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

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by markwojo

Hybs, has Connelly shown any interest in UW or UW in him, or are your thoughts on him more of the top prospect on the board that we should be interested in?? Do you know what Pearce's injury was?? It must be severe for the ammount of time he's missed.

I'd say my thoughts are more based upon what I've heard of him as a prospect and from a few people that think he's the best available '05 goalie. There was a CapTimes article earlier in the year (dated 1/20) that talked about Eaves getting stuck (had to find a hotel in Rockford) in a severe winter storm on his way home from a recruiting trip to Chicago the prior Friday. The Friday he was "recruiting Chicago", there was a game between Des Moines (Drewiske, Piskula) and Chicago (Connelly). Connelly shut Des Moines out that night and had 37 saves. So, I'm sure the UW staff has seen him plenty and has definite interest...as does every other bigtime school in the country, apparently.

Connelly through 3 USHL playoff games vs. Joe Pavelski's Waterloo team:

3 games, 2-1, 115 saves, 4GA.

I heard Pearce had a severe ankle injury of some sort but I'm not postive on that.

Interesting to see that North Dakota has "dropped" one of their recruits, Luke Beaverson. Beaverson was a teammate of Kyle Klubertanz and Josh Engel up in GB. Hopefully this doesn't become a trend in college hockey as teams are starting to recruit kids now that are barely potty-trained!

http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/sports/sportest.html?article=125168

Wisconsin Hockey: Leave it to Beaverson!

[markwojo]

Hopefully word gets around on Deano, as that is a highly unethical move if in fact he had offered him a scholie & then pulled it. Next time we go against the Sue for a younger recruit that his highly regarded, we should drop this article on their front doorstep. Any possibilty we look at him as a walkon being that he could probably get in state tuition having been in Green Bay for a couple of years??

[tb2]

That is puzzling to me that UND would lift his scholarship. Hasn't he done that before or not? Are we interested in him?

Any word on the timeline for Kessel? He would be a huge get for us.

Eric,
Given the choice, who would you take Pearce or Connelly?

[GB Puck Fan]

Beaverson has lots of talent - and size. Sometimes, however, it seemed like he was playing like a kid who already had a ride.

He was paired with Klubertanz on D most of the year. Beaverson had the team's worst +/-. Klubertanz had the best - but that was because Klubertanz on the powerplay/ice more, called upon to shoot more and Kluby actually scored (I think Beaverson had 7 points all season.) My impression watching the games was that defensive pair was, in general, the Gamblers 2nd or 3rd best - and on that side of the puck Beaverson's +/- is probably more reflective of their defensive success than Klubertanz's.

Beaverson committed to UND even before he got here. At a news conference this week, Coach Osiecki said Beaverson didn't fit into UND's current plans, hence their change. I don't think he was signed, just verbally committed. Osiecki did name him one of the captains for next year, presuming he doesn't sign elsewhere first.

If you're looking for another D from GB, Engel doesn't quite have Beaverson's size - and didn't use his size quite as much - but was a more consistent player...

[BadgerFan]

Originally posted by GB Puck Fan
Beaverson had the team's worst +/-. Klubertanz had the best - but that was because Klubertanz was on the powerplay


Thanks for the update on Beaverson. FWIW goals scored on the PP don't count toward +/- ratings.

[irbbkid]

U-18's win over Denmark, 5-2. Goal scorers were, in this order, Phil Kessel, Kevin Porter, Nate Davis, Tom Fritche, and Matt Auffrey. Kessel assisted on Auffrey's goal, along with Davis.

Good start for team, after 8-3 victory over Norway. Internet radio audiocast mentioned that the team warmed up with one puck for some time, before a second puck arrived. But it sounds like Belarus have been great hosts thus far. The team is in a hotel with all the teams from their bracket, including the Canucks.

U-18's Media Director, mentioned in 2nd Period interview that the team has received inspirational messages from the country, and parents, and friends of USA Hockey. He referred to an Army unit back from Iraq that sent messages to the Team, which were posted in their hallway at the hotel. One message said "...do it on the ice, like we did it in the sand." HE SAID THE PLAYERS WERE EMOTIONAL WHEN THEY READ THIS STUFF FROM THE SOLDIERS.

[irbbkid]

See U-18 photo, taken at US Embassy in Minsk, Belarus, with US Ambassador, and Nate Hegemo in foreground, and Matt Auffrey in background.

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/04u18_wc//

[irbbkid]

Link may not work, but photo is on www.usahockey.com related to U-18 Tournament

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by tb2

Eric,
Given the choice, who would you take Pearce or Connelly?

I haven't seen either one of them play so I'd be the wrong person to ask. It certainly seems like Connelly's stock is higher at this point, though.

Update I got on Tom Gorowsky from someone close to the situation:

"Tom will be an outstanding player at Wisconsin. Coach Eaves is getting a player who competes at everything he does. Right now it sounds as if Tom will be the first player taken in the May USHL draft (a draft pick) which is owned by Sioux Falls.

Tom had hernia surgery about 3 weeks ago and has about another 3 weeks before he can start training again. His knee and hip don't need surgery but still need some time to heal up. Tom was a true warrior in the sectional playoffs and state tourney--at best he might've been 80%--but his heart and leadership was way over 100%. Tom is the first Minnesota Mr. Hockey that the Badgers have landed, I know you will be impressed by his many qualities both on and off the ice!"

Follow Auffrey, Skille, Kessel and the rest of the U-18's here:

http://www.iihf.com/hydra/tournaments/output/W18/

Looks like Auffrey and Kessel hooked up a couple times. Gotta believe Eaves hinted to John Hynes that young Phil and Auffrey should get to know each other a bit better both on and off the ice. Afterall, Eaves recruited Suter..Suter recruited Earl..Earl recruited Auffrey..so it's Auffrey's turn to help reel in Mr. Kessel!:-))

Wisconsin Hockey: With the 1st pick in the USHL draft....

[irbbkid]

Hopefully, they will continue to connect. Both wingers, Davis (M. of Ohio) and Auffrey are 200+ lbs, which should help Kessel with space to use his speed. Davis scored on Auffrey rebound, also assisted by Kessel. Auffrey scored on 2 on 1 with Kessel. Auffrey buried a hard, low snap shot thru the five hole, after faking the pass.

Interesting note on recruit, Auffrey- he had three points with U-18's against Final Two, Maine and Denver. Scored (no easy task) against Howard, on a one-timer over the shoulder. And hadad two assists against Denver.

Phil Kessel- Wisconsin Wants You! Let's Do A National Championship Together!

[markwojo]

Jo Pa scored the only goal to win the decisive game in their series against Connelly and Chicago. Jo Pa had a nice series with 2 goals and 2 assists in the five game series.

[I BLEED RED 15]

how good is auffrey gonna be:rolleyes:

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by I BLEED RED 15
how good is auffrey gonna be:rolleyes:

Hopefully better than Dan Tompkins!:-))

Kessel, Skille and Auffrey all scored goals in a 9-0 win over Belarus today. The good guys play Canada tomorrow!

kid-

Do you know if Auffrey's still playing LW? With Bourque leaving, Robbie Earl's about the only high scoring lefty/LW'er on the team. That'll be a major questionmark.

I believe all of the incoming forward recruits for the next couple years: Pavelski, Ford, Auffrey, Skille and Gorowsky are righty's, FWIW.

Wisconsin Hockey: Our whole **** team is right-handed!

[I BLEED RED 15]

hopefully our offense picks up so we shut up all the dumb a## goofer fans:D

[tb2]

Eric

He has to be better than Tompkins:

Selected by Calgary Flames round 3 #70 overall 1993 NHL Entry Draft

GM G A PTs PIMs
1993-94 U. of Wisconsin NCAA 18 1 0 1 31
1994-95 U. of Wisconsin NCAA 32 4 10 14 82

5 Total goals.

Have you heard anymore on Kessel?

[sagissoor]

I would be very surprised if his next team is not in the OHL...

[tb2]

Sags,

I would be very disappointed if he went to the U of M, west of Madison!

I think I agree with you, he may be headed up there....

Have you heard who may be the next Asst Coach?

Are there any areas of the country that we should be recruiting harder (along with Canada)? Maybe Calif.?

[sagissoor]

I was maybe the most vocal during the last years of the Sauer era in thinking that we needed to spend the majority of our scholarships in the USHL (outside of GB). This seems to be working well. I do think we need to make sure we're trying to find another Reino up in Canada (I think we were after Bertram pretty hard so this is a good sign).

I would be pretty shocked if Mark is not brought back.

Nothing much to add at this point, but I am sure we'll hear of a transfer in the next month and a half.

[irbbkid]

U.S. National Under-18 Team Defeats Host Nation

BOX SCORE

Minsk, Belarus -- Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) led a United States U-18 National Team goal-scoring onslaught, as he recorded a hat trick in a 9-0 win over Belarus (which is Russian for White Russia) at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) 2004 World Under-18 Championship at the Palace of Sport here today.

In front of the United States Ambassador to Belarus, George Krol, and many staff members of the U.S Embassy in Minsk, Kessel opened the scoring in the first period as he cruised right to left along the blue line, cut around the left face-off circle and continued toward the slot uncontested and ripped a shot past the Belarus goaltender for an extra-man tally, his first and the first of six U.S. power play lamp-lighters.

The vaunted U.S. power play revved up once again in the opening stanza as Matt Auffery (Evans Mills, N.Y.) notched his second goal of the tournament, deftly tipping a Bryan Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) shot past the Belarusian goaltender, Dzmitry Milchakov. After a Nathan Gerbe (Oxford, Mich.) feed, Lerg blasted a shot, which was initially saved by the goaltender before the puck popped two feet straight up were Auffery, with keen hand-eye coordination, nudged the puck out of the air with his stick as it fell just below the crossbar.

Team USA would race out to a 4-0 lead in the second period as the power play was once again in full swing. Kessel, voted the games “Best Player” for the U.S., banged home his second man-up score. Just over a minute later, Jack Johnson (Faribault, Minn.) tallied his second power play goal in as many games.

Brandon Scero (Canton, Mich.) would score the game's lone even-strength goal at the 6:30 mark of the second period. Mike Brennan (Smithtown, N.Y.) gathered a loose puck just outside his own blue line, raced down the left side of the ice, cut toward the net at the half wall in the Belarus zone and left a drop pass for Scero, who promptly whacked it on net and watched it trickle past the Belarus netminder.

Jack Skille (Madison, Wis.) made the score 7-0 (Kessel scored his third power play goal at the end of the second period) with his first of the tournament and the sixth USA power play goal of the game 2:24 into the last period.

A strange call led the eighth U.S. goal. Kevin Porter (Detroit, Mich.) was hauled down on a clear breakaway attempt and awarded two penalty shots. He missed on the first try as Belarus' replacement goaltender, Ihar Brykun, closed the five-hole on a low shot by Porter. Having learned from his first attempt, Porter proceeded to fake low and roof a top-shelf bullet to the blocker side and past Brykun.

Nate Hagemo (Edina, Minn.) made the score 9-0, rifling a screaming shot into the Belarus net.

Corey Schneider (Marblehead, Mass.) picked up his third win in goal, while Jeff Frazee (Burnsville, Minn.) recorded his first minutes of the of the event.

The U18 National Team takes on Canada on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 in a matchup of unbeaten (3-0-0) teams. The puck drops on this North America border clash at 3:00 p.m. local, 8:00 a.m. EDT.

[Hobey]

Badger fans

Living in minnesota, and specifically 10 minutes from cenntennial HS, (aka Gorowskyville) has allowed me to see him play several times this year. He is a flat out goal scorer, and a real money crunch time player. He loves to set up on the off wing boards near the circles on the powerplay and wait for the one timer, or to unleash his wicked snap (not slap) shot. He can't skate a lick yet, but he is very tough on the puck, and has an awesome shot for a high school kid. He will be a very good finisher in college, and great on the powerplay. Unfortunately he's not a Gopher, but we can't keep them all!

On another note, I think Philly Swiss Kessell is going to be playing on a line with Blake Wheeler in 2005-2006 for the maroon and Gold, sorry bucky!

Enjoy Tommy G