The NTDP won't be releasing Brandon Maxwell to Windsor of the OHL. It's a pretty complicated issue, but I can understand why USA Hockey wouldn't release him.
Also, Colin Jacobs signed with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. He had previously committed to the NTDP for next season. I'm not super-surprised by this move. Given that he's represented by CAA(the same people that represent The Jonas Brothers!), I could see them wanting to push whatever is perceived to be the faster track, rather than toiling in relative anonymity in Ann Arbor. Jacobs definitely has a lot of potential, but a very long ways to go before reaching it. Hopefully he can develop that in Seattle.
Showing posts with label ntdp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ntdp. Show all posts
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Alaska Defends Us from Teenagers; Also Russians, Probably
The University of Alaska started off the Dallas Ferguson Era with a convincing 4-0 exhibition win over the US NTDP U18 team.
Earlier this week, I mentioned that it could be a very difficult season in Fairbanks, but last night seemed to show a lot of promise. Freshman Carlo Finucci showed promise as an offensive force, and could create a powerful second line to play behind the two Knelsen brothers and Dustin Sather. Both Sather and Finucci led their respective Jr. B leagues in scoring. The Nanooks should also have good goaltending in senior Chad Johnson.
They likely won't be competing at the top of the league this year, but they may be able to surprise some people and win a few more games than expected.
Earlier this week, I mentioned that it could be a very difficult season in Fairbanks, but last night seemed to show a lot of promise. Freshman Carlo Finucci showed promise as an offensive force, and could create a powerful second line to play behind the two Knelsen brothers and Dustin Sather. Both Sather and Finucci led their respective Jr. B leagues in scoring. The Nanooks should also have good goaltending in senior Chad Johnson.
They likely won't be competing at the top of the league this year, but they may be able to surprise some people and win a few more games than expected.
Friday, September 26, 2008
U18s Beat Anchorage
The college hockey season technically kicked off last night in Wasilla, Alaska, with UAA saying thanks, but no thanks to beating the NTDP U18 team.
Anchorage jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first six minutes, but the US bounced back with three unanswered goals. Anchorage tied the game before Kenny Ryan scored the game-winner early in the third period.
Anchorage jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first six minutes, but the US bounced back with three unanswered goals. Anchorage tied the game before Kenny Ryan scored the game-winner early in the third period.
Monday, September 22, 2008
NTDP at NAHL Showcase Part 2: The U17s
The first post ran a bit long, so here is part two, covering the U17 team.
The U17 Team
The youngsters got off to a hot start in this tournament, winning their first two games before dropping the last two. I think they played two weaker teams in their first two games, and in the last two, they seemed to wear down against the older, stronger competition.
Still, it was a very impressive performance given how inexperienced this team was. Tim Taylor said at one point in one of their first games, they had to call a timeout because the team was two men down, and they had to draw up a three man penalty kill. They had also only worked on the powerplay at one practice. Despite that, they looked like an incredibly cohesive unit. Taylor was raving about the group's hockey sense, which was evident.
I don't know if this is related or not, but this team has a huge number of kids that moved far away from home in order to try and further their hockey careers. There area a lot of very talented kids from non-traditional hockey areas that ended up getting great coaching and look pretty advanced for their age. I'm still not sure moving away from home at such a young age is the healthiest practice, but it seems to have worked here.
More good news is that rumors are, everyone in this group is pretty coachable and there aren't any primadonnas in the group.
I'll break down the forwards line by line, since they pretty much stayed the same all tournament, and then do the defensemen as a group.
Line 1: Nick Shore-Jason Zucker-Luke Moffatt
When I saw Zucker play last year at the Select 15s, I thought he was a nice player, but borderline to make the NTDP team. Over the course of the past year though, he's taken a huge jump in level of play, and now looks like he'll be the team's top center and one of the most complete forwards on the team.
Moffatt is another player that I wasn't entirely sold on going into last season, but his year with Compuware looks like it served him well. He should be one of his team's best forwards. I was also impressed with his defensive play and work along the boards.
Shore struggled a little bit and didn't do much on the weekend, but it can take players a little while to acclimate to playing in the NTDP, and he has a lot of talent.
Line 2: Chase Balisy-Matt Nieto-Emerson Etem
The All-California Line looked like the team's second line. All three players have a lot of offensive talent and good hockey sense. Etem went through a bit of an awkward stage last year, but is starting to grow into his body, and has the potential to be a dominant player. Nieto is very good offensively, and Balisy is a nice complement to his linemates.
Line 3: Stuart Higgins-Matt Rust-Michael Mersch
A very high energy line featuring two sparkplugs in Higgins and Rust. Mersch gives the line a bit of a scoring threat, as demonstrated by the wicked shot he scored with on Wednesday, but most of the team's scoring will likely come from elsewhere.
Line 4: Jacob Fallon-Shane Sooth-Austin Czarnik
This line provided a lot of offense for a fourth line. Czarnik was the smallest player on the ice by far, but played much bigger than his size and ended up with four goals. Jacob Fallon struggled on Wednesday, but seemed to gain confidence as the week progressed. He has the potential to be one of the best of the bunch if he can play with confidence. Sooth is incredibly versatile as the line's center, giving them some size while holding his own offensively.
The Defense: Kevin Clare, Adam Clendening, Stephen Johns, Frankie Simonelli, Justin Faulk, Jarred Tinordi
Clare was pretty obviously the leader of this group. Having played junior hockey last year, he looked most comfortable against the older competition. I was a little skeptical of Simonelli being on the team after seeing him last fall, but he really took a big step forward over the past year and should be one of the team's better defensemen. Clendening is a pretty exciting offensive defenseman. On Friday, when they lost both Simonelli and Clendening, the quality of the defense definitely went down.
Faulk, Johns, and Tinordi can probably all go in the same category of being very big, very talented, but also very raw, which can lead to some ugly defensive mistakes from time to time, but if they all develop, they could be very good players. The question is will they develop fast enough for the US to be able to count on them in international play?
The U17 Team
The youngsters got off to a hot start in this tournament, winning their first two games before dropping the last two. I think they played two weaker teams in their first two games, and in the last two, they seemed to wear down against the older, stronger competition.
Still, it was a very impressive performance given how inexperienced this team was. Tim Taylor said at one point in one of their first games, they had to call a timeout because the team was two men down, and they had to draw up a three man penalty kill. They had also only worked on the powerplay at one practice. Despite that, they looked like an incredibly cohesive unit. Taylor was raving about the group's hockey sense, which was evident.
I don't know if this is related or not, but this team has a huge number of kids that moved far away from home in order to try and further their hockey careers. There area a lot of very talented kids from non-traditional hockey areas that ended up getting great coaching and look pretty advanced for their age. I'm still not sure moving away from home at such a young age is the healthiest practice, but it seems to have worked here.
More good news is that rumors are, everyone in this group is pretty coachable and there aren't any primadonnas in the group.
I'll break down the forwards line by line, since they pretty much stayed the same all tournament, and then do the defensemen as a group.
Line 1: Nick Shore-Jason Zucker-Luke Moffatt
When I saw Zucker play last year at the Select 15s, I thought he was a nice player, but borderline to make the NTDP team. Over the course of the past year though, he's taken a huge jump in level of play, and now looks like he'll be the team's top center and one of the most complete forwards on the team.
Moffatt is another player that I wasn't entirely sold on going into last season, but his year with Compuware looks like it served him well. He should be one of his team's best forwards. I was also impressed with his defensive play and work along the boards.
Shore struggled a little bit and didn't do much on the weekend, but it can take players a little while to acclimate to playing in the NTDP, and he has a lot of talent.
Line 2: Chase Balisy-Matt Nieto-Emerson Etem
The All-California Line looked like the team's second line. All three players have a lot of offensive talent and good hockey sense. Etem went through a bit of an awkward stage last year, but is starting to grow into his body, and has the potential to be a dominant player. Nieto is very good offensively, and Balisy is a nice complement to his linemates.
Line 3: Stuart Higgins-Matt Rust-Michael Mersch
A very high energy line featuring two sparkplugs in Higgins and Rust. Mersch gives the line a bit of a scoring threat, as demonstrated by the wicked shot he scored with on Wednesday, but most of the team's scoring will likely come from elsewhere.
Line 4: Jacob Fallon-Shane Sooth-Austin Czarnik
This line provided a lot of offense for a fourth line. Czarnik was the smallest player on the ice by far, but played much bigger than his size and ended up with four goals. Jacob Fallon struggled on Wednesday, but seemed to gain confidence as the week progressed. He has the potential to be one of the best of the bunch if he can play with confidence. Sooth is incredibly versatile as the line's center, giving them some size while holding his own offensively.
The Defense: Kevin Clare, Adam Clendening, Stephen Johns, Frankie Simonelli, Justin Faulk, Jarred Tinordi
Clare was pretty obviously the leader of this group. Having played junior hockey last year, he looked most comfortable against the older competition. I was a little skeptical of Simonelli being on the team after seeing him last fall, but he really took a big step forward over the past year and should be one of the team's better defensemen. Clendening is a pretty exciting offensive defenseman. On Friday, when they lost both Simonelli and Clendening, the quality of the defense definitely went down.
Faulk, Johns, and Tinordi can probably all go in the same category of being very big, very talented, but also very raw, which can lead to some ugly defensive mistakes from time to time, but if they all develop, they could be very good players. The question is will they develop fast enough for the US to be able to count on them in international play?
NTDP at NAHL Showcase Part 1: The U18s
This was the first year that USA Hockey sent both their U18 and U17 team to compete at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, and I think it was a pretty big success. While all the games drew pretty decent crowds and a fair number of scouts, the games featuring the USA teams always drew the most people. I think people were curious to see the NTDP teams play because it gives people a first look at the U17 team, and a first look at the U18 team in their draft year.
I saw the U17 team's first three games and the first two games of the U18 team. I'll give a few opinions on what I saw, starting with the U18 team.
The U18 team
They finished the tournament with 2 wins and 2 losses. Jeremy Morin only dressed in two games. You can probably guess which two. I don't think that was a coincidence either. This team is likely going to be defined by incredible top end talent, but very little in the way of depth. Without Morin, the offense looked pretty stagnant. There was way too much play on the offensive perimeter with guys who aren't suited for that style of play. The powerplay mostly consisted of defenseman blasting one-timers from the point, which were often ineffective because there was no one in front of the net for deflections or rebounds.
I think once this team gets into the college portion of their schedule, they--much like last year's team--will start playing a little better just because they're force to. The big question will be how far can their top players carry them this season, and will the lack of depth come back to haunt them.
Here are some individual thoughts on players, and whether or not they helped or hurt their draft stock this weekend:
Cam Fowler: Not eligible for the draft this year, but should go early in the first round next year. Played very sloppy in their second game, but overall, has an unbelievable amount of talent. He may not ever leave the ice in critical games for the US. Draft Stock: Too early to tell. I'd say he's at worst a top 10 pick next year. How he performs next year will likely determine where in the top 10 he goes.
Jeremy Morin: One of the most explosive goal-scorers the US has ever had. The one player that looked absolutely dominant against weaker competition. Draft Stock: Teams will wait and see how he does against better competition, but he could move into the top 10 in the draft.
Drew Shore: I don't think he played very well, despite finishing with a nice point total. Everything just seemed a little off. The size and skills are there though, and you can probably chalk it up to being early in the season. Draft Stock: I'd hold him steady at a late first/early second round draft pick.
Sam Calabrese: Played forward the whole time and didn't really do much. Draft Stock: I'd be surprised if Calabrese got drafted.
Ryan Bourque: One of the better US forwards on the first night. He was skating hard and making plays all over the ice. Draft Stock: I'd move him up from where I had him listed in my draft rankings.
David Valek: Got knocked out early in the second game with what looked like a concussion after scoring a pretty goal. He was one of the guys that should have been grinding in front of the net rather than trying to play on the perimeter. Draft Stock: Down a little.
Chris Brown: I continue to be impressed with how he's playing. He's big, skates well, and throws his body around. Plus, he's starting to get time with the top lines and his point totals look to be going up. Draft Stock: I already had him fairly higher, but he might move up even higher.
John Ramage: Played pretty well for being a newcomer. He should be reliable defensively, though his aggressiveness should put him the box fairly frequently. Draft Stock: Up a little bit.
Kevin Lynch: Not the prettiest player to watch, but very effective. Can stickhandle around any defender one-on-one, though I'm not quite sure how. Draft Stock: Should stay about the same.
William Wrenn: Not that noticeable, which is good for a defensive defenseman, though he wasn't exactly dominant from the blueline. Draft Stock: I probably had him a little high, and he should move down a little bit.
John Henrion: Looks like a very good player, though he didn't do a lot in the two games I saw. You can probably chalk it up to being a new guy. Draft Stock: He'll get drafted somewhere; how high will depend on how he adjusts to playing for the US.
Richie Crowley: Got moved to forward after Valek's injury. Was decent on the blueline and invisible as a forward. Draft Stock: Probably moving down, but I think he can still contribute as a defenseman.
Nick Mattson: Not the most physically gifted, but sees the ice unbelievably well and made some incredible passes. It's fun to see him get the puck on his stick just to see what he'll do with it. Draft Stock: He'll be in the 2010 draft. He's not a definite first round pick, but should be drafted somewhere in the first day.
Kenny Ryan: Played on the the third line and was pretty quiet. Draft Stock: Too talented to not be drafted somewhere, but probably somewhere later in the draft.
Brendan Rempel: I've never been overly impressed with Rempel and I thought he really struggled here. He's new though, so there will probably be an adjustment period. Draft Stock: Down a little bit.
Chris McCarthy: Also on the third line with Ryan and was pretty quiet. He showed some flashes of offensive brilliance, but I don't think he'll be a huge offensive contributor this year. Draft Stock: May play his way into being drafted this year.
Tyler Amburgey: Played pretty sparingly. Was a forward on Thursday. I saw him take a few shifts on defense on Friday. Draft Stock: Not seeing as much will probably hurt him.
Brandon Maxwell and Adam Murray: Both goalies did not look their sharpest. Maxwell let in 8 goals on 39 shots, Murray let in 8 goals on 40 shots.
I saw the U17 team's first three games and the first two games of the U18 team. I'll give a few opinions on what I saw, starting with the U18 team.
The U18 team
They finished the tournament with 2 wins and 2 losses. Jeremy Morin only dressed in two games. You can probably guess which two. I don't think that was a coincidence either. This team is likely going to be defined by incredible top end talent, but very little in the way of depth. Without Morin, the offense looked pretty stagnant. There was way too much play on the offensive perimeter with guys who aren't suited for that style of play. The powerplay mostly consisted of defenseman blasting one-timers from the point, which were often ineffective because there was no one in front of the net for deflections or rebounds.
I think once this team gets into the college portion of their schedule, they--much like last year's team--will start playing a little better just because they're force to. The big question will be how far can their top players carry them this season, and will the lack of depth come back to haunt them.
Here are some individual thoughts on players, and whether or not they helped or hurt their draft stock this weekend:
Cam Fowler: Not eligible for the draft this year, but should go early in the first round next year. Played very sloppy in their second game, but overall, has an unbelievable amount of talent. He may not ever leave the ice in critical games for the US. Draft Stock: Too early to tell. I'd say he's at worst a top 10 pick next year. How he performs next year will likely determine where in the top 10 he goes.
Jeremy Morin: One of the most explosive goal-scorers the US has ever had. The one player that looked absolutely dominant against weaker competition. Draft Stock: Teams will wait and see how he does against better competition, but he could move into the top 10 in the draft.
Drew Shore: I don't think he played very well, despite finishing with a nice point total. Everything just seemed a little off. The size and skills are there though, and you can probably chalk it up to being early in the season. Draft Stock: I'd hold him steady at a late first/early second round draft pick.
Sam Calabrese: Played forward the whole time and didn't really do much. Draft Stock: I'd be surprised if Calabrese got drafted.
Ryan Bourque: One of the better US forwards on the first night. He was skating hard and making plays all over the ice. Draft Stock: I'd move him up from where I had him listed in my draft rankings.
David Valek: Got knocked out early in the second game with what looked like a concussion after scoring a pretty goal. He was one of the guys that should have been grinding in front of the net rather than trying to play on the perimeter. Draft Stock: Down a little.
Chris Brown: I continue to be impressed with how he's playing. He's big, skates well, and throws his body around. Plus, he's starting to get time with the top lines and his point totals look to be going up. Draft Stock: I already had him fairly higher, but he might move up even higher.
John Ramage: Played pretty well for being a newcomer. He should be reliable defensively, though his aggressiveness should put him the box fairly frequently. Draft Stock: Up a little bit.
Kevin Lynch: Not the prettiest player to watch, but very effective. Can stickhandle around any defender one-on-one, though I'm not quite sure how. Draft Stock: Should stay about the same.
William Wrenn: Not that noticeable, which is good for a defensive defenseman, though he wasn't exactly dominant from the blueline. Draft Stock: I probably had him a little high, and he should move down a little bit.
John Henrion: Looks like a very good player, though he didn't do a lot in the two games I saw. You can probably chalk it up to being a new guy. Draft Stock: He'll get drafted somewhere; how high will depend on how he adjusts to playing for the US.
Richie Crowley: Got moved to forward after Valek's injury. Was decent on the blueline and invisible as a forward. Draft Stock: Probably moving down, but I think he can still contribute as a defenseman.
Nick Mattson: Not the most physically gifted, but sees the ice unbelievably well and made some incredible passes. It's fun to see him get the puck on his stick just to see what he'll do with it. Draft Stock: He'll be in the 2010 draft. He's not a definite first round pick, but should be drafted somewhere in the first day.
Kenny Ryan: Played on the the third line and was pretty quiet. Draft Stock: Too talented to not be drafted somewhere, but probably somewhere later in the draft.
Brendan Rempel: I've never been overly impressed with Rempel and I thought he really struggled here. He's new though, so there will probably be an adjustment period. Draft Stock: Down a little bit.
Chris McCarthy: Also on the third line with Ryan and was pretty quiet. He showed some flashes of offensive brilliance, but I don't think he'll be a huge offensive contributor this year. Draft Stock: May play his way into being drafted this year.
Tyler Amburgey: Played pretty sparingly. Was a forward on Thursday. I saw him take a few shifts on defense on Friday. Draft Stock: Not seeing as much will probably hurt him.
Brandon Maxwell and Adam Murray: Both goalies did not look their sharpest. Maxwell let in 8 goals on 39 shots, Murray let in 8 goals on 40 shots.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
USA Hockey Symposium
I attended USA Hockey's "American Development Model" on Friday night, because my personal life is just that exciting. NTDP U-17 assistant and former Yale head coach Tim Taylor gave a Powerpoint presentation describing USA hockey's views on developing players. I took down some notes on what he had to say.
He started out talking about the NTDP program a little bit. He said USA Hockey's goals for the NTDP were the following: 1. Have the NTDP trickle down to other areas of USA Hockey. 2. Have alumni go on to make an impact in college and the NHL and 3. Instill a sense of pride in wearing the USA jersey.
I thought the first point was particularly interesting. One of the big complaints about the NTDP program is that so many resources go to so few players and it doesn't do much for everybody else. Taylor never really explained how the NTDP team's success trickles down to other areas of USA Hockey, and I'm not sure that it does.
After that, more description on some of the basics of the program: Housing, academics, training, and schedule. And then a slide full of stats from top players who have moved on to college and the NHL.
The next section was on "The Path to Success" with some common building blocks to athlete's success. Those were:
-Be coachable
-Focus on the process
-Training and athleticism--Play other sports, train fast, off-ice skill development
-Hockey sense
-Passion
-Character
-Be prepared
-Be selfless
-Be energy wise
-Be accountable
-Be an American for life
The next section went about defining what Taylor called "The Process". He emphasized that there is no "right" path or "perfect" timeline in terms of player development. He advised that players should never burn bridges and keep every option open. He said that player's shouldn't give up their NCAA eligibility unless they are absolutely 100% certain that they don't want to go to college, since the average pro hockey career is over at age 27 and there is a lot of life after that.
After that, he stressed "staying within the system" and not getting frustrated if you get passed over for a national camp or national team. He also went over "being an American for life" and always taking the opportunity to wear a Team USA jersey if given the opportunity.
That part is probably particularly poignant this year. Last summer, a number of players passed on opportunities to play for the NTDP, but with a very deep birth year, it was no huge deal. There were more than enough good players and they've put together a pretty nice team. The talent pool among the '93s, however, looks much shallower, and they'll probably need every good player they can find to be on the NTDP next year.
And finally, he focused on some things that he felt weren't important for players to worry about. Those included:
-Playing hockey year-round
-Agents and exposure camps
-"Entitlement culture"
-Draft lists and rankings-He mentioned players deciding to switch teams based on where they were ranked on the Red Line Report
-Personal trainers
Obviously the agents and entitlement culture have been problems for the NTDP program in the past. Overall, not terrible advice, though I'd probably disagree with lumping all agents into the bad category.
The key points to take away from the lecture was about following the path, and staying within the USA Hockey system. Pretty much what you'd expect from USA Hockey, and the merits of which can be debated. It definitely was more pro-NCAA, as you'd expect, but at least recognized that there were other options out there if that's a better fit for players.
He started out talking about the NTDP program a little bit. He said USA Hockey's goals for the NTDP were the following: 1. Have the NTDP trickle down to other areas of USA Hockey. 2. Have alumni go on to make an impact in college and the NHL and 3. Instill a sense of pride in wearing the USA jersey.
I thought the first point was particularly interesting. One of the big complaints about the NTDP program is that so many resources go to so few players and it doesn't do much for everybody else. Taylor never really explained how the NTDP team's success trickles down to other areas of USA Hockey, and I'm not sure that it does.
After that, more description on some of the basics of the program: Housing, academics, training, and schedule. And then a slide full of stats from top players who have moved on to college and the NHL.
The next section was on "The Path to Success" with some common building blocks to athlete's success. Those were:
-Be coachable
-Focus on the process
-Training and athleticism--Play other sports, train fast, off-ice skill development
-Hockey sense
-Passion
-Character
-Be prepared
-Be selfless
-Be energy wise
-Be accountable
-Be an American for life
The next section went about defining what Taylor called "The Process". He emphasized that there is no "right" path or "perfect" timeline in terms of player development. He advised that players should never burn bridges and keep every option open. He said that player's shouldn't give up their NCAA eligibility unless they are absolutely 100% certain that they don't want to go to college, since the average pro hockey career is over at age 27 and there is a lot of life after that.
After that, he stressed "staying within the system" and not getting frustrated if you get passed over for a national camp or national team. He also went over "being an American for life" and always taking the opportunity to wear a Team USA jersey if given the opportunity.
That part is probably particularly poignant this year. Last summer, a number of players passed on opportunities to play for the NTDP, but with a very deep birth year, it was no huge deal. There were more than enough good players and they've put together a pretty nice team. The talent pool among the '93s, however, looks much shallower, and they'll probably need every good player they can find to be on the NTDP next year.
And finally, he focused on some things that he felt weren't important for players to worry about. Those included:
-Playing hockey year-round
-Agents and exposure camps
-"Entitlement culture"
-Draft lists and rankings-He mentioned players deciding to switch teams based on where they were ranked on the Red Line Report
-Personal trainers
Obviously the agents and entitlement culture have been problems for the NTDP program in the past. Overall, not terrible advice, though I'd probably disagree with lumping all agents into the bad category.
The key points to take away from the lecture was about following the path, and staying within the USA Hockey system. Pretty much what you'd expect from USA Hockey, and the merits of which can be debated. It definitely was more pro-NCAA, as you'd expect, but at least recognized that there were other options out there if that's a better fit for players.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
NAHL Showcase Kicks Off
Today was Day 1 of the NAHL Showcase. There was a lot of good hockey played. Most eyes, however, were probably focused on the two NTDP teams getting their seasons underway.
For the U17 team, their opening game had to be considered a huge success. After four first period goals, the team cruised to an easy 5-1 victory over Bismarck. Austin Czarnik scored twice in the first period, including a beautiful drive down the right wing where he uncorked a slap shot that went perfectly into the upper corner of the net. Michael Mersch also scored a pretty goal when he shelfed a puck from the top of the cirlce. Jack Campbell played very well in net, only allowing one goal on a tip in front of the net. Kevin Clare is the captain of the team and looks to be the class of the defense. He was rock solid all game, and also won a fight in the first period.
It was a different story for the U18 team, who was upset by Wichita Falls 3-2 in overtime. The US didn't dress top players Jeremy Morin and Kyle Palmieri, as well as A.J. Treais, Jerry D'Amigo, and Tyler Amburgey. The US team got off to a great start, and looked to be skating and moving the puck well, but could only build a one goal lead and failed to put the game away. As the game dragged on, their level of play really seemed to sink down to the competition.
Wichita's Mike Jarboe is probably one of the best goalies in the NAHL, and he showed why tonight. He stopped 47 of 49 shots, and while he didn't have a lot of highlight reel saves, he was always in perfect position, and made some difficult saves on blasts from the point. The other big difference in this game was the powerplay. Wichita scored all three goals with the man advantage while the NTDP went 0-for-5. The US fired a ton of one-timers from the point, but could never get a decent deflection or rebound in front of the net.
It's a disappointing result, but it's early in the season, and the team was playing without some of their best players. All in all, there will probably be more panic about this game than it deserves.
For the U17 team, their opening game had to be considered a huge success. After four first period goals, the team cruised to an easy 5-1 victory over Bismarck. Austin Czarnik scored twice in the first period, including a beautiful drive down the right wing where he uncorked a slap shot that went perfectly into the upper corner of the net. Michael Mersch also scored a pretty goal when he shelfed a puck from the top of the cirlce. Jack Campbell played very well in net, only allowing one goal on a tip in front of the net. Kevin Clare is the captain of the team and looks to be the class of the defense. He was rock solid all game, and also won a fight in the first period.
It was a different story for the U18 team, who was upset by Wichita Falls 3-2 in overtime. The US didn't dress top players Jeremy Morin and Kyle Palmieri, as well as A.J. Treais, Jerry D'Amigo, and Tyler Amburgey. The US team got off to a great start, and looked to be skating and moving the puck well, but could only build a one goal lead and failed to put the game away. As the game dragged on, their level of play really seemed to sink down to the competition.
Wichita's Mike Jarboe is probably one of the best goalies in the NAHL, and he showed why tonight. He stopped 47 of 49 shots, and while he didn't have a lot of highlight reel saves, he was always in perfect position, and made some difficult saves on blasts from the point. The other big difference in this game was the powerplay. Wichita scored all three goals with the man advantage while the NTDP went 0-for-5. The US fired a ton of one-timers from the point, but could never get a decent deflection or rebound in front of the net.
It's a disappointing result, but it's early in the season, and the team was playing without some of their best players. All in all, there will probably be more panic about this game than it deserves.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Two D Jump to OHL
A couple of defensemen will be making the jump to the Ontario Hockey League next season.
Des Moines Buccaneers defenseman Brad Walch will be playing with the Saginaw Spirit. Walch received some college interest last season, but is a Saginaw native, so he will be playing close to home.
NTDP defenseman Bjorn Krupp signed with the Belleville Bulls. Krupp, and his father Uwe, didn't feel that Bjorn received enough playing time with the NTDP last season.
Also, NTDP forward and Michigan State recruit Zach Golembiewski has left the NTDP and will be playing for the Indiana Ice next season.
Des Moines Buccaneers defenseman Brad Walch will be playing with the Saginaw Spirit. Walch received some college interest last season, but is a Saginaw native, so he will be playing close to home.
NTDP defenseman Bjorn Krupp signed with the Belleville Bulls. Krupp, and his father Uwe, didn't feel that Bjorn received enough playing time with the NTDP last season.
Also, NTDP forward and Michigan State recruit Zach Golembiewski has left the NTDP and will be playing for the Indiana Ice next season.
Friday, August 01, 2008
NTDP U17 Roster Announced
USA Hockey officially announced their roster for next season's NTDP U17 team. Here's the roster.
An unprecedented 9 players on the team have already made college commitments. Six players on the team come from Michigan. California is sending four players to the team, plus Jacob Fallon who has also played in the Los Angeles area. Justin Faulk is the only Minnesotan on the team, though a few Minnesotan players were offered spots on the team, but chose to stay close to home. The MWEHL maintained its reputation as the NTDP's feeder league, with nearly half of the players on the team playing there last year.
An unprecedented 9 players on the team have already made college commitments. Six players on the team come from Michigan. California is sending four players to the team, plus Jacob Fallon who has also played in the Los Angeles area. Justin Faulk is the only Minnesotan on the team, though a few Minnesotan players were offered spots on the team, but chose to stay close to home. The MWEHL maintained its reputation as the NTDP's feeder league, with nearly half of the players on the team playing there last year.
Monday, April 21, 2008
US Falls to Russians
The United States U18 team lost this morning to Russia, by a score of 3-1, in the semifinals of the World U18 championships. The game story is here. They'll take on Sweden at 7am EST tomorrow morning for the bronze medal.
The game with Sweden should be a great one. The US lost a tough 5-4 game to the Swedes earlier in the tournament, and similar incarnations of these squads have had some great battles over the past two years.
Still, even a win tomorrow probably wouldn't save this tournament from being a bit of a disappointment in the US. This tournament a real measuring stick for US hockey, and anything less than a first or second place finish isn't necessarily a failure, but it also isn't up to expectations. Though it definitely deserves mentioning that thanks to the NTDP, a first or second place finish is an expectation, and not a pleasant surprise.
The tournament does confirm what people have been saying for a while, which is that this is a pretty down year for the US. In a somewhat telling stat, only three US players were among the tournaments top 30 scorers: Jeremy Morin, a '91 birthdate, David Warsofsky, who was added to the team this past summer, and Phil McRae, who left the team to play for the London Knights. Team USA's starting goalie for the majority of games was Brandon Maxwell, also a '91 birthdate. This US team was also without two potential first round draft picks in defenseman Zach Bogosian and forward AJ Jenks, who both went to the OHL.
The game with Sweden should be a great one. The US lost a tough 5-4 game to the Swedes earlier in the tournament, and similar incarnations of these squads have had some great battles over the past two years.
Still, even a win tomorrow probably wouldn't save this tournament from being a bit of a disappointment in the US. This tournament a real measuring stick for US hockey, and anything less than a first or second place finish isn't necessarily a failure, but it also isn't up to expectations. Though it definitely deserves mentioning that thanks to the NTDP, a first or second place finish is an expectation, and not a pleasant surprise.
The tournament does confirm what people have been saying for a while, which is that this is a pretty down year for the US. In a somewhat telling stat, only three US players were among the tournaments top 30 scorers: Jeremy Morin, a '91 birthdate, David Warsofsky, who was added to the team this past summer, and Phil McRae, who left the team to play for the London Knights. Team USA's starting goalie for the majority of games was Brandon Maxwell, also a '91 birthdate. This US team was also without two potential first round draft picks in defenseman Zach Bogosian and forward AJ Jenks, who both went to the OHL.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
USA Hockey on the Radio
The US Under-18 team plays their first game tonight at the World Under-18 Championships in Russia. This is a pretty big one. It's probably the second biggest international junior tournament after the World Juniors. It's also one of the most heavily scouted events, since most of the players are in their draft year. A player's performance here can have a pretty big impact on their draft stock.
The US team is mostly comprised of their NTDP U18 team, though they added Roseau's Aaron Ness on defense and Phil McRae from the London Knights. Brandon Maxwell, Ryan Bourque, Jeremy Morin, and Kyle Palmieri are playing up from the U17 team.
You can check the schedule here to follow their games. There is a link to a free radio broadcast of their games and you can follow their statistics here.
The US team is mostly comprised of their NTDP U18 team, though they added Roseau's Aaron Ness on defense and Phil McRae from the London Knights. Brandon Maxwell, Ryan Bourque, Jeremy Morin, and Kyle Palmieri are playing up from the U17 team.
You can check the schedule here to follow their games. There is a link to a free radio broadcast of their games and you can follow their statistics here.
Monday, March 17, 2008
NTDP Tryout Camp
The USA Hockey National Team Development Program will be holding their final tryout camp for next year's U17 team next weekend in Ann Arbor. The camp runs from March 22-25, with 46 players born, all born in 1992.
Here's a little look at the kids that will be at the camp. The kids that get a *shrug* are kids I haven't seen, or didn't have anything to say about. It's more of a reflection on me than them.
Goaltenders
1. Jack Campbell - Honeybaked (U18)
Comment: It’s a really strong year for ’92 goalies in Michigan, and Campbell may be the best of the bunch.
2. Mac Carruth - Chicago Fury (U18)
Comment: Committed to Minnesota-Duluth. A really big kid with a lot of talent
3. Andy Iles - Salisbury Prep
Comment: I don’t know too much about Iles, other than that he’s received a fair amount of hype. I don’t think he has played a ton at Salisbury this year because he’s backing up an older goalie.
4. Willie Yanakeff - Honeybaked (U16)
Comment: Another really good goalie from Michigan.
Overall: This looks like a really strong group. I’m not sure who will get selected, but any two of the four should make for a strong goaltending duo.
A wild guess on who makes the team: Campbell and Carruth
Defensemen
1. Evan Accettura - Victory Honda (U18)
Comment: A big kid, though still fairly raw. I’m not sure if he’ll make the team, but a bright future regardless.
2. Bennett Carroccio - Phillips Academy
Comment: *shrug*
3. Kevin Clare - New Jersey Hitmen
Comment: The only player at the camp to play junior hockey this season. Already received a good amount of college interest and should be a near lock to make the team.
4. Adam Clendening - Toronto Marlies
Comment: I’m not too familiar with him, but people in Ontario are very high on him. He’s a little guy that could provide an offensive threat on the blueline.
5. Michael Gunn - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan State. Another big, talented defenseman that should earn a spot on the team.
6. Kevin Gravel - Marquette (U18)
Comment: Big, defensive defenseman. I think he might have flown under some people’s radar because he plays in MQT, but I like the way he plays.
7. Derek Forbort - Duluth East HS
Comment: Another big kid that can do just about everything. I think playing with the NTDP would be good for him, because he’d learn how to play with a little more meanness. In another year, he might have good shot at making the team, but it could be tough with this group.
8. Stephen Johns - Pittsburgh (U18)
Comment: Johns has always impressed me with his play. He should definitely be offered a spot.
9. Ben Marshall - Mahtomedi HS
Comment: *shrug* I know he’s capable of playing both forward and defenseman, so he does bring some versatility.
10. Kevin McMorrow - Park Rapids HS
Comment: USHR thought he was great the Select 15s. I thought he looked kind of raw. A lot will probably depend on how he developed during the high school season.
11. Jeffrey Pauluk - Bloomington Jefferson HS
Comment: *shrug*
12. Michael Reardon - Noble and Greenough Prep
Comment: *shrug*
13. Joe Rubbelke - St. Paul Johnson HS
Comment: A really talented, athletic kid. He’s good at some other sports as well, so he may want to stay in Minnesota for that.
14. Brandon Russo - Salisbury Prep
Comment: Russo really impressed me at the Select 15s. A little smaller, but plays the game very well.
15. Frankie Simonelli - Team Illinois (U18)
Comment: I saw him at the Elite League NIT, and he didn’t really stand out against older players, but everyone seems to agree that the talent is there.
16. Jarred Tinordi - Washington Jr. Nationals
Comment: *shrug*
Overall: This is a really strong group, and should hopefully be one of the strengths of the team. There are a lot of big, talented players to choose from, and some tough choices will have to be made.
A wild guess on who makes the team: Merrill, Clare, Johns, Gunn, Clendening, Gravel, Russo, Forbort/one of the kids I haven’t seen.
Update: I just received word that Jon Merrill had a family commitment that he couldn't change, so he won't be at the camp, but he has already been offered a spot for the team.
Forwards
1. Bill Arnold - Noble and Greenough Prep
Comment: *shrug*
2. Chasen Balisy - Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Comment: Maybe one of the most talented players at the camp, but the OHL is always going to be looming. Is it worth taking him when chances are he plays one year in the US, at most?
3. Nick Bjugstad - Blaine HS
Comment: The more I’ve seen Bjugstad, the more he’s grown on me. Maybe not the best now, but has the tools to be a great player.
4. Connor Brickley - Belmont Hill Prep
Comment: *shrug*
5. Emerson Etem - Shattuck St. Mary’s
Comment: Very talented. Should be a great player with a little time to develop. I think he’ll definitely get offered a spot.
6. Jacob Fallon - Texas Attack (U16)
Comment: Fallon really impressed me when I saw him earlier this year. He should definitely make the team.
7. Max Gardiner - Minnetonka HS
Comment: Played pretty well as a sophomore against some great high school teams, but I don’t know if he has his brother’s skating ability yet.
8. Colton Hargrove - Texas Attack (U16)
Comment: A nice power forward with good size. He could definitely fill a nice role if given an opportunity.
9. Christian Isackson - St. Thomas Academy
Comment: Based on the way he was playing during the high school season, he should definitely get an offer to play for the team.
10. Jared Knight - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan. Missed a lot of time this year with an injury, but has a ton of talent.
11. Phil Lane - Rochester Alliance (U16)
Comment: *shrug*
12. Alex Lippincott - Cleveland (U18)
Coment: Committed to Ohio State. Does everything pretty well. Playing for the NTDP should help him get better at using his teammates more.
13. Jeff McMinimy - Texas Texas Attack (U16)
Comment: Fast and skilled. Maybe not one of my first choices to make the team, but wouldn’t be out of place if he did.
14. Michael Mersch - Team Illinois (U16)
Comment: A power forward that can score and hit.
15. Luke Moffatt - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan. Maybe the most talented player at the camp. Needs to use his teammates better, and playing on a skilled team like this should help.
16. Matt Nieto - Salisbury Prep
Comment: A very effective player that always finds a way to score points.
17. Bryan Rust - Honeybaked (U16)
Comment: Committed to Notre Dame. Plays a lot like his older brother Matt. A good skater that can play in all situations.
18. Brandon Saad - Pittsburgh (U18)
Comment: A big kid that can skate well. He should definitely be offered a spot.
19. Nick Shore - Colorado Thunderbirds (U16)
Comment: *shrug* Older brother Drew is already with the program.
20. Andrew Sinelli - Honeybaked (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan State. Always seems to put up a lot of points. Team USA’s weight training program would really help him out.
21. Shane Sooth - Salisbury Prep
Comment: Another player that brings good size, as well as scoring ability to the table.
22. Colten St. Clair - P.F. Changs (U18)
Comment: Committed to Colorado College. *shrug* I’ve heard a lot of good things about him, and the fact that CC was willing to commit to him so early should say something.
23. K.J. Tiefenwerth - St. Anthony's HS
Comment: Committed to Boston College. Last summer he looked really talented, but also really lanky. Should be excellent once he fills out.
24. T.J. Tynan - Chicago Mission (U16)
Comment: Committed to Notre Dame. A really speedy little guy with great playmaking ability.
25. Austin Watson - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Maine. Lots of rumors about the OHL too. A big guy, but is also a nice playmaker. He’s got a lot of potential.
26. Jason Zucker - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Another kid that is really good with the puck.
Update: Maine recruit Stuart Higgins was also scheduled to be at the camp, but has mono, so he will be evaluated at this summer's Select 16 Festival.
Overall: Not a bad group. It’s always a little tough to tell too much with forwards this early. The amount of players who can score three points a game against weaker competition is much larger than the amount of players who can score a point per game against quality competition. There’s a lot of players with a ton of upside in this group, however, and I’d have to think at least a few will come out as quality players.
My picks: Moffatt, Fallon, Watson, Etem, Rust, St. Clair, Sinelli, Saad, Mersch, Knight, Isackson, Tiefenwerth, Bjugstad
Trends:
Eleven kids trying out for the team have already made college commitments. It was only like 6 years ago that it was considered bizarre if a player made a commitment during his first year with the NTDP program.
Didn’t kids in Massachusetts used to play hockey? The New England Prep schools are still represented thanks to some out-of-state kids, but there’s very little representation by Massachusetts at the camp. If I’m not mistaken, both Texas and California have more representatives at the camp than Massachusetts, a trend that I don’t think is an accident.
There are an astounding number of MWEHL alums at the camp, which is really a credit to that league when it comes to bringing players and developing them. You can argue the merits of putting that much emphasis on bantam hockey, but it has brought a lot of very good players together to play with and against each other.
Minnesota has a fair number of kids trying out, as they usually do, though I’m not sure how many will actually get invited. Minnesota kids tend to not do as well at this first camp, but are usually the first ones asked to join the U18 team if there are any spots to fill. Players like Pat White, Aaron Ness, and most recently, Nick Leddy didn’t make the team the first time around, but were offered spots later, though all three chose to stay in high school.
Here's a little look at the kids that will be at the camp. The kids that get a *shrug* are kids I haven't seen, or didn't have anything to say about. It's more of a reflection on me than them.
Goaltenders
1. Jack Campbell - Honeybaked (U18)
Comment: It’s a really strong year for ’92 goalies in Michigan, and Campbell may be the best of the bunch.
2. Mac Carruth - Chicago Fury (U18)
Comment: Committed to Minnesota-Duluth. A really big kid with a lot of talent
3. Andy Iles - Salisbury Prep
Comment: I don’t know too much about Iles, other than that he’s received a fair amount of hype. I don’t think he has played a ton at Salisbury this year because he’s backing up an older goalie.
4. Willie Yanakeff - Honeybaked (U16)
Comment: Another really good goalie from Michigan.
Overall: This looks like a really strong group. I’m not sure who will get selected, but any two of the four should make for a strong goaltending duo.
A wild guess on who makes the team: Campbell and Carruth
Defensemen
1. Evan Accettura - Victory Honda (U18)
Comment: A big kid, though still fairly raw. I’m not sure if he’ll make the team, but a bright future regardless.
2. Bennett Carroccio - Phillips Academy
Comment: *shrug*
3. Kevin Clare - New Jersey Hitmen
Comment: The only player at the camp to play junior hockey this season. Already received a good amount of college interest and should be a near lock to make the team.
4. Adam Clendening - Toronto Marlies
Comment: I’m not too familiar with him, but people in Ontario are very high on him. He’s a little guy that could provide an offensive threat on the blueline.
5. Michael Gunn - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan State. Another big, talented defenseman that should earn a spot on the team.
6. Kevin Gravel - Marquette (U18)
Comment: Big, defensive defenseman. I think he might have flown under some people’s radar because he plays in MQT, but I like the way he plays.
7. Derek Forbort - Duluth East HS
Comment: Another big kid that can do just about everything. I think playing with the NTDP would be good for him, because he’d learn how to play with a little more meanness. In another year, he might have good shot at making the team, but it could be tough with this group.
8. Stephen Johns - Pittsburgh (U18)
Comment: Johns has always impressed me with his play. He should definitely be offered a spot.
9. Ben Marshall - Mahtomedi HS
Comment: *shrug* I know he’s capable of playing both forward and defenseman, so he does bring some versatility.
10. Kevin McMorrow - Park Rapids HS
Comment: USHR thought he was great the Select 15s. I thought he looked kind of raw. A lot will probably depend on how he developed during the high school season.
11. Jeffrey Pauluk - Bloomington Jefferson HS
Comment: *shrug*
12. Michael Reardon - Noble and Greenough Prep
Comment: *shrug*
13. Joe Rubbelke - St. Paul Johnson HS
Comment: A really talented, athletic kid. He’s good at some other sports as well, so he may want to stay in Minnesota for that.
14. Brandon Russo - Salisbury Prep
Comment: Russo really impressed me at the Select 15s. A little smaller, but plays the game very well.
15. Frankie Simonelli - Team Illinois (U18)
Comment: I saw him at the Elite League NIT, and he didn’t really stand out against older players, but everyone seems to agree that the talent is there.
16. Jarred Tinordi - Washington Jr. Nationals
Comment: *shrug*
Overall: This is a really strong group, and should hopefully be one of the strengths of the team. There are a lot of big, talented players to choose from, and some tough choices will have to be made.
A wild guess on who makes the team: Merrill, Clare, Johns, Gunn, Clendening, Gravel, Russo, Forbort/one of the kids I haven’t seen.
Update: I just received word that Jon Merrill had a family commitment that he couldn't change, so he won't be at the camp, but he has already been offered a spot for the team.
Forwards
1. Bill Arnold - Noble and Greenough Prep
Comment: *shrug*
2. Chasen Balisy - Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Comment: Maybe one of the most talented players at the camp, but the OHL is always going to be looming. Is it worth taking him when chances are he plays one year in the US, at most?
3. Nick Bjugstad - Blaine HS
Comment: The more I’ve seen Bjugstad, the more he’s grown on me. Maybe not the best now, but has the tools to be a great player.
4. Connor Brickley - Belmont Hill Prep
Comment: *shrug*
5. Emerson Etem - Shattuck St. Mary’s
Comment: Very talented. Should be a great player with a little time to develop. I think he’ll definitely get offered a spot.
6. Jacob Fallon - Texas Attack (U16)
Comment: Fallon really impressed me when I saw him earlier this year. He should definitely make the team.
7. Max Gardiner - Minnetonka HS
Comment: Played pretty well as a sophomore against some great high school teams, but I don’t know if he has his brother’s skating ability yet.
8. Colton Hargrove - Texas Attack (U16)
Comment: A nice power forward with good size. He could definitely fill a nice role if given an opportunity.
9. Christian Isackson - St. Thomas Academy
Comment: Based on the way he was playing during the high school season, he should definitely get an offer to play for the team.
10. Jared Knight - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan. Missed a lot of time this year with an injury, but has a ton of talent.
11. Phil Lane - Rochester Alliance (U16)
Comment: *shrug*
12. Alex Lippincott - Cleveland (U18)
Coment: Committed to Ohio State. Does everything pretty well. Playing for the NTDP should help him get better at using his teammates more.
13. Jeff McMinimy - Texas Texas Attack (U16)
Comment: Fast and skilled. Maybe not one of my first choices to make the team, but wouldn’t be out of place if he did.
14. Michael Mersch - Team Illinois (U16)
Comment: A power forward that can score and hit.
15. Luke Moffatt - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan. Maybe the most talented player at the camp. Needs to use his teammates better, and playing on a skilled team like this should help.
16. Matt Nieto - Salisbury Prep
Comment: A very effective player that always finds a way to score points.
17. Bryan Rust - Honeybaked (U16)
Comment: Committed to Notre Dame. Plays a lot like his older brother Matt. A good skater that can play in all situations.
18. Brandon Saad - Pittsburgh (U18)
Comment: A big kid that can skate well. He should definitely be offered a spot.
19. Nick Shore - Colorado Thunderbirds (U16)
Comment: *shrug* Older brother Drew is already with the program.
20. Andrew Sinelli - Honeybaked (U16)
Comment: Committed to Michigan State. Always seems to put up a lot of points. Team USA’s weight training program would really help him out.
21. Shane Sooth - Salisbury Prep
Comment: Another player that brings good size, as well as scoring ability to the table.
22. Colten St. Clair - P.F. Changs (U18)
Comment: Committed to Colorado College. *shrug* I’ve heard a lot of good things about him, and the fact that CC was willing to commit to him so early should say something.
23. K.J. Tiefenwerth - St. Anthony's HS
Comment: Committed to Boston College. Last summer he looked really talented, but also really lanky. Should be excellent once he fills out.
24. T.J. Tynan - Chicago Mission (U16)
Comment: Committed to Notre Dame. A really speedy little guy with great playmaking ability.
25. Austin Watson - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Committed to Maine. Lots of rumors about the OHL too. A big guy, but is also a nice playmaker. He’s got a lot of potential.
26. Jason Zucker - Compuware (U16)
Comment: Another kid that is really good with the puck.
Update: Maine recruit Stuart Higgins was also scheduled to be at the camp, but has mono, so he will be evaluated at this summer's Select 16 Festival.
Overall: Not a bad group. It’s always a little tough to tell too much with forwards this early. The amount of players who can score three points a game against weaker competition is much larger than the amount of players who can score a point per game against quality competition. There’s a lot of players with a ton of upside in this group, however, and I’d have to think at least a few will come out as quality players.
My picks: Moffatt, Fallon, Watson, Etem, Rust, St. Clair, Sinelli, Saad, Mersch, Knight, Isackson, Tiefenwerth, Bjugstad
Trends:
Eleven kids trying out for the team have already made college commitments. It was only like 6 years ago that it was considered bizarre if a player made a commitment during his first year with the NTDP program.
Didn’t kids in Massachusetts used to play hockey? The New England Prep schools are still represented thanks to some out-of-state kids, but there’s very little representation by Massachusetts at the camp. If I’m not mistaken, both Texas and California have more representatives at the camp than Massachusetts, a trend that I don’t think is an accident.
There are an astounding number of MWEHL alums at the camp, which is really a credit to that league when it comes to bringing players and developing them. You can argue the merits of putting that much emphasis on bantam hockey, but it has brought a lot of very good players together to play with and against each other.
Minnesota has a fair number of kids trying out, as they usually do, though I’m not sure how many will actually get invited. Minnesota kids tend to not do as well at this first camp, but are usually the first ones asked to join the U18 team if there are any spots to fill. Players like Pat White, Aaron Ness, and most recently, Nick Leddy didn’t make the team the first time around, but were offered spots later, though all three chose to stay in high school.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Reddin Leaves NTDP
NTDP U18 forward Colin Reddin has left the national development program and will be playing for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.
Reddin's situation is not that unlike Garry Nunn, who was chronicled in detail on this blog. Reddin signed a contract and attended a training camp with the Portland Winterhawks in 2005. As he got older, he became interested in pursuing the NCAA-route, but had eligibility problems due to his relationship with the WHL. He appealed to the NCAA, and while I never heard a final verdict, but I'm guessing by his leaving for Portland, and by the NCAA's past record in these situations, the news wasn't great.
It's always a shame to see a player lose out on an opportunity at college hockey for something that happened at such a young age. Hopefully things work out for Reddin in the WHL.
Reddin's situation is not that unlike Garry Nunn, who was chronicled in detail on this blog. Reddin signed a contract and attended a training camp with the Portland Winterhawks in 2005. As he got older, he became interested in pursuing the NCAA-route, but had eligibility problems due to his relationship with the WHL. He appealed to the NCAA, and while I never heard a final verdict, but I'm guessing by his leaving for Portland, and by the NCAA's past record in these situations, the news wasn't great.
It's always a shame to see a player lose out on an opportunity at college hockey for something that happened at such a young age. Hopefully things work out for Reddin in the WHL.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
USA Hockey Rumors
One of the downsides of the NTDP U17 team playing in Ontario earlier this month is that it gave some major junior teams a reminder of just how good some of those kids are. Since the tournament, there have been a lot of rumors that a number of players were being heavily recruited by OHL teams, and could end up signing with them.
I guess it's good news to say that nobody is going anywhere for now. Most of the rumors seen to have been generated on the Canadian side of the border, and don't have much merit. In talking with people at the NTDP, only one player has actually asked for a release from the NTDP program to go to the OHL, and the NTDP has a policy of not releasing players during the middle of the season(except in certain cases, obviously). So you won't see any players leaving the NTDP until after the season, but it does remain to seen how many will be back with the program next year.
If I had to guess, and this is mostly speculation on my part, so take it for what it's worth, I'd guess that forward Jeremy Morin, who is the team's leading scorer this year, will sign with the Kitchener Rangers sometime over the summer. I was never all that confident in him going the college route to begin with, and of the rumors, the ones of him signing seemed to be the strongest.
I guess it's good news to say that nobody is going anywhere for now. Most of the rumors seen to have been generated on the Canadian side of the border, and don't have much merit. In talking with people at the NTDP, only one player has actually asked for a release from the NTDP program to go to the OHL, and the NTDP has a policy of not releasing players during the middle of the season(except in certain cases, obviously). So you won't see any players leaving the NTDP until after the season, but it does remain to seen how many will be back with the program next year.
If I had to guess, and this is mostly speculation on my part, so take it for what it's worth, I'd guess that forward Jeremy Morin, who is the team's leading scorer this year, will sign with the Kitchener Rangers sometime over the summer. I was never all that confident in him going the college route to begin with, and of the rumors, the ones of him signing seemed to be the strongest.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Marciano to CC
NTDP defenseman Joey Marciano committed to Colorado College. Marciano was the last remaining defenseman off of this year's U18 team to make a commitment.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Random Linkorama
Thank you for keeping me safe, Mark Buehrle.
Kelowna radio announcer Regan Bartel makes a big deal about Luke Moffatt "verbally" committing to Michigan, though I'm not really sure what else Moffatt could have done, since he isn't eligible to sign a letter of intent until November 2009, and even then, he could back out of that at any time to play in the WHL.
USA Hockey's college notebook looks at the WCHA. Apparently there was an 1100 word limit because MSU, UMD, and UAA don't get much play.
USA Hockey also had a nice article on Notre Dame recruit Pat Gaul.
Kamloops Blazer forward Juuso Puustinen scored a highlight reel goal, in overtime no less, against fellow Finn Riku Helenius. Kamloops Daily News writer/editor Gregg Drinnan has more on the goal.
Steve Downie is still a punk. I still maintain that Jack Johnson would have done the hockey world a favor if he had really hit Downie at the World Juniors.
I'm not even sure what to say about this, other than that I'm glad Comrie didn't lease the vehicle, because I'm sure the lease would have lasted longer than the relationship.
Kelowna radio announcer Regan Bartel makes a big deal about Luke Moffatt "verbally" committing to Michigan, though I'm not really sure what else Moffatt could have done, since he isn't eligible to sign a letter of intent until November 2009, and even then, he could back out of that at any time to play in the WHL.
USA Hockey's college notebook looks at the WCHA. Apparently there was an 1100 word limit because MSU, UMD, and UAA don't get much play.
USA Hockey also had a nice article on Notre Dame recruit Pat Gaul.
Kamloops Blazer forward Juuso Puustinen scored a highlight reel goal, in overtime no less, against fellow Finn Riku Helenius. Kamloops Daily News writer/editor Gregg Drinnan has more on the goal.
Steve Downie is still a punk. I still maintain that Jack Johnson would have done the hockey world a favor if he had really hit Downie at the World Juniors.
I'm not even sure what to say about this, other than that I'm glad Comrie didn't lease the vehicle, because I'm sure the lease would have lasted longer than the relationship.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Adam Murray to Denver
Denver reportedly picked up a big commitment today from '91 born NTDP goalie Adam Murray.
Murray, an Alaska native, was added to the NTDP roster late last year, and was very impressive. Murray was heavily recruited by many top schools. Perhaps it worked to Denver's advantage that their top recruiter, Derek Lalonde, also works with the program as a goalie coach.
Murray, an Alaska native, was added to the NTDP roster late last year, and was very impressive. Murray was heavily recruited by many top schools. Perhaps it worked to Denver's advantage that their top recruiter, Derek Lalonde, also works with the program as a goalie coach.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
NTDP Season Starts
The two NTDP teams both got their seasons underway this weekend.
The U17 team won Friday and lost Saturday to St. Louis.
The U18 team beat the Chicago Steel of the USHL 3-2. Chicago looks like they have a much more talented team this season, despite a couple OHL defections late this summer.
The U17 team won Friday and lost Saturday to St. Louis.
The U18 team beat the Chicago Steel of the USHL 3-2. Chicago looks like they have a much more talented team this season, despite a couple OHL defections late this summer.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Select 15 Festival Report
I have finished my Select 15 Festival report. You can read it here.
And also, some people had asked for this after the Select 17s, so I decided to try and pick the top 5 forwards and top 5 defenseman at the Select 15s. Here they are:
Top 5 forwards
1. Luke Moffatt-Stats weren’t great, but he’s got a ton of talent.
2. Matt Nieto-One of the few kids whose talent translated into points
3. Chase Balisy-Wasn’t overly flashy, but a very solid player
4. Brent Darnell-Did everything except score a lot.
5. Austin Watson-Maybe not the best player at the camp, but very easily could be the best two or three years from now.
Top 5 defenseman
1. Jon Merrill-Easily the best player on the ice
2. Brandon Archibald-Not a complete package yet, but all the tools are there
3. Jason Binkley-Very good player
4. Brandon Russo-Didn’t make very many mistakes
5. Stephen Johns-Has the potential to be very, very good.
Finally, Jon Merrill and Luke Moffatt have both received offers to play for the NTDP next season.
And also, some people had asked for this after the Select 17s, so I decided to try and pick the top 5 forwards and top 5 defenseman at the Select 15s. Here they are:
Top 5 forwards
1. Luke Moffatt-Stats weren’t great, but he’s got a ton of talent.
2. Matt Nieto-One of the few kids whose talent translated into points
3. Chase Balisy-Wasn’t overly flashy, but a very solid player
4. Brent Darnell-Did everything except score a lot.
5. Austin Watson-Maybe not the best player at the camp, but very easily could be the best two or three years from now.
Top 5 defenseman
1. Jon Merrill-Easily the best player on the ice
2. Brandon Archibald-Not a complete package yet, but all the tools are there
3. Jason Binkley-Very good player
4. Brandon Russo-Didn’t make very many mistakes
5. Stephen Johns-Has the potential to be very, very good.
Finally, Jon Merrill and Luke Moffatt have both received offers to play for the NTDP next season.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Two From NTDP to Harvard
NTDP forward Colin Moore has verbally committed to play for Harvard in 2008. Moore is an excellent all-around forward and another nice pick-up for the Crimson.
Also, former NTDP coach, and New Hampshire player Pat Foley will be leaving the NTDP to become an assistant coach at Harvard.
Also, former NTDP coach, and New Hampshire player Pat Foley will be leaving the NTDP to become an assistant coach at Harvard.
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