad having been a football captain at Syracuse University.
His uncle was also a very distinguished football player and was an All-American at West Point University. Bogosian wanted to follow that path, but dad had other ideas for his son.
“I always wanted to play football my whole life. My dad never let me because of all the injuries. I’m glad he didn’t let me play now, because definitely I’m healthy, but they are big football fans,” said Bogosian.
Bogosian got involved in hockey instead and has been fortunate to cross paths and get instruction from two of the best NHL defencemen in league history. Before coming to the OHL as the Petes firs round pick in 2006, he played for Cushing Academy in the Boston area. Also on that club was Ryan Bourque, son of Ray, which led to plenty of instruction for Bogosian from the senior Bourque. “His son Ryan came my second year and Ray worked as a volunteer Assistant Coach. It was pretty fun just to be coached by him and be on the ice with him three or four times a week, watching what he does and getting his opinion on my game. He taught me to be more deceptive and come into the zone late,” said Bogosian.
On top of his connection to Bourque, his agent is Bobby Orr. Bogosian is really enjoying his association with one of the league’s all-time greats. “It’s cool having Bobby around. He’s such a nice guy. He’s so down to earth. If you didn’t follow hockey, you would never know he was a Hall-of-Famer or anything like that. He’s such a class act guy. You can’t ask for anything else or more from your agent.”
Despite his own age, leadership both on and off the ice is something Bogosian has brought to his role with the Petes this year. Rookie Petes forward Zack Kassian, himself the fourth overall pick in the 2007 OHL Draft, has high praise on having Bogosian as a teammate and the example he sets. “‘Bogs’ is just a great guy all around. He has such a great attitude. He simply wants to be the best and works his butt off every day. His skill level is unbelievable. He’s such a great skater and so smart, you can’t get the puck from him.” said Kassian.
A Western Conference NHL scout likes Bogosian better than any other blueliner eligible for the NHL draft this year, a forceful comment given the depth of top defencemen this year. “The kid is a tremendous skater. He has excellent offensive upside and has improved that aspect of his game dramatically this year. His competitiveness is something that you can’t teach and is one of his biggest strengths. He exudes being an on-ice leader for his club. The kid’s a blue-chip prospect and he is a top-three pick at worst in my opinion and some teams may have him first on their list.”
Bogosian’s focus is squarely on helping the Petes earn a playoff berth. They are currently holding down the eigth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
As for being a highly-rated NHL prospect, Bogosian takes it all in stride. “It’s pretty fun. Those things don’t mean too much until Draft day. The only thing I can do is keep working hard and take every night as it comes to me.”
"Yet two more top Canadiens snub the CHL. I thought Major Juniors was da bomb."
CHL is da bomb! These kids could not have made a CHL club at the age of 16 so they chose an alternate route. Only one of them has a real chance of being drafted in the latter rounds.
Reddin........real team guy, he slammed his 44 NTDP teammates by leaving. good riddance, and great point producer! Yeah!
way to cheap shot the kid. he was going to have to sit a year to play NCAA hockey so he made the move now. until you know these kids who have made hockey their life and moved away from home at 16for the NTDP keep your criticism to yourself. when you have walked a mile in his shoes then you can take you shots.
"way to cheap shot the kid. he was going to have to sit a year to play NCAA hockey so he made the move now. until you know these kids who have made hockey their life and moved away from home at 16for the NTDP keep your criticism to yourself. when you have walked a mile in his shoes then you can take you shots." Maybe I'll care about what people you say when you stop hiding behind an anonymous post
Former Gopher Hagemo Arrested
MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minnesota defenseman Nate Hagemo was arrested in Minneapolis on Saturday after neighbors called to report a car that was parked in a known drug transaction area.
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At the scene, officers found Hagemo and one other person. After receiving consent to search the car, they found drug paraphernalia of a drug user.
Hagemo had a strong freshman season for the Gophers in 2004-05, scoring 10 points in 30 games. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes that summer.
But a shoulder injury caused Hagemo to miss all but three games the following season. After his shoulder never recovered properly, he was forced to retire the following year.
That's Great Another US Players screwed out of his dream to play Div-1 US College hockey.
The Canadian's should stay home and play for a Canadian Univ.
At the scene, officers found Hagemo and one other person. After receiving consent to search the car, they found drug paraphernalia of a drug user.
You learn alot at College.
Who cares about former Gophers getting arrested?? If anyone is bored enough to want to hear about current and former hockey players in trouble check in with N. Dakota....don't they lead the nation in arrests?
ALL College Hockey Fans.
Alaska only has 5 SR's on the team and has 10 recuits coming in next season,plus they are still recuiting others.
I thought college team HONORED scholarships?
What kind of options do these players have now? (Keep your options open)
"I hope these kids like football. After watching the Wisconsin and Minnesota game on Saturday, I would say the amount of clutching, grabbing, hooking,interference, and slashing has returned to 1990's style hockey in the WCHA. I thought the funniest comment by CSTV's Starman was that the NCAA wants the officials to call the obstruction hooks and holds."
That's right, at the U of M it is expected that nobody should be able to touch you because soft hockey is the best hockey.
ATLANTA – Most years, a draft class is remembered solely for who went first.
Then there are the players who came out of the Draft Class of 2003. Of the 30 players selected in the first round, all but two (Hugh Jessiman-Dartmouth/ Brian Boyle-Boston College) already have played in the National Hockey League, and five of them were on the ice during NHL All-Star weekend in Atlanta.
Eric Staal (No. 2, Carolina)(Peterborough Petes (OHL), Dion Phaneuf (No. 9, Calgary)(Red Deer Rebels (WHL), Ryan Getzlaf (No. 19, Anaheim)(Calgary Hitmen (WHL), Mike Richards (No. 24, Philadelphia)(Kitchener Rangers (OHL) and Corey Perry (No. 28, Anaheim)(London Knights (OHL) all made solid showings on the grand stage.
"These kids could not have made a CHL club at the age of 16 so they chose an alternate route"
Hahahahaha, that's funny since there's been a handful of NCAA players move to the CHL because of lack of playing time because they suck at the NCAA level, but yet are playing everyday in the CHL.
"These kids could not have made a CHL club at the age of 16 so they chose an alternate route"
From the Portland Winterhawks site:
""Donovan, Hodge and Williamson went to watch Wiercioch play in a game last Friday for Burnaby in the BCHL and took him and his father out to dinner after the game.
“The family likes the fact that Portland has Patrick’s rights now since it is closer to their home in Chilliwack than Medicine Hat,” Donovan added. “Patrick has a 96% GPA, so our education program is very important. His father is a hockey enthusiast that came to North America from Poland with $30 in his pocket and made it. Patrick is very well versed on our team and knows a lot of the younger players at his age that we are building around. I felt it was a good meeting and they now are much more aware of the benefits of playing in Portland, should they make that decision.”"
I DON'T KNOW WHY PORTLAND WOULD RECRUIT HIM SO HARD AND OFFER AN EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE IF THEY KNEW HE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE THE TEAM. HAHAHA, MAKE MORE SHIT UP CHL'ERS
http://www.winterhawks.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=913&Itemid=2
"These kids could not have made a CHL club at the age of 16 so they chose an alternate route"
>>>>>>>>>>
And for MacWilliam
With players such as Ottawa Senators star Dany Heatley and this year’s third-overall pick in Kyle Turris, Junior A is proving itself to be a breeding ground for top-calibre National Hockey Leaguers.
Still, for a talent like Camrose Kodiaks defenceman Andrew MacWilliam heading into his NHL draft year, the Major Junior ranks weren’t easy to skate away from.
As the captain of the Calgary Royals last season MacWilliam was one of only two Midget AAA players to crack the WHL-laden line up that represented Alberta at the Canada Winter Games.
Drafted by the Spokane Chiefs as a 15-year-old, MacWilliam was almost surely a WHL all-star in the making,. But after joining the Kodiaks on their run to the Royal Bank Cup a year ago and entertaining discussions with several top Division 1 schools, the 17-year-old made the choice to stay home in Alberta.
“If your goal is just to be drafted (into the NHL) then maybe the WHL is the way to go, ,” said Alex MacWilliam, Andrew’s father. “But there are so many kids that don’t get drafted who will go onto college, play their four years and end up signing as a free agent in the NHL. You may be out of the limelight a bit in the AJHL, but the opportunities this league presents are outstanding.
“To have the chance to go to a Boston University, a North Dakota or a Boston College, get a degree and then still get to possibly go play in the NHL, I think that’s a pretty good trade off,” he continued. “We would’ve supported him no matter what he decided, but we’re very happy he decided to go to the AJHL.”
While the WHL does offer one year of education for every season played in the league, both parents held the opinion that many Dub grads forego that opportunity in favour of a minor pro contract.
“Many of my older son’s friends went the WHL route and when they finished they came back with nothing,” said Ziegler. “Sure if you’re in the top 20 per cent, the WHL can be a great experience, but 80 per cent of the people we talked to who came back from the WHL with a negative experience. Whereas 80 per cent of the kids we talked to came back with a positive experience from the AJHL.
“There is no question in my mind that this was the right choice.”
Keep kiddin yourselfs CHL fans. Gotta love the last two paragraphs.
http://www.prospectstourney.com/news%20articles%20by%20date/Nov%2011,%202007%20Parents%20Please%20with%20AJHL%20Experience.html
Whereas 80 per cent of the kids we talked to came back with a positive experience from the AJHL.
80% go to Div 1 US schools from the AJHL.
WOW thats a great league.
“If your goal is just to be drafted (into the NHL) then maybe the WHL is the way to go, ,” said Alex MacWilliam, Andrew’s father. “But there are so many kids that don’t get drafted who will go onto college, play their four years and end up signing as a free agent in the ECHL.
It's Great.
Hahaha great comebacks CHL'ers. Guess you guys are delusional as I thought. I just you guys and your insecurity. Hell even your CHL president is so insecure that he comes up with new rules to deter Canadien kids from going south.
From USCHO:
"Players can transfer if they are not happy with their playtime, it happens all the time. Not all the player losses are from signing Pro contracts. Their is nothing that says that all of the 2009 forwards have to come in 2009, some could spend another year in the USHL."
Wisc. continues to be like kids in the candy shop, who want every player they can get to commit with the philosophy we can spit out what we don't want. Pretty harsh philosophy when these kids have committed to them and tied their education to their hockey career. if these student-athletes don't "choose to transfer" or in other words won't be forced out Wisc.'s log-jam grows.
Yeah, because Almington is actually Mike Eaves and is running things...
anony 7:39...keep spreading the manure about overrecruiting. Wiercioch is hardly a luxury for the Badgers as they lose 3 D off their roster to graduation (Engel, Drewiske, & Klubertanz) with several early flight risks (most notably McBain, but to some extent even McDonagh and Smith as first round picks pose some flight risk). At this point, the Badgers have only 4 D lined up as commits (Little for '08, Wiercioch & Gardiner for '08 or '09, and Pryor for '09). In fact I would argue the Badgers need to line up a couple Dmen verbal commits that are committed for '09 (or '10 if some of the early flight risks suprise and stick around for a senior/junior year).
As to the situaion at forward, look at the talent level the Badgers have up front & realize several of the current players are partial scholarship guys or outright walkons who knew Wisconsin had players getting closer to full rides and that Wisconsin would continue to recruit players with the talent level that warrants close to a full ride. Yeap, there is a good chance that some kids that have had a more prominent role earlier in their careers may get pushed to the end of the bench or the press box by more talented frosh. There is also a chance that the more talented frosh might sit as their college abilities don't match their recruiting hype and an experienced vet may beat them out.
Sorry, but competitive sports mean you compete. Some kids that got more money will lose. In most of those cases, when it becomes obvious to the coaches and players involved, those players move on to other oppurtunities that offer more playing time whether it is a smaller D1 program, a lower level of college all together, or an inferior league like the CHL where they can be a star despite not being able to crack a D1 lineup (see Williams, Nigel and Auffrey, Matthew).
wow, seems like something up at Wisc.all the rationalization makes it seem like something dirty.must be planning on forcing some current players to press box and out or all these excuses wouldn't be needed.most these kids have had to make rosters their whole lives and know the rules unless wisc. is playing by different ones. when kids tie their education to their hockey career seems like this puts some responsiblity on coaching staffs to not over-recruit and be forcing kids to press box or out.Do players have any protection under NCAA rules?
"or an inferior league like the CHL where they can be a star despite not being able to crack a D1 lineup (see Williams, Nigel and Auffrey, Matthew)."
You can't really be so unintelligent as to think you can argue that the CHL is an inferior league. Do you follow where players are drafted from? Do you know what % of NHL players came through the CHL? Have you looked at the current draft rankings for the 08 draft which show all of, what, 4 "NCAA" eligible players and 21 from the CHL in the top 30 NA skaters? Are you seriously going to argue that those 4 skaters (only 1 of which is in the top 10, the rest 20 and above) are vastly superior to the CHL players that are ranked higher than all of them?
How bout the number of players who bailed on the NCAA in the last few years (See Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner, Josh Unice...etc... etc... let's face it it's a HUGE list).
Shall we also list the high end players who gave up on the NDTP without a thought for their NCAA eligibility and went straight to the CHL upon being drafted?
You can call D1 superior development when they develop the superior number of players. Until then you're fooling yourself.
Well, to be fair to both the CHL and NCAA as far as which is "better," it's not really comparing apples to apples. I haven't seen many CHL games, but I would guess a good NCAA team would beat a good CHL team more often than not simply because of the age difference.
I really don't understand the hatred spewed back and forth here (and everywhere on the internets, for that matter) between CHL and NCAA fans. If you look at things in an unbiased fashion, it seems clear to me that the NCAA is a better route to the NHL FOR SOME PLAYERS, and the CHL is a better route FOR SOME PLAYERS.
It's impossible to deny the vastly higher number of players the CHL sends to the NHL...but in the NCAA's defense, things are much more unbalanced there, with maybe 20 teams truly competing for NHL prospects. In the CHL, it seems it's much more balanced between all teams having a SOMEWHAT equal shot at any player (via a draft...not sure how undrafted players are dealt with?). So you have maybe 20 NCAA teams vs. I think 60 in the CHL? So while I would guess the CHL still sends more players to the NHL per CHL team than the NCAA does per team (counting only those 20-ish NCAA teams), I'm guessing the ratio (again, only counting those 20-ish NCAA teams) is much closer than at first glance.
The worst part about Canadians coming to play in the NCAA is the liberal education they are subjected to - but that's neither here nor there. (;
On bailing on the NCAA, sometimes academics are a real factor. Not naming names, there are several names posted here that had no chance at the NCAA route and may not even made the clearinghouse. So as you say, NCAA is better for some and that Cnadian stuf is for others. the SHOW will find you, regardless.
"How bout the number of players who bailed on the NCAA in the last few years (See Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner, Josh Unice...etc... etc... let's face it it's a HUGE list)."
And do you remember the circumstances involving Gagner and Kane? After the USNDT Kane would of had to play 4 months in the USHL and then enroll in college for the 2nd semester(midseason), something nobody ever does. Flashing $200,000 could have helped too. Gagner went to London on the intention that his daddy was going to be hired as an assistant.
"Yeah, because Almington is actually Mike Eaves and is running things..."
Almington and Con???? portray themselves as being Badger know-it-alls, but probably couldn't tell you about a Badger player before 1999. If any Badger fan has a different perspective on things, they will just gang up on them although its just opinionated. They're good fans, but need to stop this |I'm high and almighty" shit that they portray.
"And do you remember the circumstances involving Gagner and Kane? After the USNDT Kane would of had to play 4 months in the USHL and then enroll in college for the 2nd semester(midseason), something nobody ever does. Flashing $200,000 could have helped too. Gagner went to London on the intention that his daddy was going to be hired as an assistant."
You say that as though it has relevance to the topic at hand.
Ask yourself this. Is $200,000 worth a potential #1 draftee risking his development to play in the "inferior" CHL. Hell I made that much money(cumulative of course) by the time I was 23. It's simply laughable to suggest that Kane would risk his development for what in a few years will be asswipe money to him.
As for Gagner, again do you really think that "daddy" would risk his son's development so he could be an assistant coach in London even though it mean going to the "inferior" CHL? You really think that Dave Gagner was hurting for cash so that's what did it? Granted the chance of having a hand in his development was a plus but again you can't argue that a job is what made them jump to the CHL if it's such an inferior development league.
Also that is just 2 players in a list that has grown by leaps and bounds the last few years of players (drafted and draft eligible) who made the move.
I'm not arguing against the value of the NCAA as it does hold value for some people. I just can't for the life of me understand how anyone could attempt to say that the CHL is an inferior league.
I suppose you could make that case if you didn't let a little thing like facts and rational thought get in the way.
So the major junior teams have NEVER cut a player? I find that VERY hard to believe.
Here is a though for you: Every player who chooses to go to college has rejected MJ and every player who play MJ has rejected the college route. Neither is intrinsically superior to the other, they are simply different paths to get to the same place. For many the end result is the same: by the age of 24 they have completed their degree that hockey had mostly paid for and they are off to start a non-hockey careers.
The players who come to UW are only promised of the opportunity to earn a top level education and to be a member of the hockey team (which involves earning earn their playtime, nothing is promised in that regard). No team at any level would promis a player a set amount of playtime, by the time a player reaches the level of junior hockey the "everyone plays" rules are gone. Every player who plays in the NHL, AHL, ECHL, WHO, OHL, USHL, NAHL, etc earn their playtime. If a player doesn't perform, doesn't give a 100% effort, that player isn't going to see the ice. At ALL the levels the coaches job is to put the best lineup on the ice that can win the game.
The fact remains that regardless of how many players are on the team their isn't any limit to the number of players that can be rostered, just on the number of scholarships that can be offered (18). If UW ends up with 20 forwards on the roster for the 2009-2010 season (highly unlikely give the likely hood of some signing pro contracts and some recruits defering enrolment for a year) ALL will be able to work toward their degree and remain a member of the UW hockey team. It is clear that some will end up sitting in the pressbox, that doesn't mean that they have been lied to or mislead. Untill the player signs the LOI they can reopen their recruiting at any time, unlike with the Bantam drafts a player is not tied to any one program just because they verbally commit. In the end it is up to the player to make the most of their opportunities, regardless of it's on the ice (regardless of league) or in the classroom or in any other part of their lives.
I am not Mike Eaves and I have no control over the UW hockey program (other then being an alumnus I have no current ties to the university)
"I DON'T KNOW WHY PORTLAND WOULD RECRUIT HIM SO HARD AND OFFER AN EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE IF THEY KNEW HE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE THE TEAM. HAHAHA, MAKE MORE SHIT UP CHL'ERS"
Well Mr Stupid, all players in the dub are offered education contracts no matter what! The fact is that Wiercioch could not have made the dub this year because he was not good enough, hence his playing in the BCHL....he may be good enough next year, thus the interest from Portland.
Players who choose NCAA can then go CHL. After being basically forced out of Wisc. Auffrey, Leavitt, Williams and others went the CHL route. Others who have been pushed to leave like Rowe, Sawaske chose to sit out a year either at USHL or on campus before going to Army and Notre Dame.
"Well Mr Stupid, all players in the dub are offered education contracts no matter what! The fact is that Wiercioch could not have made the dub this year because he was not good enough, hence his playing in the BCHL....he may be good enough next year, thus the interest from Portland."
Before calling someone stupid, you might want to get your facts straight, like the fact that Wiercioch is playing in the USHL this season.
Good one, Nigel Williams was forced out at UW, HA HA HA, thanks for the good laugh. More like Eaves thought his puck handling and decision making were not on par to the upperclassmen Dmen on the team. Eaves isn't some 2nd rate hack who doesn't know what he is doing, Nigel obviously needed to work on certain areas of his game and didn't have the patience. His loss, I haven't heard a single thing about him since he left either.
Cue the deer I'm sure some CHL backer will provide me w/ 20 articles to prove me wrong.
For the record, I don't have a problem w/ the CHL, if only one development route existed, at some point it would become complacent w/ out competition. Multiple options are great for kids and gives them a choice to do what they feel is best for them. I certainly don't think the CHL is inferior that is foolish talk, but I think the CHLers often times ignorantly give NO credit to the NCAA, despite the good precentage of NHL talent that it has produced and continues to produce. Sure I would love to see every top US born player don an NCAA jersey, but sometimes Canada doesn't get all of their top players doning CHL jerseys either, Turris, Toews just to name a few.
Well Mr Stupid, all players in the dub are offered education contracts no matter what! The fact is that Wiercioch could not have made the dub this year because he was not good enough, hence his playing in the BCHL....he may be good enough next year, thus the interest from Portland.
Hey dipshit, I think this sets a new standard for delusional people. You are truly a dumbass. Yeah I'm sure they would wine and dine the kid and family if they thought they he wouldn't make the team. You also forgot to mention he would've benn a top 15 pick in the WHL Bantam draft if he didn't have aspirations to go the NCAA. Yet he was still taken in the 2nd round(still very high for kids with NCAA aspirations). Why would Medicine Hat take him so high if he wasn't so good. Did it ever occur to you that he might have followed the pathways of Turris and Zajac and go to the BCHL(or USHL) because he wanted to go the NCAA route? But I guess you would say Turris and Zajac weren't good enough for the WHL so they went to the BCHL!!!! Keep kidding yourself, you're giving CHL posters a bad name. You are truly one of the biggest delusional dipshits I've seen in a awhile.
Since you cannot comprehend I'll point out that the interest from Portand was from last year meaning they wanted him to play for this current year.
i dont really know how Kane and Gagner spurned the college route when this would have been their freshmen years and they are in the show
"i dont really know how Kane and Gagner spurned the college route when this would have been their freshmen years and they are in the show"
Easy answer.
It's a long shot for an 18 year old to crack an NHL line up. Both were going the NCAA route. Both changed their mind and ended up in London.
Find me ANYONE who was saying 2 years ago when these two were making up their minds that either of them would be in an NHL line-up right out of the draft. Odds are... there weren't many if any at all. They were both expected to have 2-3 years in the CHL, not the one they both ended up having.
So yes, the spurned the NCAA route.
"Since you cannot comprehend I'll point out that the interest from Portand was from last year meaning they wanted him to play for this current year."
And that would mean that he would be playing as a 17 year old, exactly what the previous poster implied.
I remember Turris saying that he felt he was not physically ready to play in the WHL as a 16 year old that is why he took the college route....it obviously worked out for him but for every Turris or Toews there are Gagners, Muellers, Kanes and so on and so on in the CHL. The CHL simply has more pro level talent, only an idiot would argue other-wise.
Maybe when USA Hockey figures that out, they might just garner more than two medals in the past ten years!
Eaves needed to get rid of some scholarship players inorder to bring in his current three freshmen d on scholarship and Nigel was the easy target. When coaches sit NHL draft picks and players who have proven themselves at other levels there ususally is a reason and scholarship $$$ appears to be the case.
Wow, Chris is your blog read mostly by those under the age of 12? Because that's the way 95% of these posters act.
One last time...
The NCAA is better FOR SOME, the CHL is better FOR SOME, it doesn't matter who has more future NHL talent.
Just give it a rest already...
9:47....well said. All of you nitwits who want to debate on which route is better need to take a flying leap. Go get a hobby. The NHL pays its scouts to find talent....period. Those players who are good enough to play in the NHL will make it. It's all about finding the right fit for these players before they get to the big stage.
"remember Turris saying that he felt he was not physically ready to play in the WHL as a 16 year old that is why he took the college route."
You have a bad memory because Turris never said that. He said that about the NHL, but not the CHL. Mueller said he didn't want to go to college because he thought he wouldn't get the grades. He then took the CHL route.
"You have a bad memory because Turris never said that. He said that about the NHL, but not the CHL. Mueller said he didn't want to go to college because he thought he wouldn't get the grades. He then took the CHL route."
Actually I also remember Turris saying something about not being ready to play in the CHL. He was very small and slight as a 16 year old.
It is entertaining watching the cheapshots fired away under the cover of annonimity. Nigel Williams left because he was still buying his predraft hype where people though he was a first round pick (before he fell like a rock as the draft approached). He took the easy way out of leaving after one weekend, instead of manning up and beating out Olinger and Engel to get one of the 6 spots in the lineup. If he could not beat those 2 out, he sure as well was not going to be beating out McDonagh, Smith, or Goulobef a year later, so it is probably best that he went to Canada to get on a team he could actually get some playing time with.
"Actually I also remember Turris saying something about not being ready to play in the CHL. He was very small and slight as a 16 year old."
I also remember Turris not say that. I remember him only saying something like that in regards to the NHL, not CHL.
Regarding 5:12pm post,
Least dangerous states in 2007 had D1 hockey schools. Interesting, don't know if there is a relationship or not.
47. New Hampshire
48. Maine
49. Vermont
50. North Dakota - 7 NCAA Championships and counting
Michigan has to be near the top of that list.
MSU
Mich
LSSU
Mich Tech
NMU
All have won.
to 1:50 am:
Have you ever thought about other reasons for choosing the NCAA? Not because of the "great education/ hockey" bullshit.
but because these kids want to experience living by themselves (without a billet family) so they can attend DORM/FRAT PARTIES, GET DRUNK all they want. In the CHL, there are certain rules the kids must abide by when they stay with their billet families.
DUH.
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