UW recruiting: And the sign said non-blue chippahs need not apply!

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by tb2
I am starting to get an uneasy feeling about our recruiting. I look at Heisenberg's list for UND, Minnesota,....... and they are reloading. We haven't had any recruits verbal for a very long time. I just hope we are not reaching for a couple of superstars who may not decide to come. Any thoughts?? Maybe this question will start a flood of verbals for 2005 etc.....

Scholarships don't grow on trees!!!!

The only seniors on next years roster are Bruckler and Talafous and Skille has already committed for '05. In quickly looking over MN/UND's rosters, the Gophs will have 8 seniors while the Sioux will have 10. Certainly some of those are walk-ons but it still means that both of those schools will have plenty of $ to play with in '05 while the Badgers will have much bigger classes in '06-'07.

Wisconsin Hockey: RELAX!

[sagissoor]

I heard Kessel is leaning toward Minnesota right now...:mad:

[con1977]

Originally posted by sagissoor
I heard Kessel is leaning toward Minnesota right now...:mad:

If that is true, we need a big weekend to put Kessel back in our court. In fact a strong finish of this season wouldnt hurt.

[Eric Hybert]

U-18 goalie Jordan Pearce lists Wisconsin, Michigan State and Michigan as his favorites. He hopes to decide by the end of the season.

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/ntdp_notebook020404/

I think Pearce would be Eaves' biggest recruit yet. I'm not completely sold on Elliott as a clear #1 and the foundation of this program has always been built on goaltending. If he's as good as advertised, he'll probably play early and often here.

Wisconsin Hockey: The next great Badger goalie?

[blockski]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
U-18 goalie Jordan Pearce lists Wisconsin, Michigan State and Michigan as his favorites. He hopes to decide by the end of the season.

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/ntdp_notebook020404/

I think Pearce would be Eaves' biggest recruit yet. I'm not completely sold on Elliott as a clear #1 and the foundation of this program has always been built on goaltending. If he's as good as advertised, he'll probably play early and often here.

Wisconsin Hockey: The next great Badger goalie?

Here's where John Hynes could be quite usefull...

[joeyv]

Sags,

Don't worry about Kessel...he's an '06 recruit. Plenty of time for the kid to make up his mind. A kid who sees 16,000 fans for a hockey game against an arch rival has got to appreciate that, and I hope he's watching this weekend.

Jordan Pearce would be a big time get. He's really had an excellent season, and he's played pretty darn well against D-1 competition.

As for '05 committments...well...there's very little scholarship money available. The only kids UW will lose are Talafous and Bruckler, and you've already got Skille locked in. Plus, UW may want to take a run at Bertram (a few Camrose folks have stated to me that he's interested in visiting Wisconsin) and the question is where the money comes from.

Easy guys!

Wisconsin Hockey: Its Going to Be Fine.

[tb2]

Joeyv,

Is that really all the cholarship money that is left for '05? What about Leavitt's scholarship money and possibly someone leaving after this year who has a full that doesn't play? Plus we still, supposedly, have 1.5 left for '04. So if we use .5 on a Dman (from Wisconsin maybe??) for '04 that would leave us with 4 fulls (best scenario) yet to be used. (Leavitt, Bruckler, 1 from '04, and 1 player leaving).

I am very surprised Kessel is leaning to Minnesota. The academics are probably better at UW and Michigan and, knowing his grandfather, I would think that would have an influence. If you would have said Michigan, I wouldn't have been surprised.

[markwojo]

Suter will at best only use a scholarship next season and then be gone (if not sooner). I also would suspect someone in the fourth line shuffle will get tired of not playing and transfer. There will be money. It would be awesome to get a top flight goalie lined up to step in as soon as Buckler is done. Come on down Mr. Pearce.

[joeyv]

You've got to remember some of that scholarship money is earmarked for Dowell, Brandt, and Olinger. Its not "free and clear". Suters scholarship might be available, Gibson's (who I suspect may be considering a transfer and has a full) may be available, and Leavitt's will likely be distributed among the individuals referenced above.

Way too early IMO, to worry about Kessel. If UW's in the mix, great. I think they will be.

Wisconsin Hockey: Already Gone.

[tb2]

I think you are generally correct about the money. My recollection was that Olinger was promised the back end of Suter's. Brandt was for just 1 year (his senior year) and Dowell was for 2 years. Or the other way around---just going from what I remember being said by others. So that would use up 1 full for '05 from my list. Leaving 3, one of which would be for a goalie.

[joeyv]

The other remaining scholarship cash going to Skille. So hypothetically you can have the redistribution of scholarship money to Dowell/Brandt/Olinger, one for Jordan Pearce (;)), and the other to Skille.

Wisconsin Hockey: Not Enough Green.

[mixx]

Kessel is going to be recruited hard by all the schools. Hopefully Don can steal him for the Gophers. ;)

[Eric Hybert]

random stuff:

Jake Dowell got 3 years, not 2.

While it seems obvious that some players may not be around next year, you can't exactly give away scholarships that MAY open up eventually.

I don't think Phil Kessel really gives a **** how many fans pack the Kohl Center this weekend. He's in Finland for the 5 Nations tourney. Kessel scored the only goal in a 2-1 loss to Sweden yesterday. We better enjoy our WJC success while we can because this current U-18 is not exactly the most impressive group. They've got some talent but to have to call up Kessel, Skille, Gerbe and Johnson certainly isn't a good sign!!!

While Pearce is a late '86 and technically an '05 recruit, it's my understanding that he could play as early as next season because he'll have enough credits by the summer. That could give Michigan an edge if Montoya's WJC success pushes his draft stock through the roof and he leaves after this season. Otherwise, I like the Badgers chances to land him for '05.

Pearce could be in for even more PT in the near future. According to the USA Hockey site, the other U-18 goalie (Chris Carlson) was forced to leave the game vs. Sweden with an injury yesterday.

Tom and Dan Gorowsky: Tom's the high scoring MN HS forward but did you know that his uncle, Dan Gorowsky, was the first ever winner of the popular 7th Man Award back in '80-'81? He also scored the Badgers 1st goal in the 1981 National Title win over Minnesota. Sounds like Badger material to me!:-)) It looks like Tom was drafted by Waterloo this season, FWIW, so he'll probably be a Black Hawk next season.

Somebody brought up Evan Rankin earlier. I heard he committed to Notre Dame recently.

Wisconsin Hockey: Get Pearce!

[tb2]

Eric

Not to argue, I'm too far removed from the scene and my contacts have long since moved on, but didn't Eaves essentially get Olinger that way---what if Suter stayed all 4??

Assuming Leavitt's was given to Dowell, that still leaves 1.5 from this year and Bruckler's and very maybe 1 from say a Gibson leaving (Talafous to Skille). How were/are we able to offer to Morin and Bertram/Wheeler/Kilpatrick if we have? The numbers never seem to add up---at least how I would like them.

You guys are a lot closer to the action. If we could get whoever we wanted for '05, what would be the order?

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by tb2
How were/are we able to offer to Morin and Bertram/Wheeler/Kilpatrick if we have? The numbers never seem to add up---at least how I would like them.

You guys are a lot closer to the action. If we could get whoever we wanted for '05, what would be the order?

In talking to a GB follower, it didn't really sound as if Kilpatrick had an offer at this point. As I'm sure you know, you can bring guys in w/o offering them a scholarship.

I have NO idea who the staff truely wants for '05 but I'm guessing that Pearce and Morin are definitely on their wishlist. As you said, judging from the fact that they had Kilpatrick in for a visit, it would appear that they will also be adding at least one more forward (in addition to Skille) for '05. There certainly are a ton of candidates in Kilpatrick, Wheeler, Bertram, Bradford, Lawrence, Gorowsky, etc. We'll have to see how it plays out in terms of how many current players don't "make the cut" next season.

Also, I had a chance to talk to a guy who covers Wisconsin HS hockey very closely yesterday. He had some thoughts on some potential Badgers:

Josh Engel:

"I saw Engel play a couple times last year with Team Wisconsin, the before and after bunch. He's not just big. He can move and has some pretty good offensive skills. And he likes to hit people. He was pretty much the enforcer on that team last year. He was also a Mr. Hockey finalist so he's a well rounded individual."

Sounds like a decent replacement for Woz in terms of what Woz brings to the table.

He was also very high on Brendan Olinyk a senior defenseman from Wisconsin Rapids. Called him "probably the fastest skater in the high school ranks."

Olinyk was drafted 6th overall by Cedar Rapids last season so I'm sure he'll end up playing for them next season and putting some meat on his bones (6'1, 170 area). I guess he's 2nd in scoring in his conference so far. Through 14 conference games he has 15-14-29.

Wisconsin Hockey: Badger material???

[markwojo]

He had a two goal night this weekend. Any one hear whether there were any recruits in this weekend? It would have been an awesome opurtunity to bring in some of the top targets like Bertram or Bradford (if he wasn't playing). Full house, top opponent, sweep, and lot's of UW star power. Heatly, Gary Suter, & Bob Suter (on the weekend Miracle open) were all around this weekend!! Can you imagine being a 16/17 year old kid being in that enviornment and not coming away impressed?

[BadgerHockeyRules]

Originally posted by markwojo
He had a two goal night this weekend. Any one hear whether there were any recruits in this weekend? It would have been an awesome opurtunity to bring in some of the top targets like Bertram or Bradford (if he wasn't playing). Full house, top opponent, sweep, and lot's of UW star power. Heatly, Gary Suter, & Bob Suter (on the weekend Miracle open) were all around this weekend!! Can you imagine being a 16/17 year old kid being in that enviornment and not coming away impressed?
We were talking last night at the game that we hoped that recruits were in this weekend to take in the atmosphere at that game. Don't know if any were at the game but it would have been a recruiting bonanza. They can't match that anywhere in College Hockey.

[sagissoor]

Motherwell had a goal in the USHL all star game. I think I am on his bandwagon. Seems to be pretty similar to Klubertanz to me. I wonder if Motherwell played with the Chicago Chill with Klubertanz since he is from Illinois?

Another one to keep an eye on is Mark Lutz from Soo of the NAHL. Mark is a defenseman that has put up 31 points thus far in the NAHL. Not sure there is another defenseman with more points is that league. The catch is that Lutz is from Stevens Point and played there with Joe Pavelski....

Wisconsin Hockey: Enough gas for a full ride?

[Eric Hybert]

Sags-
I can't wait to see Klubertanz as a Badger. I've seen him a few times now including some of the All-Star game and he really seems to be the complete package. He's a great skater, seems more committed to playing d this year, creates a lot of offense and as he showed in the AS game, he can rip the puck. He seems very similar to Likens..maybe even better.

One potential walk-on d to remember is Joe Piskula (from Antigo) who plays with Des Moines. Someone recently told me that St Cloud and Mankato were showing interest in him but it sounds like he'd like to be a Badger. His stats aren't anything special but if they're looking for cheap depth, it's an option.

Auffrey scored 2 goals in a win over Finland Saturday. The US finished with what had to be a very disappointing 1-3 record at the 5 Nations. Pearce made 32 saves in the same game.

With the week off in which the staff can't conduct on-ice practices and a big series sweep over UND, it'd be a nice week to hit the road and hopefully finish up this '04 class.

Wisconsin Hockey: A busy recruiting week?

[Hammy]

Eric,

what's the scoop with Pavelski? I really thought he'd be among the top players this year in the USHL since he had a pretty good year last year but he seems to be struggling and not producing.