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

[Badgers1]

I imagine that would take up the 1.5 scholarships we have left to give? Have you heard if we've ever really went after little Kuk? For insurance in case Suter leaves we would defintely need some more blueline help. I would assume for the 2005 year we don't have any money to give right now, although Suter and Gibson could clear some way as obviously we'll need another Goalie.

If Suter returns you have to like this lineup for next year

Forwards

Seniors
Talafous

Juniors
MacMurchy
Burish
Degenhardt
Licari
Funk

Sophmores
Earl
Dowell
Carlson
Jourdrey
Heatley
Brandt
Rowe

Freshman

Pavelski
Auffrey
Ford

13 returning forwards who've contributed plus 3 new faces

Defense

Seniors
Julka

Juniors
Gilbert
Sawatske

Sophmores
Suter
Likens
Olinger

Freshman
Drewiske
Klubertanz

[Eric Hybert]

I've never heard Kuk's name mentioned with the Badgers but he'll probably end up being an '05 recruit. Rumor has it that Engel is "Suter insurance".

If Ford has committed, it's interesting that they've added another center. Eaves said about a month ago that he felt he didn't have a 2nd line center yet..but felt Dowell could grow into the role. Granted, guys can move around but you now have Joudrey, Dowell, Burish, Talafous?, Pavelski and Ford up the middle. Moving Burish to the wing wouldn't be a bad move. He's great in the corners.

Someone wiser than me pointed out that the last time the Badgers had two Californians on their roster, (Chris Nelson and Rob Mendel) they won the national title. Hopefully Earl and Ford can get us there, too!

Wisconsin Hockey: Built Ford Tough!

[tb2]

How do the 2 new recruits (hopefully!) stack up against some of the other names mentioned. For example, how does Ford compare with Rankin, Kilpatrick, Spirko, Stastny, or Kaufman that UM got? How does Drewiske compare with Engel, Kuk, or ....

If Eaves did "spend" 1.5 scholarships, who got the full one? Maybe there is still .5 left? I saw where UM got Goligoski contingent on what Ballard does. Maybe we are not done either.

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by tb2
How do the 2 new recruits (hopefully!) stack up against some of the other names mentioned. For example, how does Ford compare with Rankin, Kilpatrick, Spirko, Stastny, or Kaufman that UM got? How does Drewiske compare with Engel, Kuk, or ....


I don't think any of us are qualified to answer that question now. We'll find out next year...

This season, we've all seen how important the UW defense has been in creating offense. They've finally begun to rush the puck, make good passes and put shots on goal. You can argue that the improved Badger defense has been the key to an improved (over last year) offense. That being said, the stat I like to see on Klubertanz and Drewiske is that they have a combined 242 shots on goal this season!

I'm not saying Drewiske will be the best player ever but I hate to see people sell him short because he was headed to Bemidji. Remember when Jake Dowell had scholarship offers from Wisconsin and Findlay last year??? All Dowell's done this year is win a gold medal, center the 2nd line and set up the two most memorable goals of the season for the Badgers.

Wisconsin Hockey: Give 'em a chance!

[J II: The Sequel]

Ford can skate, has a good shot, and has decent size. He's benefited from playing with McKenzie who does (more of) the dirty work to set him up a lot.
If you can pair him with a gritty winger he'll bag some goals. Defensively he might be a liability in the WCHA.
I've seen him play a couple times in the USHL.

[tb2]

Thanks for the analysis on Ford. Sounds like an upgrade and I like the mention of what happened the last time we had 2 Californians. I remember another poster being high on Drewiske. Looking forward to the rest of this year and next for the Badgers!!

[Eric Hybert]

Matt Ford and Davis Drewiske are now listed as Wisconsin recruits on Heisenberg's list of recruits. That's about as official as it gets! Both are Badgers!

Ford's Sioux Falls team lost their 14th consecutive game tonight!!! He did have an assist on their only goal, though. Sioux Falls vs. Waterloo tomorrow night will be an interesting matchup..Ford vs. Pavelski.

Wisconsin Hockey: Please help our offense!!!

[solovsfett]

I'm beginning to wonder what's happened to Pavelski this season. He's not even in the top 25 scorers now in the USHL.

Ford is in the top 25, but still, to have last years leading scorer slump like this.....

Has the supporting cast changed drastically since last year for Pavelski? Sorry if that question has been answered already, I haven't had a chance to go through all the prior posts lately.

[Lord Sidious]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
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?:-))

It was one of the Michigan student posters on this board who came up with the idea of the sign and made it (I'll let him speak for himself if he wants to add more). Word I heard is Kessel noticed it, but apparently his mom and sister were the most amused.

Michigan Hockey: ***?!?

[streaker]

Kessel was getting play on the A2 local sports station, too.

[markwojo]

If you take a look at how many games he has played vs some of the kids in front of him, you'll realize most players have played in 5-6 games more than him (some 10). If you look at his points per game, he would move into the top 20 scores. After last season, that is a little disappointing, but he does not play for a very high octane team. A couple of good games, and he will slide up the scoring chart pretty quickly.

[Eric Hybert]

Anyone notice any NTDP kids in the building last night? Someone told me they saw a couple kids in USA hockey jackets being led around the KC last evening.

So, was Jake Dowell (NTDP alum, gold medal winner) really injured last night or just "recruiting" while he was in the stands???:-))

Jordan Pearce perhaps...

Wisconsin Hockey: Jordan Pearce..will you be Wisconsin's Valentine?:-))

[sagissoor]

I may be the poster who was the highest on and most for getting Drewiske in a badger uniform. It's just impressive to me when a kid is the leading scoring defenseman on a USHL team in their first year of juniors. That to me means he's got some talent. Davis has good size, hands, speed, etc. Just a very good prospect and likely a top four defenseman eventually (maybe sooner than later). He's a guy who will be in the top six all season next year.

Ford I don't know much about. Clearly, he is a scorer and that is something we can always use. Again, a very nice signing. With this class (possibly) complete, not that ratings matter, but I wonder where we'll stack up. A class of Pavelski, Auffrey, Klubertanz, Ford, and Drewiske is second to almost nobody in my book. Certainly I am biased.

Wisconsin Hockey: One, Two, Three, Four, Five WE WANT MORE!

[Eric Hybert]

I can't remember the exact quote but PB mentioned on FSN last night that there were rumors that Bruckler might turn pro next season. Obviously that will depend on Philly and whether or not there's a season. As I mentioned earlier, while Jordan Pearce is technically an '05 recruit, he could finish up his credits in the summer and be available for '04 if a team needs him. With the way the Red Bernd's been playing, it's nice to know there's some quality insurance out there. Hopefully he's Eaves' next big catch!

Nice night for future Bucky blueliners last night. Kluby with 1 goal and 2 assists and Drewiske with 2 assists.

Wisconsin Hockey: Is Pearce next?

[BadgerHockeyRules]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
I can't remember the exact quote but PB mentioned on FSN last night that there were rumors that Bruckler might turn pro next season. Obviously that will depend on Philly and whether or not there's a season. As I mentioned earlier, while Jordan Pearce is technically an '05 recruit, he could finish up his credits in the summer and be available for '04 if a team needs him. With the way the Red Bernd's been playing, it's nice to know there's some quality insurance out there. Hopefully he's Eaves' next big catch!

Nice night for future Bucky blueliners last night. Kluby with 1 goal and 2 assists and Drewiske with 2 assists.

Wisconsin Hockey: Is Pearce next?
According to markwojo on another thread, Bruckler has been talking with the Flyers recently and the indication was that he will stay at UW next year.

[aktick]

Just a little story after reading the article about Drewiske's recovery from broken vertebra....my 17 y.o. brother broke a vertebra in 4 places during a hockey game about a month ago. He was bed-ridden for a week, missed 3 weeks of school, and has a body brace thing on. His break was in the lower back, as opposed to Drewiske's in the neck. The injury, asside from the obvious dissapointments, really got my brother upset because he would be starting in baseball this year for the first time, starting in football for the first time next fall, and loved hockey, and now the Dr. was saying he wouldn't be able to do any for many years, if ever again. After he read this article I think he kind of got a big boost of confidence that maybe the Dr. was just saying that so he didn't get his hopes up, and that just MAYBE he'll be able to return next year. Just thought it was interesting timing.

[tb2]

The guys on the webcast mentioned the same rumor regarding Bruckler. Not being able to see him play, do you guys think he is ready or would one more year at UW benefit him?

[bucky#1]

I have only seen Bernd play 6 times this season. In my limited opinion, I think that he should play one more year.

[con1977]

IMO, ANY goaltender could benefit from one more year under Coach Howard. He is an amazing coach and has produced some amazing netminders. I think Bruckler should stick around for another year because his game will be even better, and I believe the Flyers (I think that was the team mentioned) org is stacked with talent at net, and he may be playing a bunch in the AHL or ECHL. I dont think that is what Bernd has in mind when he thinks about turning pro, so no reason to rush the jump.

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by con1977
I believe the Flyers (I think that was the team mentioned) org is stacked with talent at net

I don't know much about the Flyers but I do know that Sean Burke is roughly 206 years old and their backup, Robert Esche, is nothing special. Plus, we all know Bobby Clarke is borderline crazy! Bruckler's an '81 and probably close to the prime of his career. It wouldn't shock me at all if he left after this season..provided the labor issues don't stand in the way.

There were two NTDP recruits in town this weekend. I'm not positive, but I think one was Pearce..not sure who the other was.

Wisconsin Hockey: Should I stay or should I go now?