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

[markwojo]

Some of these walkons are going to step up and earn money which will only create a bigger crunch if we want to add some new blood.

[Eric Hybert]

Rumor has it Matt Ford of Sioux Falls was in Madison yesterday for an official visit.

He's the 5th leading goal scorer in the USHL..while playing on the worst team in the league. Played on last years legendary Shattuck team where he finished 3rd in scoring (behind Crosby and Stafford?). A teammate of Ken Rowe at Shattuck.

http://usajuniorhockey.com/

Wisconsin Hockey: Earl and Ford..The Cali-Connection?

[markwojo]

20 year old freshman who's good for a point a game in the USHL couldn't hurt. Why would we bring him in midweek and not have him visit over the weekend during a game. I would think our game day atmosphere would be one of the top recruiting tools. I know he probably has games this weekend, but why not miss one to make a good decision on where you are going to play for the next 4 years?? Hybs , I'm assuming we are looking at him for next season. Is it reasonable to read into his recruitment that the coaching staff is already aware of attrition from one of our under performing forwards on scholarship beyond this season?? Otherwise is he walking on, or willing to come for little or no money?

[jk]

Not to get you guys all worked up or anything, but a new poster at POI with a grand total of one post to his credit (so zero credibility) has claimed Kessel committed to the Badgers. FWIW.

[br1]

Originally posted by jk
Not to get you guys all worked up or anything, but a new poster at POI with a grand total of one post to his credit (so zero credibility) has claimed Kessel committed to the Badgers. FWIW.
That would be great, but I think I'll wait a while before getting excited. ;)

[joeyv]

br1,

I'm with you on that one brother. It would be outstanding news, but it seems much to early for committment from Kessel based on some of the information we've heard to date.

Hey Phil...if it is true...you've MADE THE RIGHT CALL BUD!

Wisconsin Hockey: Phil to Madison.

[sagissoor]

There's no way he commited. I know his dad. He won't commit this early, that is for certain.

Wisconsin Hockey: 100% sure there is no chance

[jk]

OK, sorry to bother you then. Just helping information move along the information superhighway.

[mixx]

Sags, what have u heard that u can divulge??? Has he narrowed his list down to a few schools?

[markwojo]

Bertram (http://www.hockeyscouting.ca/newsitem.aspx?news_id=308&league_id=6)

Kessel committing early would be awesome. Just like Suter, good players would follow.

[sagissoor]

Last I had heard, he was leaning toward Minnesota. If there is one Wisconsin kid willing to be the first Madison kid to play for the Gophers, I could see Kessel being that guy. I don't think he's close right now though to commiting anywhere.

[alnike]

Kessel has made a few recent visits to Yost to catch the Wolverines and he said that he speaks to the same half-dozen schools on a weekly basis. This process is a long way from being over.

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by alnike
Kessel has made a few recent visits to Yost to catch the Wolverines and he said that he speaks to the same half-dozen schools on a weekly basis. This process is a long way from being over.

Is it true that some UMich students actually held up signs asking Kessel to be Michigan's valentine? ***?!? Isn't that a little overboard or does Red frequently make such corny signs and hand them out to random students to wave in the faces of visiting recruits?:-))

Kessel's dad said nothing would be decided 'til the summer at the earliest...and rightfully so. Berenson could retire, Eaves could go to the NHL, Lucia could lose his hair...a lot can happen between now and '06.

From today's WSJ: According to Matt Ford's coach at Sioux Falls, there are a "plethora of colleges" that are interested in him. I guess he plans on narrowing his list this week. Many thanks go out to his jerky coach for giving us exactly ZERO information!:-))

I guess that's what happens when you lose 13 straight games like Sioux Falls has!

Nice picture of JoePa on the front of the USHL website!

Congrats to Superior HS on beating Duluth East the other night. It's the first time they've beaten East since former Badger Erik Raygor scored 2 goals in a 2-1 OT win back in 1991! I'm sure Hammy will remind me that Duluth East is a far cry from what they've been in the past...but I don't give a ****!:-))

Wisconsin Hockey: Making a habit of recruiting good players on crappy teams!?!?

[Hammy]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
I'm sure Hammy will remind me that Duluth East is a far cry from what they've been in the past...but I don't give a ****!:-))


You said it. :D

East isn't near what they had been. Especially without Randolph as their head coach. Those idiots in that school district who had a vendetta against him and chased him out of his head coaching spot are now getting their "just" reward for doing it. :rolleyes: ;)

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by markwojo
20 year old freshman who's good for a point a game in the USHL couldn't hurt. Why would we bring him in midweek and not have him visit over the weekend during a game. I would think our game day atmosphere would be one of the top recruiting tools. I know he probably has games this weekend, but why not miss one to make a good decision on where you are going to play for the next 4 years?? Hybs , I'm assuming we are looking at him for next season. Is it reasonable to read into his recruitment that the coaching staff is already aware of attrition from one of our under performing forwards on scholarship beyond this season?? Otherwise is he walking on, or willing to come for little or no money?

There's NOTHING wrong with a 20 year old frosh. Mike Howe and Joe Pavelski are two of the better recruits around and they're '84's. Just look at Duluth's roster...some of those guys could be my dad!:-)) Adding some age/veterans (see: Carlson) will really help this very young Badger team in the long run.

Gameday's are great here but I definitely think it's more beneficial for a kid to visit midweek. Watching a practice, attending a class with a player and checking out the regular 9-5 is a more "real" experience than watching a game. Sunday-Tuesday seems to be a popular recruiting time for Eaves. Missing games is another big factor, I'd assume. Unless you're Matt Ford, of course and you go from playing with mighty Shattuck to playing with a team that's 11-33. I'm sure he was begging to spend a weekend in Madison!:-))

Again, I'm not sure how this will play out, but if they do have 1.5 scholarships as they said, here's my somewhat educated guess as to what will happen with the rest of '04:

Ford?
Drewiske
Piskula-walk-on
Engel-insurance for Suter..back to GB if Suter returns

Hammy-
You're so predicatable!:-))

Wisconsin Hockey: Drewiske..pronounced Drew-Skee as in Brewsky!

[markwojo]

Hey Hybs, my point was that it would be a POSITIVE to have a freshman that is 20!!! We have had a lot that are 18/19 this year, and like Carlson, a 20 year old freshman who spent a year in th UHSL & came from SSM should have fewer growing pains jumping right into the WCHA. Let's hope Eaves can get him along with Drewiske and then we can start to focus on Motherwell, Bertram, Bradford, Kessel, ect down the road.

[BadgerFan]

Originally posted by markwojo
Hey Hybs, my point was that it would be a POSITIVE to have a freshman that is 20!!!

Remember what HH says. If you're a freshman over 18 you can't be any good. :rolleyes:

Anybody hear how the meeting with Drewiske's parents went yesterday?

[Randy May]

Hey Badgers I heard through the grapevine that Matt Ford verbally commited to UW congratulations. CC was one of the other teams in the mix.

[markwojo]

now come on down Mr. Drewiske, your table is ready.

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by BadgerFan

Anybody hear how the meeting with Drewiske's parents went yesterday?

Not sure how the meeting went but I heard Drewiske committed to the Badgers today...so I'm guessing it went alright!:-))

I haven't heard anything about Ford committing yet but Randy's always seemed like a closet Badger fan so I don't think he'd be messin' with us!:-))

Sounds like a good day for the Badgers if indeed both Drewiske and Ford have committed!!!

Wisconsin Hockey: Welcome to Wisconsin!